Battle of Argentovaria
| date | 378 |
|---|---|
| place | at today's Oedenburg-Biesheim near Neubreisach |
| output | Victory of the Romans |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
Naniemus and Mallobaudes |
Priarius † |
| Troop strength | |
| several cohorts + reserve | approx. 40,000 |
| losses | |
|
unknown |
approx. 30,000 |
Mediolanum - Augusta Vindelicorum - Lacus Benacus - Placentia - Fano - Pavia - Langres - Vindonissa - Autun - Reims - Brumath - Senonae - Argentoratum - Solicinium - Argentovaria
The Battle of Argentovaria took place in Alsace in 378 . In current research, Argentovaria is associated with the lost place Oedenburg near Biesheim . Horbourg , which has long been equated with Argentovaria , is no longer tenable since the extensive archaeological excavations in Oedenburg between 1998 and 2005.
prehistory
The Western Roman Emperor Gratian prepared his troops to support the Eastern Roman Emperor Valens in the battle of Adrianople against advancing Huns and Goths in the province of Illyria . A lentienser of the imperial bodyguard was given home leave because of an urgent matter and told about these preparations at home.
course
This took the lentienses from the residents gathered from all districts and prepared for a campaign. In February they crossed the frozen Rhine with at least 40,000 armed men and plundered the Roman provinces. Gratian now had to call back his cohorts who had set out for Illyria and reunite them with the reserve that had been held back. Under the supreme command of the two Franks comes Naniemus and the Frankish king comes Mallobaudes , the Romans marched against the Lentiens. According to Ammianus Marcellinus, 30,000 Lentiens and their King Priarius are said to have died in the battle .
consequences
After Ammian, only 5,000 Lentiens survived, they fled into the dense forests of what is now the Black Forest on a sloping mountain all around. The Romans neither succeeded in taking the mountain nor in encircling the refugees. Due to their good local knowledge, the Lentiens were able to escape the persistently persistent Romans time and again. Finally, however, the Lentiens surrendered and asked for mercy. This was granted to them in exchange for recruits for the Roman army.
Historical sources
- Ammianus Marcellinus XV 4 and XXXI 10
literature
- Karlheinz Fuchs, Martin Kempa, Rainer Redies: The Alamanni . 4th edition. License issue. Theiss Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8062-1535-9 (exhibition catalog, Stuttgart et al., State Archaeological Museum Baden-Württemberg et al., 1997–1998).
- Dieter Geuenich : History of the Alemanni . Verlag Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-17-012095-6 .
See also: List of Wars , List of Battles