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==Background==Roman had annexed Asia Minor and the truncated Seleucid Empire in the 1st century AD. This was to have far-reaching strategic repercussions for the Romans. For article will examine the first time, they came into contact with the Parthian Empire. The Parthians were an Iranian people who carved out an extensive Empire out impact of the Seleucid Empiredefeat at Carrhae on Rome. Their empire stretched from modern Iraq to Pakistan. Rome It will argue that it resulted in the 1st century AD had greatly expanded its Empire and many of its leaders believed that the Republic was invincible<ref>Sampson, Gareth, The Defeat fall of Rome: Crassus, Carrhae, and which hastened the Invasion start of the East (Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2008), pcivil war between Caesar and Pompey. 17</ref>. Rome by The outcome of which was the 50s BCE was ruled by a ‘Triumvirate’ end of Caesar, Pompey, the Roman Republic and Crassus. This, known as the ‘First Triumvirate’ was introduction of an informal political alliance between the three most important men imperial system in Rome. Caesar who had been the leader of the popular party was in Gaul conquering Carrhae also meant that vast area. Pompey had won many victories Roman expansion in the East and east was commonly referred to as Pompey the Great. Crassus' (115-53 BCE) power rested on his fabulous wealth contained and his ability as a political operator. In this period success in battle was a requisite that for political power. Crassus was very aware that he did not have any great military victories. He had played several decades the Parthians were a leading role grave threat in the suppression of the Revolt of Spartacus, but this was not considered glorious enough for himRoman East. He needed The Roman defeat left a victory for his legacy of enmity between Rome and his son’s career. Parthia was largely an unknown entity, but the Romans had heard that it had lately been weakened, because of a succession crisis. This and his political ambition persuaded Crassus led to invade many more wars in the Empire with the belief that he could conquer it. He had himself appointed the governor of Syria and made preparations to invade Parthia. This was contrary to the Senate's policy which had not sought conflict with the Parthian monarchsregion. ====Background====

==The Battle==Crassus landed in Asia Minor with Rome by the 50s BCE was ruled by a large army‘Triumvirate’ of Caesar, some estimate it to be 50Pompey,000 strongand Crassus. The Roman commander had little military experienceThis, but his son known as the ‘First Triumvirate’ was a seasoned and respected campaigner. The Romans knew little about an informal political alliance between the lands that they were going to invade<ref> Sicker, Martin"Carrhae," three most important men in The Pre-Islamic Middle East (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000), ppRome. 149–51</ref>. The king Caesar who had been the leader of Armenia offered to allow the invading army to enter Parthia via his kingdompopular party was in Gaul conquering that vast area. This would have allowed Pompey had won many victories in the Roman legions to march down into modern Iraq East and on was commonly referred to as Pompey the capital of Parthia, CtesiphonGreat. Instead, Crassus invaded by way of Turkey' (115-53 BCE) power rested on his fabulous wealth and his ability as a political operator. This  In this period success in battle was an area largely of plains and it was ideal a requisite for cavalrypolitical power. Several Roman commanders including Cassius tried to dissuade him from this course. However, Crassus was overconfident and believed very aware that his army was invinciblehe did not have any great military victories. The Romans outnumbered the Parthians and their allies by up to four to one. The Parthians were mainly cavalry and they He had little infantry. They were led by played a general of genius Surena, who came from Central Asia. Suren adopted guerrilla tactics at first and used his superior cavalry to harass and inflict casualties on leading role in the Romans<ref>Sicker, p.150</ref>. Surena decided to confront the advancing Crassus at the small town suppression of Carrhae in modern Turkey. The Parthians used their cavalry archers to launch hit and runs attacks on the Romans who were in tight formations. Crassus hoped that the Parthians would run out Revolt of arrowsSpartacus, but Suren used Bactrian camels to re-supply his forces with arrows. Under the relentless showers of arrows, the Roman legionnaires could this was not move, and their supplies ran low<ref>Sampson, p. 117</ref>considered glorious enough for him. According to Plutarch "Now if they had hopes that the enemy would exhaust their missiles and desist from battle or fight at close quarters, the Romans held out; but when they perceived that many camels laden with arrows were at hand, from which the Parthians who first encircled them took He needed a fresh supply’</ref>, Plutarch, Life of Crassus, xxi </ref>. The Roman commander repeatedly ordered that victory for his army move forward and engage with the enemyhis son’s career. HoweverParthia was largely an unknown entity, each time the legions advanced the Parthian cavalry retreated and firing arrows as they did. This caused many casualties among but the Romans and their morale began to collapse <ref>Sicker, p. 149</ref>. It is claimed had heard that many of the Parthian arrows could pierce armor and pinned Romans to the ground. After several daysit had lately been weakened, the army because of Crassus was on the verge of mutinya succession crisis. They forced This and his political ambition persuaded Crassus to negotiate invade the Empire with Suren. At these negotiations a tenative agreement was reached which the belief that he could have have allowed the Romans to withdraw safely from Parthian territory in return for the evacuation of several Roman garrisons from east of the Euphrates (in modern Iraq)conquer it. However, during the meeting between the Roman and the Parthian commanders one of He had himself appointed the soldiers governor of Suren seized the reins of Crassus horse Syria and this lead made preparations to a skirmish<ref>Plutarch, xxiii</ref>invade Parthia. In this Crassus and his son were killed, leaving the Romans leaderless and they were effectively cut off in enemy territory<ref>Sampson, p. 119</ref>. Surena then ordered his heavy cavalry the cataphracts (the forerunners of the medieval knight) This was contrary to charge into the Roman lines. They were ineffective, but they caused panic among Senate's policy which had not sought conflict with the legionnairesParthian monarchs.  ====The Romans began a disorganized retreat and they came under constant attack from the forces of Suren. Many Romans made it back safely to Syria, but it is estimated that some 20,000 legionnaires were killed and another 10,000 captured during the chaotic retreat. Those captured were paraded through the Parthian Capital and later made to work as slaves in Central Asia<ref>Sicker, p. 151</ref>.Battle====

==Immediate aftermath==Carrhae and the end of the Roman Republic====The victors disaster at Carrhae attempted to seize Roman territory in Syria but they was soon followed by a series of civil wars that were beaten back only ended by the remaining Roman forces under Cassius, who was later one fall of the ringleaders in the assassination of Julius Caesar regrouped in SyriaRepublic. Suren despite his victory was later executed The Republic had been greatly weakened by the Parthian monarch Odores II who feared his power and popularity. This may have been a blessing for March of Sulla on the Romans as, without the leadership city and strategic vision his seizure of Surena, they failed to secure their objectives. Cassius proved to be a very capable general. The Parthian Crown Prince invaded Syria but was ambushed by Cassius, defeated and killedpower. However, the Parthians were able to conquer the strategic kingdom death of Armenia Crassus at Carrhae was a crucial stage in the Caucuses. From here they were able to threaten fall of the Roman possessions in Asia Minor, a situation that was to last for many decadesRepublic. Many historians have linked the death of Crassus at Carrhae left with the beginning of the Roman East exposed civil wars. Crassus had ensured that Pompey and it was Caesar continued to be invaded several times cooperate in the next decades by ParthiaFirst Triumvirate. Syria was occupied twice by the Parthians The death of Crassus and on one occasion they installed a puppet king in Judea. For several decades until the reign death of Augustus, Julia the Roman East was left exposed to regular Parthian incursions wife of Pompey and interference, by the defeat daughter of Crassus in 53 BCCaesar ended the ties that bound Pompey and Caesar.

==Roman and Parthian Wars ==Prior to CarrhaeWithout Crassus in the First Triumvirate, Rome had expanded rapidly and almost at will. However, the defeat at Carrhae and ended this seemingly remorseless expansion in it was inevitable that the Middle Eastpolitical alliance would collapse. In If Crassus had lived then he could have maintained the aftermath balance of the defeatpower between Pompey and Caesar, Rome withdrew some garrisons from which could have prolonged the eastern side life of the Euphrates RiverRepublic. However, the defeat Another theory is that Crassus was a national humiliation and especially essential to the legionary eagles that were seized by the Parthians at Carrhae. relationship between Caesar swore revenge, and many believe that he was going to invade Parthia before his assassinationthe Roman Senators. The defeat at CarrhaeWithout him, was something that the Romans had to be avenged. During the civil wars the Parthians supported relationship between the enemies conqueror of Caesar. During Gaul and the Roman civil wars Senate deteriorated in the 40s BCE the Parthians were able to occupy much wake of the Roman EastCarrhae.<ref> Holland, Tomp. Rubicon : 245</ref> After the last years death of Crassus, the Roman Republic (Londonrelationship between Caesar and the Senate broke down, Doubledayirretrievably, 2005), p 45</ref>. The end over command of the second Roman legions on Gaul. Civil War allowed broke out when Caesar crossed the Romans to retake their possessionsRubicon. Mark Anthony later launched an invasion of Parthia to punish the victors of The disaster at Carrhae, but this too ended in a disaster. The lessons from the defeat were not learned. It was up to Augustus helped to develop create a strategy set of circumstances that led to a period of peace. He was later able to negotiate to have the legionary standards that were captured at the defeat to be returned to Rome. However, the defeat continued to haunt Rome and many emperors dreamt of avenging civil wars that most calamitous defeat. There were persistent tensions between Rome and Parthia. The two countries were strategic rivals after the battle and each vied for influence in the strategically important kingdom of Armenia<ref>Holland, p. 203</ref>. The relative calm of the 1st century was ended by the invasion with an imperial form of Trajan of Parthia and the next few decades saw many wars between the two great powers government in the Ancient Near. Carrhae was the beginning of some two centuries of mistrust and occasionally war between Rome and Parthia.

== Carrhae and the end of the Roman Republic==Conclusion====The disaster at Carrhae was soon followed by a series of civil wars that were only ended by humiliation for Rome. It also had profound implications for the fall of Republic and later its successor the RepublicEmpire. The Republic had been greatly weakened by near annihilation of the March invasion force of Sulla on Crassus had profound implications. It meant that the city Roman Near East was left very exposed for several decades and it suffered frequent Parthian incursions and his seizure of powerinterference. However, the death of Crassus at Carrhae It was a crucial stage in only with the fall establishment of the Roman RepublicImperial system that Rome’s eastern provinces could be properly protected. Many historians have linked the death of Crassus The disaster at Carrhae with meant that Rome came to fear and hate Parthia and many, such as Mark Anthony, wanted to avenge the beginning defeat. This all contributed to a series of the civil wars. Crassus had ensured that Pompey between Parthia and Caesar continued to cooperate in the First TriumvirateRome. The death of Crassus and helped to destabilize the death of Julia the wife politics in Rome. He was able to maintain a balance of Pompey and the daughter of Caesar ended the ties that bound power between Pompey and Caesar. Without Crassus in the First TriumvirateWith his death, it was perhaps inevitable that the political alliance two men would collapsefight for supremacy in Rome. If Crassus had lived then he could have maintained the balance of power The conflict between Pompey and Caesar, which could have prolonged the life of the Republic. Another theory is that Crassus was essential to the relationship between Caesar and the Roman Senators. Without him, the relationship between the conqueror of Gaul and the Senate deteriorated in the wake of Carrhae<ref>Holland, p. 245</ref>. After the death of Crassus, the relationship between Caesar and the Senate broke down, irretrievably, over command of the legions on Gaul. Civil War broke out when Caesar crossed the Rubicon. The disaster at Carrhae helped to create a set of circumstances that Pompey led to a period series of civil wars , that ended with an imperial form ultimately resulted in the collapse of government in Romethe Roman Republic. ====References====<references/>

==Conclusion==Carrhae was a humiliation for Rome. It also had profound implications for the Republic and later its successor the Empire. The near annihilation of the invasion force of Crassus had profound implications. It meant that the [[Category:Roman Near East was left very exposed for several decades and it suffered frequent Parthian incursions and interference. It was only with the establishment of the Imperial system that Rome’s eastern provinces could be properly protected. The disaster at Carrhae meant that Rome came to fear and hate Parthia and many such as Mark Anthony wanted to avenge the defeat. This all contributed to a series of wars between Parthia and Rome. The death of Crassus helped to destabilize the politics in Rome. He was able to maintain a balance of power between Pompey and Caesar. With his death, it was perhaps inevitable that the two men would fight for supremacy in Rome. The conflict between the Caesar and Pompey led to a series of civil wars, that ultimately resulted in the collapse of the Roman Republic. ==References==History]][[Category:Wikis]]