Harrel, John S. The Nisbis War. The Defence of the Roman East AD 337-363

The war of 337-363 (which the author dubs the Nisibis War), was an exception to the traditional Roman reliance on a strategic offensive to bring about a decisive battle. Instead, the Emperor Constantius II adopted a defensive strategy and conducted a mobile defense based upon small frontier (limitanei) forces defending fortified cities, supported by limited counteroffensives by the Field Army of the East. These methods successfully checked Persian assaults for 24 years. However, when Julian became emperor his access to greater resources tempted him to abandon mobile defense in favor of a major invasion aimed at regime change in Persia. Although he reached the Persian capital, Ctesiphon, he failed to take it, was decisively defeated in battle and killed. The Romans subsequently resumed and refined the mobile defense, allowing the Eastern provinces to survive the fall of the Western Empire. John Harrel applies his personal experience of military command to a strategic, operational, tactical and logistical analysis of these campaigns and battles, highlighting their long-term significance.

These methods successfully countered Persian attacks for 24 years. However, when Julian became emperor, his access to greater resources led him to abandon mobile defence in favour of a larger invasion aimed at regime change in Persia. Although he reached the Persian capital of Ctesiphon, he was unable to take it and was decisively defeated and killed in battle. The Romans then resumed and refined the mobile defences so that the eastern provinces could survive the fall of the western empire. John Harrel draws on his personal experience of military command structures to present a strategic, operational, tactical and logistical analysis of these campaigns and their battles, emphasising their long-term significance.