The Lazic War

While the Byzantine Empire under Justinian I and the Sassanids under Khosrow I might have decided to stop fighting on their southern borders, hostilities continued in the area east of the Black Sea. This was a 20-year conflict, from 541 to 562.The Byzantine control had been settled years earlier, in a treaty made in 532 that was called "Eternal Peace" after five years of conflict. Iran recognized the Byzantine control of the place, and the monarch of Lazica, Tzath I, was even made to convert to Christianity and given royal recognition by Justinian's predecessor, Justin I.In 536, Constantinople reduced their king's authority when the Byzantine general John Tribes was given military command over Lazica. Tribes also promoted Byzantine merchants over the locals, leading to an uprising in 541. Then-Lazican king Gubazes II requested help from the Persians.Khosrow I answered the call fore help, advancing to Lazica and capturing the city of Roman-built trade city of Petra. Khosrow declared…