The Byzantine-Sassanian Wars were the result of a long-standing rivalry between two of the most powerful empires of late antiquity. The Byzantine Empire, the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, and the Sassanian Empire of Persia, which had overthrown the Parthians in the third century, were natural adversaries. Their struggle for dominance spanned several centuries, shaping the political and military landscape of the Near East.
The foundations of this rivalry were rooted in geography, politics, and history. The Byzantine and Sassanian Empires shared a vast border stretching from the Caucasus to the Arabian deserts, making territorial disputes inevitable. Control over key regions such as Armenia, Mesopotamia, and the Levant was crucial for trade, military strategy, and influence. The buffer zones between them often became battlegrounds, as both empires sought to extend their influence over the same contested territories.
Religious and ideological differences further deepened the divide. The Byzantines, as heirs to the Roman tradition, followed Christianity, which had become the dominant faith under Emperor Constantine and later solidified as the state religion. In contrast, the Sassanian rulers were staunch supporters of Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian faith. This religious contrast was more than just a matter of belief; it shaped policies, alliances, and even the justification for war. Both empires saw themselves as defenders of their respective faiths, using religion to rally support and justify their military campaigns.
