In his sixties, the aged Valerian marched eastward to the Sasanian borders.
According to Shapur I's inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht, Valerian met the main Persian army, under the command of Shapur I, between Carrhae and Edessa (in Middle Persian: Urhāy), with units from almost every part of the Roman Empire, together with Germanic allies, and was thoroughly defeated and captured with his entire army.


According to Roman sources, which are not very clear, the Roman army was defeated and besieged by the Persian forces.
Valerian subsequently tried to negotiate, but he was captured; it is possible that his army surrendered after that.
The prisoners included, according to Shapur's claims, many other high-ranking officials, including a praetorian prefect, possibly Successianus.
It has also been claimed that Shapur went back on his word by having the emperor seized after agreeing to truce negotiations.
In his sixties, the aged Valerian marched eastward to the Sasanian borders. According to Shapur I's inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht, Valerian met the main Persian army, under the command of Shapur I, between Carrhae and Edessa (in Middle Persian: Urhāy), with units from almost every part of the Roman Empire, together with Germanic allies, and was thoroughly defeated and captured with his entire army.

According to Roman sources, which are not very clear, the Roman army was defeated and besieged by the Persian forces. Valerian subsequently tried to negotiate, but he was captured; it is possible that his army surrendered after that. The prisoners included, according to Shapur's claims, many other high-ranking officials, including a praetorian prefect, possibly Successianus. It has also been claimed that Shapur went back on his word by having the emperor seized after agreeing to truce negotiations.
Battle of Edessa