There was a perpetual source of friction between Rome and Persia, and that was the need to garrison the passes across the Caucasus Mountains. Originally, the Romans had control of the pass, but eventually it was seized by the Persians. The cost of guarding it grew so large that it became a burden on the Persian treasury, and they demanded to demand subsidies from the Romans.
The Romans began to make gains in the area under Justin, and Persian vassals began to switch their allegiance to Constantinople. Khavad, the Great King of Persia was willing to make a deal with Justin, but this involved him adopting Khavad's son, Khosrow. Both Justin and Justinian were open to the idea, but they decided against it.
The Romans found an evasive way to maneuver out of the deal. A group of Romans was sent to meet a delegation of Persians, including Khosrow, but the meeting went south, and the Persian's left vowing revenge.
Was now became inevitable, and both sides prepared for war. It was fought mostly half-heartedly by both sides. With no progress in the war, Justinian sent his friend Belisarius to take control. He was so successful that he was promoted to Magister Militum in the East.
Belisarius raised a large army and headed to the fortress city of Dara. The Persian's sent an even larger army there. The battle of Dara was Belisarus's first great test. He had an army of 25,000 while the Persian's had around 40,000.
Before the battle began, a lone Persian rode forth, challenging any Roman to personal duel. A man named Andreas, who wasn't even a soldier, but a wrestling coach in Constantinople, stepped forward. Having no experience in combat, Andreas still managed to best the Persian challenger. The Persian's were so embarrassed that they sent another warrior out, and again Andreas bested this Persian in single combat.
The battle that followed was hard fought, but the Romans, led by Belisarius eventually came out victorious. Belisarius was not even 30 yet. For the rest of the war, the Persians avoided pitched battle. Justinian still wanted peace, and sent ambassadors to Khavad. An agreement couldn't be reached at the moment and Khavad dismissed the ambassadors.
The Persians sent yet another army, this time to Antioch. Belisarius caught up and turned their army around. The Romans began to shadow the Persian army, since Belisarius had no intention of fighting another battle. His own soldiers were upset at Belisarius for not wanting to fight, and began to taunt him. Against his better judgement, Belisarius agreed to a pitched battle.
This turned out to be a disaster for the Romans, as they were soundly defeated. If Belisarius had a weakness as a commander, it was that he never gained the trust of his subordinates. He was right to not want to fight a battle that wasn't necessary, and he should have held firm on this.
Soon after the battle, Justinian recalled Belisarius back to Constantinople to prepare for another campaign that he was planning. Meanwhile back in Persia, Khavad finally died, and Khosrow was amenable to a peace agreement. The Romans and Persians agreed to a peace settlement, called the Eternal Peace Treaty. The Persian's got the better end of the deal, but Justinian got the peace he wanted.
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