reat was then exchanged for an advance, and after a brief engagement
the Romans were victorious, and inflicted a severe loss upon their
adversaries. But the success was not followed by results of any
importance. Neither side seems to have been anxious for another general
encounter; and the season for hostilities was occupied by a sort of
guerilla warfare, in which the advantage rested alternately with the
Persians and the Romans. At length, when the summer was ended, the
commanders on either side entered into negotiations; and a truce was
made which allowed Sapor to retire to Ctesiphon, and the Roman emperor,
who was now personally directing the war, to go into winter quarters at
Antioch.

After this the war languished for two or three years. Valens was wholly
deficient in military genius, and was quite content if he could maintain
a certain amount of Roman influence in Armenia and Iberia, while at
the same time he protected the Roman frontier against Persian invasion.
Sapor was advanced in years, and might naturally desire repose, having
been almost constantly engaged in military expeditions since he
reached the age of sixteen. Negotiations seem to have alternated with
hostilities during the interval between A.D. 371 and 376; but they
resulted in nothing, until, in this last-named year, a peace was made,
which gave tranquillity to the East during the remainder of the reign of
Sapor.

The terms upon which this peace was concluded are obscure. It is perhaps
most probable that the two contracting powers agreed to abstain from
further interference with Iberia and Armenia, and to leave those
countries to follow their own inclinations. Armenia seems by the native
accounts to have gravitated towards Rome under these circumstances, and
Iberia is likely to have followed her example. The tie of Christianity
attached these countries to the great power of the West; and, except
under compulsion, they were not likely at this time to tolerate the
yoke of Persia for a day. When Jovian withdrew the Roman protection from
them, they were forced for a while to submit to the power which they
disliked; but no sooner did his successors reverse his policy, and show
themselves ready to uphold the Armenians and Iberians against Persia,
than they naturally reverted to the Roman side, and formed an important
support to the empire against its Eastern rival.

The death of Sapor followed the peace of A.D. 376 within a few years. He
died A.D. 379