The Marcomannic Wars (called by the Romans bellum Germanicum^[1] or expeditio Germanica) were a series of wars lasting over a dozen years from about AD 166 until 180. 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 Events By place Roman Empire The praetorian prefect Tarutenius Paternus achieved a decisive victory against the Quadi Germania was the Latin Exonym for The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj Pannonia is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, Dacia, in ancient geography was the land of the Dacians. It was named by the ancient Hellenes ( Greeks) " Getae " The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Marcomanni were a Germanic tribe, probably related to the Buri, Suebi or Suevi Quadi were a smaller Germanic tribe, about which little definitive information is known The Varisci ( German Varisker) were a Germanic tribe, the presumed prior inhabitants of a mediaeval district Provincia Variscorum, the same (in The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj The Iazyges ( Jazyges is an orthographic variant were a nomadic tribe Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Events By place Roman Empire The praetorian prefect Tarutenius Paternus achieved a decisive victory against the Quadi These wars pitted the Roman Empire against the Marcomanni, Quadi and other Germanic peoples, along both sides of the upper and middle Danube. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Marcomanni were a Germanic tribe, probably related to the Buri, Suebi or Suevi Quadi were a smaller Germanic tribe, about which little definitive information is known The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj The struggle against the Germanic invasions occupied the major part of the reign of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and it was during his campaigns against them that he started writing his philosophical work Meditations, whose first book bears the note "Among the Quadi at the Granua". The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise" ( April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor Meditations (Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν Ta eis heauton, literally "thoughts/writings addressed to himself" is the title of a series of personal writings Quadi were a smaller Germanic tribe, about which little definitive information is known This article is about the River Hron For the Rector of Prag-Suchdol see Jan Hron Hron (Hron Gran Garam Granus is a 298 km long left tributary of the Danube ^[2]

Background

The Germanic tribes of Central Europe in the mid-1st century. The Marcomanni and the Quadi are in the area of modern Bohemia. Bohemia (Čechy; Bohemia Czechy is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands, currently the

During the years succeeding the rule of Antoninus Pius, the Roman Empire began to be attacked upon all sides. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius A war with Parthia lasted from 161 to 166, and although it ended successfully, its unforeseen consequences for the Empire were great. The returning troops brought with them a plague (the so-called Antonine Plague), which would eventually kill an estimated 20 million people, severely weakening the Empire. Plague is a deadly Infectious disease caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis (Pasteurella pestis. The Antonine Plague, 165 - 180 AD  also known as the Plague of Galen, was an ancient Pandemic, either of Smallpox or Measles At the same time, in Central Europe, the first movements of the Great Migrations were occurring, as the Goths moved westwards, putting pressure on the Germanic tribes of the area. The Migration Period, also called Barbarian Invasions, or sometimes Völkerwanderung ( German for "wandering of peoples" is the English name The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s As a result, Germanic tribes and other nomadic people launched raids along Rome's northern border, particularly into Gaul and across the Danube. The Limes Germanicus ( Latin for Germanic frontier) was a remarkable line of frontier ( Limes) forts that bounded the ancient Roman

First Marcomannic War

First invasions

In 162, a first invasion of the Chatti and the Chauci in the province of Germania Superior was repulsed. The Chatti (also Chatthi or Catti) were an ancient Germanic tribe whose homeland was near the upper Weser. The Chauci were a populous Germanic tribe that inhabited the extreme northwestern shore of Germany between Frisia in the west and the Elbe estuary Germania Superior ("Upper Germania " so called for the reason that it lay upstream of Germania Inferior, was a province of the In late 166 or early 167, a force of 6,000 Langobardi, Ubii and Lacringi invaded Pannonia. The Lombards ( Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative names Langobards and Longobards) were a Germanic people originally from The Ubii were a Germanic tribe first encountered dwelling on the right bank of the Rhine in the time of Julius Caesar, who formed an alliance with them The Lacringi are a people who received brief mention in ancient history for their role in the border wars conducted by the peoples along the Danube against the emperor Pannonia is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, This invasion was defeated by local forces (vexillations of the Legio I Adiutrix commanded by Candidus and the Ala I Ulpia Contariorum commanded by Vindex) with relative ease, but they marked the beginning of what was to come. A vexillatio (plural vexillationes) was a detachment of a Roman legion formed as a temporary task force created by the Roman Army of the Legio I Adiutrix (Latin pronuciation prima adiútrix, " assistant first" was a Roman legion formed in 68, possibly by Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = "supports" formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC&ndash284 AD In their aftermath, the military governor of Pannonia, Marcus Iallius Bassus, initiated negotiations with 11 tribes. ^[3] In these negotiations, the Marcomannic king Ballomar, a Roman client, acted as a mediator. In the event, a truce was agreed upon and the tribes withdrew from Roman territory, but no permanent agreement was reached. In the same year, Vandals and the Sarmatian Iazyges invaded Dacia, and succeeded in killing its governor, Calpurnius Proculus. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The Iazyges ( Jazyges is an orthographic variant were a nomadic tribe The Roman province of Dacia on the Balkans included the modern Romanian regions of Transylvania, Banat and Oltenia, and temporarily To counter them, Legio V Macedonica, a veteran of the Parthian campaign, was moved to Moesia. Legio V Macedonica ("Macedonian" was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by Consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the

First Roman expedition in Pannonia (168)

During that time, as the plague was ravaging the Empire, Marcus Aurelius was unable to do more, and the punitive expedition he was planning to lead in person was postponed until 168. In the spring of that year, Marcus Aurelius, together with Lucius Verus set forth from Rome, and established their headquarters at Aquileia. Aquileia (also called Aquilegia, Friulian Acuilee/Aquilee, Slovene Oglej) is an ancient Roman city in what is The two emperors supervised a reorganization of the defences of Italy and the Illyricum, raised two new legions, Legio II Italica and Legio III Italica, and crossed the Alps into Pannonia. Legio II Italica Pia, meaning faithful legion from Italy, was a Roman legion levied by emperor Marcus Aurelius in 165 together Legio III Italica was a Roman legion levied by Marcus Aurelius around 165, for his campaign against the Marcomanni tribe The Marcomanni and the Victuali had crossed the Danube into the province, but, at least according to the Historia Augusta, the approach of the imperial army to Carnuntum was apparently sufficient to persuade them to withdraw and offer assurances of good conduct. The Victohali, Victovali, Victufali, Victuali, or Victabali were a People group of Late Antiquity. Carnuntum (Καρνοιις in Ptolemy) was an important Roman army camp in what is now Austria. The two emperors returned to Aquileia for the winter, but on the way, in January 169, Lucius Verus died. ^[4] Marcus returned to Rome to oversee his brother's funeral.

Roman expedition against the Iazyges and the great Germanic invasion of 170

The Roman expedition against the Iazyges in the eastern Pannonian Plain and the great Marcomannic invasion of 170. The Pannonian Plain is a large Plain in Central Europe that remained when the Pliocene Pannonian Sea dried out

In the autumn of 169, Marcus set out from Rome, together with his son-in-law Claudius Pompeianus, who would become his closest aide during the war. Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus was a Roman general of emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Romans had gathered their forces and intended to subdue the independent tribes (especially the Iazyges), who lived between the Danube and the Roman province of Dacia. The Iazyges ( Jazyges is an orthographic variant were a nomadic tribe The Iazyges defeated and killed Claudius Fronto, Roman governor of Lower Moesia. However, while the Roman army was entangled in this campaign, making little headway, several tribes used the opportunity to cross the frontier and raid Roman territory.

To the east, the Costoboci crossed the Danube, ravaged Thrace and descended the Balkans, reaching Eleusis, near Athens, where they destroyed the temple of the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Costoboci were a Dacian tribe which lived in the areas known today as Maramureş and south-western Ukraine. Thrace (Тракия Trakiya or "Trakija" or Trakia, Θράκη Thráki, Trakya is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe Elefsina (Ελευσίνα Ancient/ Katharevousa: Eleusis is a town and municipality about 20 km NW of Athens. Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's The Eleusinian Mysteries (Ἐλευσίνια Μυστήρια were initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone

The most important and dangerous invasion however, was that of the Marcomanni in the west. Their leader, Ballomar, had formed a coalition of Germanic tribes. They crossed the Danube and achieved a smashing victory over 20,000 Romans near Carnuntum. Ballomar then led the larger part of his host southwards towards Italy, while the remainder ravaged Noricum. Noricum, in ancient Geography, was a Celtic kingdom (perhaps better described as a federation of by tradition twelve tribes stretching over the area of The Marcomanni razed Opitergium (Oderzo) and besieged Aquileia. Oderzo (Opitergium is a town in the Province of Treviso, Veneto, Italy. Aquileia (also called Aquilegia, Friulian Acuilee/Aquilee, Slovene Oglej) is an ancient Roman city in what is This was the first time hostile forces had entered Italy since 101 BC, when Gaius Marius defeated the Cimbri and Teutones. This article is about the Roman statesman who reorganized the army and was seven times Consul The Cimbri were a Celtic or Germanic tribe who together with the Teutones and the Ambrones threatened the Roman Republic in the late The Teutons or Teutones (from Proto-Germanic * Þeudanōz) were mentioned as a Germanic tribe by Greek and Roman authors The army of praetorian prefect Furius Victorinus tried to relieve the city, but was defeated and its general slain. Praetorian prefect (Latin Praefectus praetorio) was the constant title of a high office in the Roman state that changed fundamentally in nature

The Roman counter-offensive and defeat of the Marcomanni

The Roman counter-offensive across the Danube

This disaster forced Marcus to re-evaluate his priorities. Forces from the various frontiers were dispatched against Ballomar. They came under the command of Claudius Pompeianus, with the future emperor Pertinax as one of his lieutenants. Publius Helvius Pertinax, commonly known as Pertinax ( August 1, 126 &ndash March 28, 193) was a Roman emperor who briefly A new military command, the praetentura Italiae et Alpium was established to safeguard the roads into Italy, and the Danubian fleet was strengthened. Aquileia was relieved, and by the end of 171, the invaders had been evicted from Roman territory. Intense diplomatic activity followed, as the Romans tried to win over various barbarian tribes in preparation for a crossing of the Danube. A peace treaty was signed with the Quadi and the Iazyges, while the tribes of the Hasdingi Vandals and the Lacringi became Roman allies. The Hasdingi were the southern tribes of the Vandals, an East Germanic tribe.

The "Miracle of the Rain", from the Aurelian column. An unidentified "rain god" (top right) saves the Roman army.

In 172, the Romans crossed the Danube into Marcomannic territory. Although few details are known, the Romans achieved success, subjugating the Marcomanni and their allies, the Varistae or Naristi and the Cotini. The Varisci ( German Varisker) were a Germanic tribe, the presumed prior inhabitants of a mediaeval district Provincia Variscorum, the same (in This fact is evident from the adoption of the title "Germanicus" by Marcus Aurelius, and the minting of coins with the inscription "Germania capta" ("subjugated Germania"). During this campaign , the chief of the Naristi was killed by the Roman General Marcus Valerius Maximianus . Marcus Valerius Maximianus was an important Roman general of the period of the Marcomannic Wars during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

In 173, the Romans campaigned against the Quadi, who had broken their treaty and assisted their kin, and defeated and subdued them. During this campaign, a famous incident, the so-called "miracle of the rain", occurred, which was later depicted on the column of Marcus Aurelius and on coins. The Column of Marcus Aurelius, (Columna Centenaria Divorum Marci et Faustinae is a Doric column, with a spiral relief built in honour of Roman emperor Marcus According to Cassius Dio, the legio XII Fulminata was hemmed in by a superior Quadi force and almost forced to surrender because of the heat and thirst. Legio XII Fulminata ("wielder of the thunderbolt" also known as Paterna, Victrix, Antiqua, Certa Constans, and Galliena They were saved, however, by a sudden shower, which refreshed the Romans, while lightning struck the Quadi. ^[5] Contemporaries and historians attributed it to divine intervention: Dio claimed that it was called by an Egyptian magician praying to Mercury, while Christian writers such as Tertullian attributed it to a prayer by Christians. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. "Alipes" redirects here For the Centipede Genus, see Alipes (centipede. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca

In the same year, Didius Iulianus, the commander of the Rhine frontier, repelled another invasion of the Chatti and the Hermunduri, while the Chauci raided the shoreline of Gallia Belgica. Marcus Didius Severus Julianus (133 or 137–193 was briefly Roman Emperor from 28 March 193 to 1 June 193. The Chatti (also Chatthi or Catti) were an ancient Germanic tribe whose homeland was near the upper Weser. The Hermunduri, Hermanduri, Hermunduri, Hermunduli, Hermonduri, or Hermonduli were an ancient tribe of Germanic people The Chauci were a populous Germanic tribe that inhabited the extreme northwestern shore of Germany between Frisia in the west and the Elbe estuary Gallia Belgica was a Roman province located in what is now the southern part of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northeastern

In the next year, the Romans marched against the Quadi, whereupon the Quadi deposed their pro-Roman king, Furtius, and installed his rival, Ariogaesus, in his place. Marcus Aurelius refused to recognize him, and turning back, deposed and exiled him to Alexandria. Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια ^[6] Thus, by late 174, the subjugation of the Quadi was complete. In typical Roman fashion, they were forced to surrender hostages and provide auxiliary contingents for the Roman army, while garrisons were installed throughout their territory. Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = "supports" formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC&ndash284 AD

After this, the Romans focused their attention on the Iazyges living in the plain of the river Tisza (expeditio sarmatica). "Tisa" redirects here For other uses see Tisa (disambiguation and Tisza (disambiguation. After a few victories, in 175, a treaty was signed. According to its terms, the Iazyges King Zanticus delivered 100,000 Roman prisoners and, in addition, provided 8,000 auxiliary cavalrymen, most of whom (5,500) were sent to Britain. Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = "supports" formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC&ndash284 AD Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 ^[7][8] Upon this, Marcus assumed the victory title "Sarmaticus".

Marcus Aurelius may have intended to campaign against the remaining tribes, and together with his recent conquests establish two new Roman provinces, Marcomannia and Sarmatia, but whatever his plans, they were cut short by the rebellion of Avidius Cassius in the East. In Ancient Rome, a province (Latin provincia, pl provinciae) was the basic and until the Tetrarchy (circa Gaius Avidius Cassius (ca 130&ndashJuly 175 was a Roman usurper who briefly ruled Egypt and Syria in 175 ^[9]

Marcus Aurelius marched eastwards with his army, accompanied by auxiliary detachments of Marcomanni, Quadi and Naristi under the command of Marcus Valerius Maximianus. Marcus Valerius Maximianus was an important Roman general of the period of the Marcomannic Wars during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. After the successful suppression of Cassius' revolt, the emperor returned to Rome for the first time in nearly 8 years. On 23 December 176, together with his son Commodus, he celebrated a joint triumph for his German victories ("de Germanis" and "de Sarmatis"). Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus ( August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 (also with A Roman triumph ( la [[wikttriumphus triumphus]], Old Latin la triumpus, attested as the exclamation la TRIVMPE in the Carmen Arvale; via In commemoration of this, the Aurelian Column was erected, in imitation of Trajan's Column. The Column of Marcus Aurelius, (Columna Centenaria Divorum Marci et Faustinae is a Doric column, with a spiral relief built in honour of Roman emperor Marcus Trajan's Column is a Monument in Rome raised in honour of the Roman emperor Trajan and constructed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus

Second Marcomannic War

Roman operations 180-182.

The respite was to be brief. In 177, the Quadi rebelled, followed soon by their neighbours, the Marcomanni and Marcus Aurelius once again headed north, to begin his second Germanic campaign (secunda expeditio germanica). He arrived at Carnuntum in August 178, and set out to quell the rebellion in a repeat of his first campaign, moving first against the Marcomanni, and in 179-180 against the Quadi. Under the command of Marcus Valerius Maximianus, the Romans fought and prevailed against the Quadi in a decisive battle at Laugaricio near (modern Trenčín, Slovakia). Trenčín ( also known under alternative names) is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech The Quadi were chased westwards, deeper into Greater Germania, where the praetorian prefect Tarutenius Paternus later achieved another decisive victory against them, but on 17 March 180, the emperor died at Vindobona (modern Vienna). Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Events By place Roman Empire The praetorian prefect Tarutenius Paternus achieved a decisive victory against the Quadi Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria.

His successor Commodus had little interest in pursuing the war. Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus ( August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 (also with Against the advice of his senior generals, after negotiating a peace treaty with the Marcomanni and the Quadi, he left for Rome in early autumn 180, where he celebrated a triumph on October 22. Nevertheless, operations continued against the Iazyges, the Buri and the so-called "free Dacians" living between the Danube and Roman Dacia. The Buri first appear in history as a Germanic tribe mentioned in the Germania of Tacitus, where they initially "close the back" of the Marcomanni The Dacians ( Lat Daci, Gr Dákai) were a Thracian people the ancient inhabitants of Dacia (located in the area The Roman province of Dacia on the Balkans included the modern Romanian regions of Transylvania, Banat and Oltenia, and temporarily Not much is known about this war, except that the Roman generals included Marcus Valerius Maximianus , Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus. Marcus Valerius Maximianus was an important Roman general of the period of the Marcomannic Wars during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Gaius Pescennius Niger (c 140&ndash194 was a Roman usurper from 193 to 194 For others with this Cognomen, see Albinus (cognomen. Decimus Clodius Ceionius Septimius Al­binus (ca At any rate, the victories they achieved were deemed sufficient for Commodus to claim the title "Germanicus Maximus" in mid-182.

Aftermath

The war had exposed the weakness of Rome's northern frontier, and henceforth, half of the Roman legions (16 out of 33) would be stationed along the Danube and the Rhine. For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," For the Germanic tribes, although for the moment checked, the Marcomannic wars were only the prelude of the great invasions that would eventually shatter the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries.

In popular culture

Two films, the 1964 The Fall of the Roman Empire, and the 2000 Gladiator start with a fictional account of a final battle of the Marcomannic Wars. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The Fall of the Roman Empire is a 1964 Epic film made by Samuel Bronston Productions and The Rank Organisation, and released by Paramount 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Gladiator is a 2000 Epic film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen

In addition, in the 2004 film King Arthur, the companions of Arthur are portrayed as descendants of the Iazyges deported as Roman auxiliaries to Britain. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " King Arthur is a 2004 Film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by David Franzoni.

References

Sources

Primary sources

• The Historia Augusta, Lives of Marcus Aurelius 1 & 2, Lucius Verus and Commodus (Loeb Classical Library edition). The Augustan History ( Lat Historia Augusta) is a late Roman collection of biographies in Latin of the Roman Emperors their junior
• Cassius Dio, Historia romana, Books LXXII & LXXIII
• Herodian, History of the Roman Empire since the Death of Marcus Aurelius, Book I, Ch. Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus ( Greek:) (c 155 or 163/164 to after 229 known in English as Cassius Dio, Dio Cassius, or Dio was For the grammarian see Aelius Herodianus. For the dynasty see Herodian Dynasty. 1-6
• The column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, which depicts the campaign

Secondary sources

External links

• (Spanish) Marco Aurelio y la frontera del Danubio
• Marcus Aurelius and Barbarian Immigration in the Second Century Roman Empire
• The Marcomannic Wars

This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Italian Wikipedia article as of September 3, 2007. The Column of Marcus Aurelius, (Columna Centenaria Divorum Marci et Faustinae is a Doric column, with a spiral relief built in honour of Roman emperor Marcus