As Shapur I took the throne as the Sassanid ruler of Persia, he sensed Rome’s weakness. In AD 250 he invaded Mesopotamia, reaching as far as the Roman provinces of Syria and Armenia. The greatest victory was against Emperor Valerian, who was captured alive. Just when all looked lost, Roman allies in Palmyra intervened and pushed the Sassanid forces back to Ctesiphon, reclaiming the lost eastern provinces for themselves. After Shapur’s death to illness, his son Hormizd took the reins of the Empire, vowing to continue the fight against Rome and bring unimaginable greatness to the House of Sassan.
The Sassanids (Empire Divided)
- Centralised Authority: -5 Banditry (in all your provinces)
- Silk Road: +20% wealth from all commerce buildings