260 Capture of Valerian by Sapor. He proceeds towards Asia Minor but is repulsed by Odenathus, king of Palmyra, who lays siege to Ctesiphon. Sapor acquires no permanent gain of territory. In his reign Mani preaches his doctrines tending to the amalgamation of Christianity and Zoroastrianism, and leading to the formation of the Manichæan sect. 272 or 273 Sapor succeeded by his son =Hormuz= (=Hormizd=) or =Hormisdas I=. 274 Death of Hormuz and accession of his brother (?) =Bahram= or =Varanes I=--a weak prince, given to pleasure. Mani executed in his reign. Persecution of the Manichæans and Christians. 277 =Bahram= or =Varanes II= succeeds his father. He wars with Rome, ending 282 with a peace with Probus. 283 After murder of Probus, Carus invades Persia, takes Ctesiphon and Coche, and dies suddenly. There are civil wars, probably led by a brother of the king, assisted by the barbarous tribes in the northwest. 294 Death of Bahram. The throne seems to be contested by =Bahram= or =Varanes III=, probably a son of Hormuz, who reigns a short time, and =Narses= or =Narseh=, who soon gains the upper hand. 297 Narseh occupies Armenia and defeats the Roman general Galerius. 298 Peace with Rome after a great defeat of Narseh by Galerius. Armenia and Mesopotamia ceded to Rome. Peace lasts forty years. 303 Abdication of Narseh in favour of his son =Hormuz II=. 310 Death of Hormuz. His son =Adharnarseh= succeeds, but is soon deposed for cruelty. His brothers are killed or imprisoned and the new born (or unborn) son of Hormuz, =Shapur= or =Sapor (II) Postumus= is chosen king. He proves to be the greatest of the Sassanians. 337 Sapor begins a long war with Rome, owing to the latter becoming Christianised. 339-340 Terrible persecution of the Christians in Persia. The war with Rome continues. Sapor aims to seize Nisibis and reduce Armenia. 348 Great defeat of the emperor Constantius at the battle of Singara. 350 Sapor almost succeeds in capturing Nisibis when troubles with the barbarians in the East compel him to raise the siege. 350-358 War in the East causes almost complete suspension in the conflict with Rome. 358 Peace made in the East and Romans sue for peace. Sapor declines and war is continued. 359 Sapor captures Amida, but the Romans regain it the following year. Hostilities are suspended until 363 when the emperor Julian attempts to strike a death-blow at Sapor. He takes Seleucia but fails to capture Ctesiphon. Death of Julian in battle. His successor Jovian makes a shameful peace with Sapor, granting him the lands east of the Tigris, and part of Mesopotamia with Nisibis and Singara. The Romans also agree not to help Arsaces of Armenia, and Sapor proceeds against him. 365-366 Reduction of Armenia and Iberia by Sapor.