 The battle was fought in 252 when Shapur I (239-270 CE), King of the Sassanian Empire and son of Ardashir I, led his army from the Euphrates River and met with a Roman army 60,000 strong of legionaries, archers, and Roman cavalry.Although the number of forces of Sassanid Persians are unclear, through tactics and use of strategy Shapur I managed to win the battle and open a way through the Syrian cities and castles.The major defeat of the Battle of Barbalissos was very costly for the Roman emperor Valerian who appointed many more armies to stop Shapur I from quick advance into Roman soil and later on he decided to lead a major army of 70,000 legionaries himself.