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The wars between Rome and the Parthian Empire, which took place roughly from 53 BC to 217 AD, were a unique episode in classical history. Although Rome conquered nearly the entire civilized world around the Mediterranean, Rome could never conquer Parthia.
Subsequently, one may also ask, did the Romans defeat the Parthians?
The Romans fought against the Parthians three times without success 3 . In 53 B.C., the Roman army led by Crassus suffered a devastating lost against the Parthians 3 . Crassus, a member of the first Triumvir, was killed and had his head sent to Armenia as a sign of Roman humiliation 13 .
Moreover, who defeated the Parthians?
In 53 BCE, the Roman general Crassus invaded Parthia. At Harran or Carrhae, however, he was defeated by a Parthian commander who is called Surena in the Greek and Latin sources, and must have been a member of the Sûrên clan. This was the beginning of a series of wars that were to last for almost three centuries.
It is regarded both as one of the greatest tactical feats in military history and as one of the worst defeats in Roman history. Having recovered from their losses at Trebia (218 BC) and Lake Trasimene (217 BC), the Romans decided to engage Hannibal at Cannae, with approximately 86,000 Roman and allied troops.