Fall of Hatra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Hatra
Part of the Roman-Persian Wars
The ruins of Hatra
Date 240 – April 241 AD Location Hatra, northern Mesopotamia 35°35′17″N 42°43′6″E / 35.58806°N 42.71833°E / 35.58806; 42.71833 Result Sasanian victory Kingdom of Hatra dissolved
Belligerents
Sasanian Empire	Kingdom of Hatra Support: Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ardashir I or Shapur I	Sanatruq II  †

The fall of Hatra was a major event in the 3rd century. Hatra was the capital city of the Kingdom of Hatra, ruled by King Sanatruq II. It was attacked and captured by Shapur I, a powerful king from the Sasanian Empire. After the attack, Hatra was looted and left empty. The Kingdom of Hatra also ended.

Hatra's Important Location

The Kingdom of Hatra was located between two huge empires: the Roman Empire and the Parthian Empire. This made Hatra a "buffer state." A buffer state is like a neutral zone between two powerful neighbors. It helped keep peace or acted as a barrier during conflicts.

Hatra's capital city, also called Hatra, was very well-protected. It had strong walls and defenses. This allowed it to survive attacks from Roman emperors like Trajan in 117 AD. It also fought off Septimius Severus in 193 and 197 AD.

Changing Sides

When Sanatruq II was king, Hatra's kingdom grew larger. The old Parthian Empire was replaced by the new and strong Sasanian Empire. Because of this, Hatra changed its loyalty. It decided to become a partner, or "vassal kingdom," of the Romans.

The first Sasanian king, Ardashir I, tried to capture Hatra in the 220s. But he was not successful. Writings found in Hatra from 235 AD show that the Roman army was present in the city. This means the Romans were helping to defend Hatra.

The Siege and Hatra's End

Historians now believe Hatra fell between 240 and 241 AD. This date comes from a recently found document called the Cologne Mani Codex. This was around the time Ardashir I made his son, Shapur I, a co-ruler. Either Ardashir or Shapur could have been the one to conquer Hatra.

The attack on Hatra, called a siege, lasted a long time. Some records say it lasted one year, while others say two years.

What Happened After

After Hatra was captured, it was completely looted. Its strong walls and defenses were destroyed. The city was left empty and was never settled again. The Kingdom of Hatra was officially ended.

In 363 AD, a Roman historian named Ammianus Marcellinus passed by Hatra. He described it as an "old city" that had been empty for a very long time.

Legends and Stories

People in the Middle Ages told many stories about Hatra's fall. These stories mixed facts with fiction. One famous legend tells of a princess named al-Nadirah. She was from Hatra and supposedly fell in love with King Shapur I. The story says she betrayed her city to him.

Many historians believe that the Sasanian capture of Hatra led to a war with the Roman emperor Gordian III.