Battle of Bagrevand (371)

Battle of Bagrevand was fought in 371, in the plains of Bagrevand, with the Roman-Armenian armies defeating the Persian forces.

Battle
Shapur II, Shah of Persia, contacted Armenian King Papas (Pap) who was still in hiding and tried to persuade him to come over to his side. Under Shapur's influence Papas murdered the duplicitous Cylaces and Artabanes and sent their heads to the shahanshah as a sign of loyalty. In the spring of 370 Shapur prepared a massive invasion of Armenia which was realized in the spring of 371. Valens' generals Traianus and Vadomarius met the Persian force in Armenia at Bagrevand not far from the village called Dzirav and came off victorious. Faustus of Byzantium gives considerable credit for the victory to sparapet Mushegh Mamikonian. Movses Khorenatsi of Armenia and Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus noted that the Valens' generals did not participate in the battle actively but rather were engaged in protecting the king. During the ensuing battles more Armenian territories were reclaimed from the Persians, including Arzanene and Corduene which were ceded to Persians by Jovian in 363.