Battle of Carrhae
Roman-Parthian Wars · 53 BC
Battle of Carrhae
Parthia ⚔ Roman Republic · Mesopotamia
Command this battle — encircle the legions with Surena or break the Parthian archers
⚔ Edition II
⚔ Edition IV — Late 2026
In 53 BC, Crassus led seven legions into the Mesopotamian desert, where Surena's horse archers encircled them in the scorching heat. Unable to close with an enemy that never stopped moving, the Roman square crumbled under relentless arrow fire — Crassus died in the rout, and Rome lost 20,000 men.
Rome · ~35,000–40,000
Marcus Crassus
Parthia · ~10,000–12,000
Surena
Phase I
Roman army advances into open desert
Phase II
Parthian horse archers begin continuous encirclement
Phase III
Publius Crassus charges and is isolated and destroyed
Phase IV
Roman formation collapses — Crassus killed in rout
Rome
~20,000 killed
~10,000 captured
~10,000 captured
Parthia
Minimal losses
A decisive Parthian victory through mounted archery and encirclement — Rome's worst defeat in the East, and the death of the First Triumvirate.
Could you have broken the encirclement?
Find Crassus in Edition II — Edition IV The Eagle Wars coming Late 2026
Third Servile War
Core Set
The Eagle Wars
Late 2026