The siege of Philippopolis was fought in about 250 between

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and the

Goths The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Euro ...

during the invasions of 249–253 at the Thracian city of Philippopolis, modern

Plovdiv Plovdiv ( bg, Пловдив, ), is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace. It has a population of 346,893 and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Plovdiv is the ...

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...

. It was part of the long-running series of Gothic Wars. The Goths were led by King Cniva who had crossed the Danube in 249 or 250 with two armies. His army attacked

Novae A nova (plural novae or novas) is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star (hence the name "nova", which is Latin for "new") that slowly fades over weeks or months. Causes of the dramati ...

and Nicopolis ad Istrum unsuccessfully before defeating the army of Emperor

Decius Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius ( 201 ADJune 251 AD), sometimes translated as Trajan Decius or Decius, was the emperor of the Roman Empire from 249 to 251. A distinguished politician during the reign of Philip the Arab, Decius was procl ...

at Augusta Traiana and moving on to Philippopolis. Decius had been on his way to relieve Philippopolis with a reinforced army, but arrived too late. After a long siege, Cniva was victorious after the city was betrayed by a citizen. The king subsequently allied himself with the governor of

Thrace Thrace (; el, Θράκη, Thráki; bg, Тракия, Trakiya; tr, Trakya) or Thrake is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe, now split among Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, which is bounded by the Balkan Mountains to ...

, Titus Julius Priscus, to take on the Roman Emperor

again at

Abritus Abritus (Abrittus) was an impressive Roman walled city and one of the biggest urban centres in the province of Moesia Inferior. Its remains are in the Archaeological Park of Razgrad. History A Thracian settlement of the 3rd–4th century BC ...

.JORDANES: THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTH
Goths in the 3rd Century
/ref>

References

External links

Book excerpt
Philippopolis 250 Crisis of the Third Century Philippopolis Philippopolis Military history of Bulgaria History of Plovdiv Roman Thrace 250 250s in the Roman Empire {{AncientRome-battle-stub