7. Valerian
Even during the Late Roman Empire in the 2nd century A.D, the title of Emperor would define you as a person of great power and you would kneel to no one. However, the persona of the Emperor suffered a great blow during the reign of Valerian as he became the first and only Emperor to be captured in battle.
This happened following the Battle of Edessa, during a conflict with the Persians led by their king, Shapur I. Valerian – already 5 years into his reign, much longer than the average rule during the Crisis of the Third Century – had a stroke of bad luck, having his army decimated by the plague just before the battle. Subsequently, they had to surrender to the Persians. Valerian made a successful attempt to parlay with Shapur in order to obtain an honorable retreat, but in a most unexpected act of defiance and backstabbing, Shapur went back on his word and seized Valerian during their meeting, taking him prisoner and putting the roman soldiers into slavery.
Shapur systematically humiliated Valerian, made use of the Emperor as a footstool when mounting on his horse and pretty much used him as a living trophy, amounting to his bragging rights. Valerian spent the rest of his days in the hands of the Persian king, but death did not end his abashment, as after he died, Valerian was skinned and stuffed in order to be displayed in a Persian temple, so all could see the greatest humiliation that a Caesar Augustus had ever suffered.
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