Acbas (Akbas) or Arbas was a

Sasanian The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th centuries AD. Named ...

forterss built in the 570s in

Arzanene Arzanene ( el, Ἀρζανηνή) or Aghdznik () was a historical region in the southwest of the ancient kingdom of Armenia. It was ruled by one of the four ''bdeashkhs'' (''bidakhsh'', ''vitaxa'') of Armenia, the highest ranking nobles below t ...

district, Armenia right on the Roman-Persian border. It was perched on a hill on the east bank of the Nymphius river (modern

Batman River The Batman River is a major tributary of the Tigris, joining it near the source of Tigris called Dicle River in southeast Turkey. The region along the Batman River is known for its petroleum, oil fields. Course The river originates in the Anti-T ...

), roughly opposite Martyropolis. It was several miles distant from the fortresses of

Aphoum Aphumon, also Aphum or Aphoum, was a Sasanian Empire, Sasanian city fortress and the main fortification in the district of Arzanene in Armenia. It functioned as a frontier stronghold and was the site of various battles during the Roman-Persian wars ...

and Chlomaron. In 583 the Roman general Aulus or

John Mystacon John, surnamed Mystacon, "the mustachioed", ( el, , '' fl.'' 580–590),. was a prominent East Roman (Byzantine) general in the wars with Sassanid Persia during the reigns of Byzantine emperors Tiberius II (r. 578–582) and Maurice (r. 582–602) ...

invested Acbas and began a blockade. The garrison asked for help using signal fires. The Persian force under Kardarigan that was besieging the nearby fortress of Aphumon came for assistance and repelled the Romans, who retired across Nymphius into the Roman territories. As a result, Emperor Maurice recalled the general and replaced him with

Philippicus Philippicus ( la, Filepicus; el, Φιλιππικός, Philippikós) was Byzantine emperor from 711 to 713. He took power in a coup against the unpopular emperor Justinian II, and was deposed in a similarly violent manner nineteen months later. ...

as the commander of the armies in the East. According to Theophylact, the Persians were victorious. However, according to John, by the end of the year, Acbas fell to the Romans who destroyed it after capturing it.

References

{{coord missing, Armenia History of Batman Province Western Armenia Sassanian fortifications Former populated places in Asia Roman–Persian Wars Demolished buildings and structures in Armenia Lost castles Buildings and structures completed in the 570s 583 establishments