Pompeian–Parthian invasion of 40 BC
| Pompeian–Parthian invasion of 40 BC | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Roman–Parthian Wars | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Parthian Empire Roman Pompeians Pro-Parthian Judeans Commagene |
Roman Republic Pro-Roman Judeans | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Orodes II Pacorus I of Parthia † Quintus Labienus Pharnapates † Antigonus II Mattathias Antiochus I of Commagene |
Mark Antony Lucius Decidius Saxa Lucius Munatius Plancus (withdrawn) Publius Ventidius Pompaedius Silo Hyrcanus II Phasael Herod | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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Estimated ~14,000 Parthian cavalry Unknown number of Republican Roman soldiers | Estimated ~54,000 men (in total) (~11 legions, cavalry, slingers) | ||||||||
The Pompeian–Parthian invasion of 40 BC occurred after the Pompeians, backed by the Parthian Empire, had been defeated during the Liberators' civil war by Mark Antony and Octavian.
King Orodes II sent a Parthian force under Prince Pacorus I and Pompeian General Quintus Labienus in 40 BC to invade the eastern Roman territories while Antony was in Egypt. Roman soldiers in Syria, many of whom had fought against Caesar during the last civil war, joined the force, and the Levant and much of Asia Minor were swiftly overrun by respectively Pacorus I and Labienus.
In 39 BC, Antony sent Ventidius, who defeated and executed Labienus in a counterattack and then drove Pacorus I out of the Levant. A second Parthian invasion of Syria by Pacorus I resulted in his death and a Parthian failure.
Antony later began a campaign with a massive force against Parthia, but it ended in Roman defeat. Roman–Parthian hostilities formally ended only under the reign of Octavian (Augustus).