ABSTRACT
Artemii Passio 70: see volume 1. Cedrenus I.539.16-21: see volume 1. Chr. 724, 133.25-134.9: see volume 1. Epic Histories IV.21: (describing the treaty of 363) ( … ) And he wrote in the treaty in the following way: ‘I have granted you,’ he (Jovian) said: ‘the city of Ncbin (Nisibis), which is in Aruestan and Syrian Mesopotamia. And I am withdrawing from the middle country of Armenia. If you will be able to overcome and subject them, I shall not support them.’ The king of the Greeks was then in a difficult situation, and (being) in an uncomfortable position, he in this manner sealed a deed of the words; and he gave (the agreement) to the king of Persia and so freed himself from him ( … ). (tr. Greenwood) Eutropius, Breviarium X.17.1: After this, Jovian, who was then serving as a domesticus, was chosen to take over the empire by the general consensus of the army; he was known to the soldiers more by the reputation of his father than by his own merits. Since matters were already in a troubled state and the army suffering from a lack of supplies, and after he had been defeated in one battle, then another,21 he made a peace with Shapur which was necessary indeed, but shameful; he was punished in regard to the frontier, and several parts of the Roman empire were handed over. Josh. Styl. 7 (242.2-8): After the death of Julian in Persia, which took place in the year 674 (362/3), Jovinian (i.e. Jovian), who reigned over the Romans after him, valued peace more than anything; and for the sake of this he allowed the Persians to have authority over Nisibis for 120 years, after which they were to restore it to its masters.22 ( … ) (tr. Wright, rev. M. Greatrex) Orosius, Hist. VII.31.1-2: In the 1117th year after the foundation of Rome, Jovian was made the 37th emperor at a critical juncture of events. When, trapped by unfavourable terrain and surrounded by the enemy, he could find no opportunity for escape, he agreed a treaty with the Persian king Shapur, which, although some consider it unworthy, was nevertheless quite necessary; (2) and so, in order that he might rescue the Roman army safe and unharmed not only from the attack of the enemy, but also from the danger of the territory, he ceded the town of Nisibis and part of Upper Mesopotamia to the Persians. Ps.-Dion. I, 180.4-8: He (Jovian) made peace between the two empires and ceded Nisibis to the Persians. The persecution came to an end in Persia because of the peace he made and all the churches were (re)opened. All the inhabitants of Nisibis went into exile to Amida in Mesopotamia and he constructed walls for them west of the city. (tr. Lieu, rev. Brock) Rufinus, HE XI.1 (1001.10-1002.6): ( … ) In fact divine clemency immediately attended him (Jovian) against all (p.1002) hope, since they (the soldiers) were held (in a position) closed in on all sides by the enemy, and no means of escape was available. Suddenly they beheld spokesmen sent by the barbarians to seek peace, promising victuals and other necessities to the army, (which was) stricken by starvation, and
repaying the boldness of our men with every kindness. But when peace was made for 29 years, he returned to Roman soil ( … ). Socr. HE III.22.5-7 (218.11-18): The cry of all in unison therefore acknowledged that they were Christians; he (Jovian) accepted the throne, (6) suddenly taking over in a crisis, in Persian territory, with the soldiers perishing from hunger, and he brought the war to an end by a treaty. The treaty was shameful to Roman glory, but necessary in the situation. (7) For he received a fine in regard to the boundaries of the empire and handed over to the Persians Nisibis in Mesopotamia, <a very large and populous city>; he then departed from there. Soz. HE VI.3.2 (239.17-20): Since matters were in a dangerous and confused state as a result of Julian’s expedition23 and the army suffering from a lack of provisions, he (Jovian) saw that it was necessary to come to terms and handed over to the Persians one of the (territories) previously tributary to the Romans. Zonaras XIII.14.4-6 (217.3-13): He (Jovian) thus accepted the title of emperor, and made a treaty with the Persians which was not befitting to the Romans, but was made under compulsion. (5) He conceded two famous cities to them, Nisibis and Singara, and transferred the inhabitants of them elsewhere, by whom, in their grief, he was violently abused. (6) He abandoned to them (the Persians) many provinces and rights which had belonged to the Romans for a long time. When the hostages had been handed over by each side, the treaty was confirmed. The Romans then moved off, but endured a shortage of provisions, for they did not even have enough water. (tr. Dodgeon, revised) Zos. III.31.1-2: Although the (Roman) army was in these circumstances, the Persians nonetheless entered negotiations about friendship and sent out Surena and others from those in power among them. Jovian received their words about peace and despatched Salutius the praetorian prefect and with him Arintheus. After talks between the two sides had taken place concerning this matter a treaty for thirty years was concluded. It was agreed that the Romans should cede the province of Zabdicene to the Persians, as well as Corduene, Rehimene and Zalene;24 and in addition to these and in all these (regions, they were to hand over) the fortresses in them, fifteen in number, with their inhabitants, possessions, animals and all their equipment, while Nisibis should be handed over without its inhabitants. For it was determined that they would be resettled where the Romans decided. (2) The Persians also took most of Armenia, allowing the Romans to hold a small part of it. Once the treaty had been concluded on these terms and had been confirmed with contracts by both sides (the Persians) gave the Romans a free path for their return home; (for it was understood that the Romans) would not harm the lands of the Persians, and that they (in return) would not be the victims of Persian ambushes.25
