Cniva (Kniwa, meaning "knees", perhaps from a childhood nickname[1]) (flourished mid-3rd century CE) was the Gothic king who invaded the Roman Empire in the third century CE. The 3rd century is the period from 201 to 300 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial He successfully conquered the city of Philippopolis, now present day Plovdiv, and killed the emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus at the Battle of Abrittus as he was attempting to leave the Roman Empire. Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius (ca 227 - June 251 was Roman emperor in 251 in a joint rule with his father Trajan Decius. The Battle of Abritus (modern Razgrad, Bulgaria) also known as the Battle of Forum Terebronii, occurred in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior He was allowed to leave with his spoils and was paid tribute to stay out of the empire. A tribute (from Latin tribulum, contribution is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or as was often case in historical contexts of submission
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Invasion of Moesia
Cniva began the invasion of the Roman Empire when he crossed the Danube in the third century. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj He sent detachments throughout the Roman province of Moesia with forces of Goths, Germans, and Sarmatians. Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες His considerable forces demanded the attention of the emperor Decius. While Cniva was laying siege to the city of Nicopolis, Decius arrived, and the Goths left and headed towards Philippopolis. Nicopolis (Νικόπολις city of victory) or Actia Nicopolis was an ancient city of Epirus, founded 31 BC by Octavian in memory Decius and his troops pursued Cniva through the difficult terrain, but soon, after many forced marches, Cniva turned his troops on Decius, who thought he was further away from the Goths. The Roman camp was surprised and Decius fled while his army was defeated. Then Cniva laid siege to Philippopolis and, after a long resistance, he conquered the city, slaying one hundred thousand people, and taking many prisoner. The Battle of Philippopolis was fought in 250 between Rome and the Goths.
Decius’s response
The sack of Philippopolis invigorated Decius, who intercepted several parties of Germans, and repaired and strengthened his fortifications along the Danube, intending to oppose Cniva’s forces. Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for The Romans in time, with their superior numbers, surrounded the Goths, who attempted now to retreat from the empire. But Decius, seeking revenge and confident of victory, attacked the Goths at a small town called Forum Terebronii. The Roman army was caught in a swamp when they attempted to attack the Gothic army, and both the emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus were slain in this battle, known as the Battle of Abrittus. Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius (ca 227 - June 251 was Roman emperor in 251 in a joint rule with his father Trajan Decius.
Terms of peace
After the battle, the new emperor, Trebonianus Gallus, let Cniva leave with his spoils, and aided the Goths' departure. Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus (206 - August 253 was Roman Emperor from 251 to 253 in a joint rule with his son Volusianus. He even promised to pay a tribute to Cniva in order to keep him from invading the empire again.
References
- Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Chapter 10.
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