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Battle of Abrittus
Part of the Roman-Gothic Wars of 3rd century AD

Part of the Roman-Germanic wars
Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius
Coin of Decius, Roman Emperor defeated and killed in the battle
Date Summer (probably June), 251
Location Razgrad, Bulgaria
Result Gothic victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire federation of Goths
Commanders
Decius†
Herennius Etruscus†		 Cniva
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Battle of Abritus[1] (modern Razgrad, in the Bulgarian part of Dobruja), also known as the Battle of Forum Terebronii[2], occurred in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior probably in June, 251, between the Roman Empire and a federation of "Scythian" tribesmen under the Goth King Cniva. The Germanic Wars is a name given to a series of Wars between the Romans and various Germanic tribes between 113 BC and 439 A Razgrad (Разград is a city in northeastern Bulgaria and the capital of Razgrad Province, built upon the ruins of the Ancient Roman town of The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius (ca 227 - June 251 was Roman emperor in 251 in a joint rule with his father Trajan Decius. Cniva ( Kniwa, meaning "knees" perhaps from a childhood nickname (flourished mid- 3rd century CE was the Gothic king who invaded the Roman Razgrad (Разград is a city in northeastern Bulgaria and the capital of Razgrad Province, built upon the ruins of the Ancient Roman town of The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the Events By Place Roman Empire July 1 — In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans emperors Decius The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s Cniva ( Kniwa, meaning "knees" perhaps from a childhood nickname (flourished mid- 3rd century CE was the Gothic king who invaded the Roman The Romans were soundly defeated, and Roman Emperors Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus were both killed during battle. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius (ca 227 - June 251 was Roman emperor in 251 in a joint rule with his father Trajan Decius. They became the first Roman emperors killed in a battle with a foreign enemy.

The battle typically marks the starting of a period of increased military and political instability in the Roman Empire, although the symptoms of the crisis had already appeared in the preceding decades.

Contents

Background

Map of the invasions and the location of the battle. Click on it to enlarge
Map of the invasions and the location of the battle. Click on it to enlarge

Soon after Decius ascension to the throne in 249, barbarian tribes invaded the Roman provinces of Dacia, Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior. Events By Place Roman Empire Decius, who was proclaimed Emperor by the army in Moesia, defeats and kills Philip the Arab The Roman province of Dacia on the Balkans included the modern Romanian regions of Transylvania, Banat and Oltenia, and temporarily Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the Two factors had contributed in growing unrest in the area north of Danube. First, Decius' predecessor Philip the Arab had refused to continue the payment of annual subsidies to the aggressive tribes of the region, that Emperor Maximinus Thrax had initiated in 238[3] Second and more important, there were continuous movements of new peoples since the time of Emperor Severus Alexander. Marcus Julius Philippus or Philippus I Arabs (c 204 - 249 known in English as Philip the Arab or formerly (prior to World War II in Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus (c 173&ndash238 also known as Maximinus Thrax (i Events By Place Roman Empire Carpians invade Moesia; Emperor Maximinus Thrax campaigns against them Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, commonly called Alexander Severus, (October 1 208 &ndash March 18, 235) was the last Roman emperor [4] Decius might also had taken with him troops from the Danube frontier, in order to depose Philip in 249, and the resulted military vacuum would inevitably attracted the invaders. [5]

The course of events is not clear. It seems that in 250 the Carpi invaded Dacia, eastern Moesia Superior and western Moesia Inferior. Events By Place Roman Empire A group of Franks penetrate as far as Tarragona in Spain (approximate date The Carpi or Carpians were a Dacian tribe that were originally located on the Eastern slopes of the Carpathian Mountains, in what is now Bacău County Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the [6] At the same time, a tribal coalition under Cniva crossed the Roman frontier, probably advancing in two columns. Whether these were consisted only of Goths is rather unlikely so the name "Scythians" by which the Greek sources called them (a geographical definition) seems more appropriate. [7] It is quite possible that other people of Germanic and Sarmatian origin (like Bastarnae, Taifals and Hasdingian Vandals), perhaps Roman deserters as well, had joined the invaders. The Bastarnae were an important ancient people of uncertain but probably mixed Germanic-Celtic-Sarmatian ethnic origin who lived between the Danube and the Dnieper (Strabo Geography The Taifals, Taifali, Taifalae, Tayfals, or Theifali were a Barbarian people settled by the late Roman Empire in Poitou The Hasdingi were the southern tribes of the Vandals, an East Germanic tribe. [8] However, the name of the king is indeed Gothic and probably genuine. [9]

The first column of Cniva's army, a detachment likely led by the chieftains Argaith and Gunteric, besieged Marcianopolis, without success it seems. [10] Then they probably headed south to besiege Philippopolis (now Plovdiv in Bulgaria). Cniva's main column under the King himself crossed Danube at Oescus then headed eastwards to Novae, where he was repelled by the provincial governor (and future emperor) Trebonianus Gallus. Oescus, or Palatiolon Palatiolum (in bulgarian Улпия Ескус was an ancient town in Moesia, northwest of the modern Bulgarian city of Pleven, A nova (pl novae or novas) is a Cataclysmic nuclear explosion caused by the accretion of hydrogen onto the surface of a White Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206 - August 253 was Roman Emperor from 251 to 253 in a joint rule with his son Volusianus. [6] Then the invaders headed south to plunder Nicopolis ad Istrum where Decius defeated them but not decisively[11]. Nicopolis ad Istrum was a Roman and Early Byzantine town founded by Emperor Trajan around 101 - 106, at the junction of the Iatrus After these initial setbacks, the barbarians moved southwards through Haemus mountain and Decius pursued them (likely through the Shipka Pass) to save Philippopolis. The Balkan Mountain range ( Bulgarian and Стара планина Stara planina, "Old Mountain" Shipka (Шипка " Rosa canina ") is a town in central Bulgaria, part of Kazanlak municipality Stara Zagora Province [12] This time Decius army was taken by surprise while resting at Beroe/Augusta Traiana. Stara Zagora (Стара Загора is the sixth largest city in Bulgaria, and one of the nationally important economic centres Romans were heavily defeated. Decius was forced to withdrew his wrecked army to the north at Oescus, leaving Cniva ample time to ravage Moesia and finally capture Philippopolis in the summer of 251, in part with the help of its commander, a certain Titus Julius Priscus who had proclaimed himself Emperor. Titus Julius Priscus was a mid 3rd century Roman usurper He was the governor of Macedon, and was proclaimed Augustus at Philippopolis towards the end [13] It seems that Priscus, after receiving the news of the defeat at Beroe, thought that the Goths would spare him and the city. He was wrong and probably died during the sack of it. [14]. Then the "Scythians" began returning to their homeland, laden with booty and captives, among them many of senatorial rank. [12]

In the meantime, Decius had returned with his re-organized army, accompanied by his son Herennius Etruscus and the general Trebonianus Gallus, intending to defeat the invaders and recover the booty. Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206 - August 253 was Roman Emperor from 251 to 253 in a joint rule with his son Volusianus.

Battle

Probably in June[15] or August[16] of 251, the Roman army engaged the "Scythians" under Cniva near Abritus. The strength of each bellingerent is unknown but we know that Cniva divided his forces into three units, the third of them concealed behind a swamp. [17]. It seems that Cniva wasn't lacking knowledge of tactics and knew the surround area very well. [8] From Jordanes and Aurelius Victor came the following anecdote. [18] During a skirmish before the outset of the battle, Herennius Etruscus was killed by an arrow and his father addressed his soldiers as if the loss of his son would not matter. He allegedly said "Let no one mourn. The death of one soldier is not a great loss to the republic". However, other sources imply that he Herennius died with his father. [19]

The manoeuvre of the "Scythians" was ultimately successful. Decius forces defeated the opponents in the front line but he made the fatal mistake to lead his army into the swamp. The immense slaughter marked one of the most catastrophic defeats in the history of the Roman Empire and the perishing of Decius itself. [17] Zonaras[20] vividly narrates how

"he and his son and a large number of Romans fell into the marshland; all of them perished there, none of their bodies to be found, as they were covered by the mud. "

Lactantius, a Christian apologist of the early 4th century (deeply hating Decius for the persecution of Christians resulted from his edict on sacrifices) described the emperor's demise as following :[21]

"he was suddenly surrounded by the barbarians, and slain, together with great part of his army; nor could he be honoured with the rites of sepulture, but, stripped and naked, he lay to be devoured by wild beasts and birds, a fit end for the enemy of God. Lucius Caelius (or Caecilius? Firmianus Lactantius was an Early Christian author (ca "

The supposedly treacherous behavior of Treboniannus Gallus who, according to Zosimus[22], signalled the final Gothic assault is not accepted today. It seems impossible that the shattered Roman legions proclaimed emperor a traitor who was responsible for the loss of so many soldiers from their ranks. Another strong point against Gallus' treason is the fact that he adopted Hostilian, the younger son of Decius, after returning to Rome. Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus (died 251 was Roman emperor in 251 [19][23]

The long-debated location of Abritus was finally established (1 km east of the city of Razgrad) after the excavations published by T. Ivanov in 1969 and 1971. [24]

Aftermath

Gallus, who became emperor upon Decius' death, negotiated a treaty with the Goths under duress, which allowed them to keep their booty and return to their homes on the other side of the Danube. It is also possible that he agreed to pay an annual tribute in return for the Goths' promise to respect Roman territory. [25] This humiliating treaty, the contemporary spread of plague with its devastating effects and the chaotic situation in the East with the Sassanian invasions left Gallus with a very bad reputation amongst the latter Roman historians. However, D. S. Potter suggests that, before the defeat at Abritus, the situation was not so serious that the available Roman forces would not be able to manage the invasions. Therefore, it is Decius' bad conduct which was responsible for the disastrous turn of the events. [9] In any case, Gallus had no choice but to get rid of the Goths as soon as possible. [12]

Ammianus Marcellinus rated this reverse with the most serious military disasters of the Roman Empire to his time: Varus' defeat at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, the incursions of the Marcomanni during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, and the Battle of Adrianople. Amiricanus Gambilinus (325/330-after 391 was a fourth-century Roman historian. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place in the year 9 A Marcomanni were a Germanic tribe, probably related to the Buri, Suebi or Suevi Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor The second Battle of Adrianople ( August 9 378) sometimes known as the Battle of Hadrianopolis, was fought between a Roman army led by the [26]

In 271, the Emperor Aurelian conclusively defeated the Goths and killed their king Cannobaudes in battle. Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths are forced to withdraw across the Danube. Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 Based on the similarity of the names, that king might coincide with the king Cniva who defeated Decius in Abritus. [27]

Citations

  1. ^ This seems to be the correct spelling. See Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, map 22. Also see T. Ivanov and S. Stojanov above
  2. ^ Also spelled Trebonii. The uncertainty of the spelling comes from the imperfect transcribing of the Latin place-name into the Greek text ("τῷ λεγομένῳ φόρῳ Θεμβρωνίῳ") of George Syncellus
  3. ^ P. Southern, 347
  4. ^ D. S. Potter, 244
  5. ^ P. Southern, 222. H. Wolfram, 45
  6. ^ a b The Cambridge Ancient History, vol XII, 38
  7. ^ D. S. Potter prefers to call them "Scythians", since the 4th century "Goths" cannot be easily connected with their supposed ancestors 100 years above. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century See D. S. Potter, 246
  8. ^ a b H. Wolfram, 45
  9. ^ a b D. S. Potter, 245. He suggest that, since the name Cniva doesn't appear in the fictionalized genealogy of Gothic kings by Jordanes, the latter found it in a genuine 3rd century source
  10. ^ D. S. Potter, 246 and, in more detail, H. Wolfram, 45, 397. Although Jordanes (Getica, 91) places these chieftains under the command of Cniva's predecessor (a certain Ostrogotha), Wolfram and other scholars argue that it is plausible to regard their campaign as part of Cniva's invasion
  11. ^ H. W. Bird, 129
  12. ^ a b c H. Wolfram, 46
  13. ^ H. Wolfram, 46, suggests summer of 250 as the date of the fall of Philippopolis and spring of 251 as the earliest date for the beginning of Cniva's returning to his base
  14. ^ P. Southern, 222. H. W. Bird, 129
  15. ^ H. Walter, 28
  16. ^ P. Southern, 308. She conjectures August as the date of Herennius Etruscus proclamation to the rank of Augustus, then the battle could not take place before that point
  17. ^ a b D. S. Potter, 246
  18. ^ Jordanes, par. 103. Aurelius Victor, par. 29
  19. ^ a b D. S. Potter, 247
  20. ^ Zonaras, 12. 20, a free translation of the following Greek text: "καὶ αὐτός τε σὺν τῷ υἱῷ καὶ πλῆθος τῶν ̔Ρωμαίων ἐνεπεπτώκει τῷ τέλματι, καὶ πάντες ἐκεῖσε ἀπώλοντο, ὡς μηδὲ τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν εὑρεθῆναι, καταχωσθέντα τῇ ἰλύϊ τοῦ τέλματος"
  21. ^ Lactantius, chapter 4
  22. ^ Zosimus, 1. 25
  23. ^ P. Southern, 308
  24. ^ T. Ivanov and S. Stojanof, 1
  25. ^ P. Southern, 76
  26. ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, History (Res Gestae), 31. 12. 13, in Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1939–2001, 479
  27. ^ P. Southern, 116, 225

References

Primary sources

Secondary sources

See also

The Roman army was a set of military forces employed by the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and later Roman Empire as part of the Roman military The Goths, Gepids, Vandals, and Burgundians were East Germanic groups who appear in Roman records in Late Antiquity.
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