The battle was fought during a campaign ordered by Emperor Gordian III to retake the Roman cities of Hatra, Nisibis and Carrhae. These territories, in fact, had been conquered by Shapur and, before him, by his father King Ardashir I, when the Roman Empire was plagued with the internal wars between pretenders to the throne. Following this victory the Roman legions recovered Nsibis and Singara, and advanced by way of the Khabur to the Euphrates. Intending to take Ctesiphon, Gordian's army was halted at Misiche.