Romans In China

[deo]

I know There was a thread, ages ago but this story that i found in the AoE iii Heavens forum is quite possible:

There are a theory that tells the Roman Empire contacted with China. All began when the Roman Army was marching thought Partia (Partia was situated in the zone of Irak, Afganistan, Uzbekistan, a zone of Pakistan, etc) the army advanced too fast getting back the suply lines. It seemed that partians had fear and they didnt want to fight, but really all was a partian strategy. When the Roman Army was enough separated of the suply lines a Partian Army attacked them, romans were in disadvantage, partians won the battle. Thousands of roman soldiers were captured. This soldiers were conduced to oriental frontier of Partian Empire. Where was this frontier? Limiting China. Now there are not 100% historical accuracy but there are chineses writings that tells that the Chinese Army fought aganist partians mercenaries that had strange armour (I dont know how are called in english the armours that I´m triying to say ), also they had big shields that were used to "Testudo" formation (Turtle formation) that was very good stopping chinese arrows. Time after, Partia and China was in peace, and much of these roman prisoners that were obligated to defend Partia got the freedom. They didnt know how come back Roma, they didnt know where they were, and the legend could say that the got marriage with chinese women.
Nobody knows if the roman prisoners were killed or no but the chinese writings exists and there are a biological fact: in the zone where that romans mercenaries are supposed to were the percentage of blue eyed chinese people is bigger that in all China. And all people knows that chinese arent blue eyed.

Nobody can probe this but maybe is true, is impossible know certainly a sucees that happened 2000 years ago.
Valerio Manfredi, has wrotten a book called "The dragon´s Empire" (it is the traduction of spanish, maybe the name is different in english, if somebody knows the name please write correctly) that tells this story.

Now, you can say if you believe this or not. If somebody knows more is a good notice.

My english is not very good, excuse me

 

[Adso de Fimnu]

Nobody knows if the roman prisoners were killed or no but the chinese writings exists and there are a biological fact: in the zone where that romans mercenaries are supposed to were the percentage of blue eyed chinese people is bigger that in all China. And all people knows that chinese arent blue eyed.

I believe it's quite likely that there are descendants of Romans in China, but blue eyes don't prove much. Besides, this genetic trait could've likely come from the Tocharians (whom we know lived in Xinjiang).

Interesting theory, anyway.

 

[mitsho]

This is certainly a myth that exists, and is also proven through archaelogical findings to a part. Although the details are debated afaik. It is however clear that there was contact and intense trading going on (through other people of course) between China and Rome (quote: "Emperor An-tun of Rome" - Marcus Antonius).
But I'm not sure wether it was Parthians, I somehow connect it with the Sasanids under Shapur, thinking of the capture of Emperor Valerian and his soldiers (who later had to to build the "Imperial Dam" which even know 'exists' in modern Iran under that name).
The tale itself is also a bit longer as far as I remember telling that the Chinese also 'captured' the soldiers (who by now have had to be in their fifties!) and used them as a buffer cities (after having given them chinese women... ).

Ah, historical tales, nice, isn't it?

mitsho

 

[pawpaw]

But I'm not sure wether it was Parthians, I somehow connect it with the Sasanids under Shapur, thinking of the capture of Emperor Valerian and his soldiers (who later had to to build the "Imperial Dam" which even know 'exists' in modern Iran under that name).

Parthians--suviviors of Crassus's defeat at Carrhae

 

[SomethingWitty]

Well, they've dug up ancient Roman coins in the Mekong delta. So it's not like the ancient world was as static as most people like to think. That doesn't mean any Romans got to China themselves, but I wouldn't rule it out.

 

[mitsho]

@pawpaw Ok, the survivors of Carrhae are the ones of the story, but I'm fairly sure the same thing happened hundred and a few years later too with the survivors of Valerians defeat. (the story with the dam)

@somethingWitty Ok, but that only proves what we know already, that heavy trade occured between the East and the West, as I said, there was a trade mission of Emperor Marcus Antonius (An-tun) who reached the Chinese Emperor, wether they were actual Romans or just Palmyrenian traders is another thing...

m

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

There is no doubt in my mind that some Romans made it all the way to China. Look at how big their empire was.

Here is a very terrible quality map of the Roman Empire. I didn't think that this would be Wiki material.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:LocationRomanEmpire.png