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Lactantius’ account of Valerian’s fate is more gruesome.

Shahnameh illustration of Valerian captured by Shapur I's men. According to Byzantine historian Zosimus, Valerian ended his days in the capacity of a slave among the Persians. When Valerian went to Shapur with a small retinue, he was seized by the Sassanians. The Sassanian king, Shapur I sent the ambassadors back to Valerian with a message that he wanted the emperor to come and appeal to him in person. The widely accepted story is that Valerian wanted to end the war with the Sassanians by offering them money.

The death of Valerian is traditionally known as one of the most dramatic and unfortunate of all the deaths of the Roman emperors.