In 53 BC, Marcus Licinius Crassus, the richest man in Rome, marched more than 40,000 legionaries into the Mesopotamian desert in search of glory. Waiting for him was Surena, a Parthian commander barely thirty years old, with around 10,000 horsemen and a plan no Roman had ever prepared for.
What followed was one of the most complete defeats in Roman history. Surena used hidden armor, war drums, an endless storm of arrows supplied by a camel train, a fake retreat, and a fake peace offer. Crassus lost his son, his army, the legion's eagles, and finally his own head, which ended up as a prop in a Greek play at the Parthian court.
But was Carrhae truly the greatest tactical victory of all time, or did Crassus simply hand it to him? Watch to the end and decide for yourself.
0:00 A Legionary in the Desert
3:37 Crassus's Ambition: The War No One Asked For
7:16 Into the Desert: The Guide Who Betrayed Rome
11:12 First Contact: Drums, Steel and Surena
14:32 The Endless Arrows: Surena's Secret Weapon
18:10 Publius's Charge: The Trap Inside the Trap
22:07 The Retreat: Abandoned in the Dark
26:21 The Death of Crassus
30:54 Aftermath: Was This the Greatest Victory Ever?
Was Surena a genius, or was Crassus the perfect victim? Tell us in the comments.
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