Battle of Mutina

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Battle of Mutina
date April 21, 43 BC Chr.
place near Mutina , Northern Italy
output Success of the Senate Party
Parties to the conflict

Caesarians

Senate Party

Commander

Mark Antony

Aulus Hirtius †, Octavian

Troop strength
two legions, horsemen several legions
losses

unknown

unknown

The Battle of Mutina took place on April 21, 43 BC. During the Mutinensian War , a phase of the Roman Civil Wars after the assassination of the dictator Gaius Iulius Caesar .

The Caesar supporter Marcus Antonius besieged in the spring of 43 BC. BC Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus , who was involved in the assassination of Caesar, in the city of Mutina (today Modena ) in northern Italy and was in turn besieged by troops of the Roman Senate, which were commanded by the consul Aulus Hirtius and Caesar's adopted son Octavian (later Augustus ).

Despite being defeated in the battle of Forum Gallorum on April 14 or 15, Antony decided to continue the siege of Mutina. The senate generals wanted to take advantage of their success and force Antonius to battle. On April 21st they advanced before Mutina, and Antony opposed them, first with the cavalry and then with two legions, in order to prevent them from relieving the city. Further legions that he requested as reinforcements did not reach him in time to prevent his defeat. Octavian and Hirtius even invaded Antonius' camp for a time. However, Hirtius fell during the action. With the help of the Legio V Alaudae , Antonius was able to recapture his camp, but realized that his position at Mutina had become untenable and moved west the next day.

Since the second consul, Gaius Vibius Panza Caetronianus , died two days later from his wounds suffered in the Battle of Forum Gallorum, Octavian was the only general of the Senate (besides Decimus Brutus). From then on, however, he represented his own interests, which later in the year led to the merger with Antonius ( Second Triumvirate ).

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literature

  • Jochen Bleicken : Augustus . Fest, Berlin 1998, p. 114.
  • Ronald Syme : The Roman revolution . Clarendon Press, Oxford 1939, p. 174.