Books
8 Best Novels About the Roman–Sasanian Wars
Bestselling authors first, then star rating.
War
Roman–Sasanian Wars
224–628 CE
The Roman–Sasanian Wars began after the Sasanian dynasty replaced the Parthian rulers of Iran in the third century. Rome and Persia competed repeatedly over Mesopotamia, Armenia, frontier cities and the political allegiance of neighbouring kingdoms.
The conflict was not one continuous war but a succession of invasions, sieges, raids, treaties and dynastic confrontations. In the third century Shapur I captured major Roman strongholds and defeated several emperors, exposing the weakness of an empire already struggling with civil war and frontier invasion.
The opening Warrior of Rome novels use this eastern conflict as their principal military setting. Fire in the East, King of Kings and Lion of the Sun follow Ballista through fortress defence, court politics and the disasters surrounding Valerian’s campaign against Shapur I.
Related people for Roman–Sasanian Wars
Antonina495–565 Belisarius505–565 Constantine the Great272–337 Constantius Gallus325–354 Constantius II317–361 Diocletianc. 240s–316 Eusebiac. 4th century–360 Gallienus218–268 Julian331–363 Justinian Ic. 483–565 Libanius314–393 Maximus of Ephesus310–372 Odaenathusc. 220s–267 Priscus of Epirus305–395 Procopiusc. 5th century–565 Shapur Ic. 3rd century–272 Shapur II309–379 Theodorac. 500–548 Valerian200–c. 260s Zenobia240–275
Non Fiction
1 Non-Fiction Book About the Roman–Sasanian Wars
Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.