At Carrhae, in Mesopotamia, Parthian horse archers (hippotoxotai) defeat the Roman legions of Marcus Crassus, part of the triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. The Parthians are led by Surena, a member of the highest Parthian nobility. The outcome of the battle is decided in a brief instant. The Parthian bow is a compound bow, and the power of its kinetic energy penetrates the legionaries’ armored armour. In effect, the hippotoxotai manage to push the Roman infantry into the mouths of their own heavy cavalry, which exterminates them. Crassus is forced to surrender to the enemy, and the legion is annihilated. The best infantry in the world defeated by Parthian cavalry. Carrhae, among the few Roman defeats (Cannae, Trasimene, Teutoburg, Numantia), is unique: it was caused by a psychological breakdown. The mythical echo of Crassus’ disaster will linger for centuries to come.
