Battle of Chrysopolis

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Battle of Chrysopolis
date September 18, 324
place Chrysopolis
output Victory of Constantine I.
consequences Sole rule of Constantine I.
Parties to the conflict

Army of Constantine I.

Licinius's army

Commander

Constantine I.

Licinius

losses

insignificant

25,000 to 30,000

The battle of Chrysopolis took place during the conflict between the Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius on September 18, 324 at Chrysopolis (today Üsküdar ).

prehistory

The battle took place as part of the last civil war between Constantine and Licinius, which sealed the dissolution of the Roman tetrarchy . The two emperors had fought several times before, but in the meantime made an uneasy peace. In 324 the decision was finally made when Constantine attacked the east of the empire under Licinius. After his defeats in the battle of Adrianople and the sea ​​battle of Kallipolis , Licinius withdrew via Byzantium to Asia Minor , and he made his magister officiorum Martinianus co-emperor. At Chrysopolis the troops of Licinius were provided by the pursuing army of Constantine.

Course of the battle

Constantine's fleet landed on the coast of the Bosphorus in Asia Minor and marched south on Chalcedon , while Licinius and his troops moved north towards Chrysopolis. Constantine and his army reached the area around Chrysopolis before the troops of Licinius and immediately went on the offensive. The religious aspect of the conflict was reflected in the battle lines of the two emperors: Licinius had his soldiers fight under the ancient idols of Rome, while the army of Constantine united behind the Christian Labarum . Licinius had developed a superstitious fear of the Labarum and forbade his troops from attacking or even looking at it. Constantine decided the battle with a single massive frontal attack on the opposing troops, which were crushed. 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers of Licinius remained dead on the battlefield, thousands more sought their salvation in flight. Licinius escaped and collected his surviving soldiers at Nicomedia .

consequences

With this victory Constantine achieved sole rule over the Roman Empire, which at the same time brought the tetrarchy founded by Diocletian to its final end. Licinius surrendered, was interned in Thessaloniki and later murdered.

swell

literature