ABSTRACT
One factor behind Khusro’s breaking of the Eternal Peace was the prevailing dissatisfaction with Roman rule in Transcaucasia. The Armenians had previously complained to him of their treatment at the hands of Justinian, while the Lazi now also came forward to urge Persian intervention, having been forced to endure the quartering of Roman troops on their territory and the rapacity of imperial officials (Proc. II.15.1-30).1 Accordingly Khusro made preparations to invade Lazica, masking his intent by claiming that he was instead intending to campaign against Huns who had attacked Iberia (II.15.31-5).2 Having entered Lazica, Khusro was met by the Lazic king Gubazes, who formally handed over control of the kingdom to him. The Persians next moved to seize control of the chief Roman base in the region, the newly founded city of Petra. Despite an initial setback here, Khusro took the city, but did not destroy it. The Roman defenders, having negotiated a truce with the king, joined his army (II.17.1-28). The Roman garrisons at Pityus and Sebastopolis also withdrew after destroying their bases. (VIII.4.4-5).3
See Braund 1994: 292. When news reached the Persians of Belisarius’ capture of Sisauranon and Harith’s attack on Assyria, Khusro installed a garrison at Petra and withdrew to his own lands (II.19.47-9). See Bury 1923: II, 101-2, Stein 1949: 493-4, Braund 1994: 294-6. Elsewhere Procopius sheds further light on the interrelationship between the campaigns of 541.
