Zabdaswas a 3rd-century Syrian general who led the forces ofEmpressZenobiaofPalmyraduring her rule as regent of her sonVaballathusand her subsequent rebellion against theRoman Emperorunder the short-lived independentPalmyrene Empire.He led Palmyra's expeditions in the middle east which included anne xing territory spanning fromRoman EgypttoAsia Minor.[1]
Zabdas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Palmyra,Roman Syria |
| Died | c. 273 Emesa,Roman Syria |
| Allegiance | Palmyrene Empire |
| Service | Palmyrene army |
| Years of service | 270-273 |
| Battles / wars | |
FollowingEmperorAurelian's campaign in the east and the fall of Palmyra, Zabdas, among other notable Palmyrene officials includingCassius Longinuswas executed in Emesa after being held on trial by the emperor.
Campaigns
editExpedition against the Tanukhids
editAided by another general of the army,Septimius Zabbai,andZenobiaherself, Zabdas started an expedition against theTanukhidsin the spring of 270, during the reign of emperorClaudius II.[2]
Reasons cited for Palmyra's military campaign in Arabia are the weakness of Roman central authority over its eastern provinces and its corresponding inability to protect them, which harmed Palmyra's trade and probably convinced Zenobia that the only way to maintain stability in the East was to control the region directly.[3]The conflict of Palmyra's economic interest with asBostraand Egypt receiving trade which would have otherwise passed through Palmyra also played a part.[4]
Regardless, the defiance of theTanukhidsagainst Palmyrene domination is probably the main reason which triggered a military response from Zenobia.[4]
The attack seemed to be intentionally timed, as the Palmyrene army south to Bostra while the Romans were preoccupied with their battles against theGothsin the mountains ofThrace.[5]
The Roman governor of Arabia, a certain Trassus, confronted Palmyra's approaching army while commanding theLegio III Cyrenaica,[6]but was routed and killed in action.[7]As a result, the city of Bostra surrendered, and the Palmyrene army captured and sacked the city, and destroyed the temple ofZeus Hammon,the legion's revered shrine.[7]
Invasion of Egypt
editIn October of 270,[8]a Palmyrene army of 70,000 invadedEgypt,[9][10]led by Zabdas.
The invasion of Egypt is sometimes explained by Zenobia's desire to secure an alternative trade route to the Euphrates, which was cut because of the war with Persia,[11]although the Euphrates route was only partially disrupted, and Zenobia's personal ambition and political motivation to establish Palmyrene dominance over the east definitely played a part in her decision to invade Egypt.[8]
The Palmyrenes enteredAlexandria,and left a garrison of 5,000, although shortly after,Tenagino Probus,Egypt's prefect, who was occupied with naval expeditions against pirates, was alerted of the situation in Egypt and quickly returned there.[8]He recaptured Alexandria, but the Palmyrene army shortly thereafter regained control of the city.[8]Probus retreated toBabylon Fortress.[12]Although Timagenes, a native of Egypt with knowledge of the land who was aiding Zabdas during the invasion, ambushed the Roman rear and captured the fortress. Tenagino Probus ended up committing suicide, and the Palmyrenes consolidated their dominion over Egypt.[12]
Campaigns in Asia Minor
editAfterward, in 271,Zabbai,another Palmyrene general serving Zenobia, started the operations inAsia Minor,and was joined by Zabdas in the spring of that year.[13]The Palmyrenes annexedGalatiaand, according to Zosimus, reachedAncyra.[14]Bithyniaand theCyzicusmint remained beyond Zenobia's control, and her attempts to subdueChalcedonfailed.[13]The Asia Minor campaign is poorly documented, but the western part of the region did not become part of the empress's authority.
By August 271 Zabdas was back in Palmyra, with thePalmyrene empireat its zenith.[13]
Battles against Aurelian
editIn 272, the Emperor Aurelian crossed theBosphorusand advanced quickly throughAnatolia,[10]to reconquer the lost provinces now under Palmyra.
EnteringIssusand heading toAntioch,Aurelian defeated Zabdas in theBattle of Immae,nearAntioch.[15]The Palmyrene armies retreated to Antioch then laterEmesawhile Aurelian advanced.[16]The defeat at Emesa forced the Palmyrene armies to evacuate to the capital.[17]The Romans began a siege, and tried to breach the city defenses several times but were repelled,[18]however, the situation worsened, so Zenobia, Vaballathus's mother, left the city and headed east to ask theSassanians,for help.[19]The Romans whatsoever followed the empress, arrested her near the Euphrates and brought her back to the Roman emperor. Soon after, the Palmyrene citizens asked for peace, and the city fell.
Death
editZenobia, Vaballathus and her war council, including Zabdas, were taken to Emesa and put on trial. Most of the high ranking Palmyrene officials were executed, which might have included Zabdas, as he is not mentioned in any account of Zenobia's life after the fall of Palmyra.
Notes
edit- ^Bunson 2002,p.598.
- ^Bryce 2014,p.302.
- ^Young 2003,p.163.
- ^abYoung 2003,p.164.
- ^Southern 2008,p.114.
- ^Southern 2008,p.109.
- ^abWatson 2004,p.61.
- ^abcdWatson 2004,p.62.
- ^Southern 2008,p.133.
- ^abBryce 2014,p.303.
- ^Smith II 2013,p.178.
- ^abWatson 2004,p.63.
- ^abcWatson 2004,p.64.
- ^Southern 2008,p.116.
- ^Bryce 2014,p.309.
- ^Watson 2004,p.74.
- ^Bryce 2014,p.310.
- ^Stoneman 2003,p.175.
- ^Watson 2004,p.77.
Sources
edit- Bryce, Trevor (2014).Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-100292-2.
- Bunson, Matthew (2002).Encyclopedia of the Roman empire.Facts On File.ISBN978-0-81-604562-4.
- Smith II, Andrew M. (2013).Roman Palmyra: Identity, Community, and State Formation.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-986110-1.
- Southern, Patricia (2008).Empress Zenobia: Palmyra's Rebel Queen.A&C Black.ISBN978-1-4411-4248-1.
- Stoneman, Richard (2003) [First published 1992].Palmyra and Its Empire: Zenobia's Revolt Against Rome.University of Michigan Press.ISBN978-0-472-08315-2.
- Watson, Alaric (2004) [First published 1999].Aurelian and the Third Century.Routledge.ISBN978-1-134-90815-8.
- Young, Gary K. (2003).Rome's Eastern Trade: International Commerce and Imperial Policy 31 BC – AD 305.Routledge.ISBN978-1-134-54793-7.