Chnodomar (Latinized Chnodomarius) was the king of an
Alamanni
The Alemanni or Alamanni were a confederation of Germanic tribes
*
*
*
on the Upper Rhine River during the first millennium. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Roman emperor Caracalla of 213 CE, the Alemanni c ...
c canton in what is now south-west
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, near the
Rhine
The Rhine ( ) is one of the List of rivers of Europe, major rivers in Europe. The river begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps. It forms part of the Swiss-Liechtenstein border, then part of the Austria–Swit ...
from sometime before 352 till 357. He seems to have had a recognized position among the other Alamanni.
Early career
The
Alemanni
The Alemanni or Alamanni were a confederation of Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes
*
*
*
on the Upper Rhine River during the first millennium. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Roman emperor Caracalla of 213 CE ...
were a confederacy of
Germanic tribes
The Germanic peoples were tribal groups who lived in Northern Europe in Classical antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. In modern scholarship, they typically include not only the Roman-era ''Germani'' who lived in both ''Germania'' and parts ...
believed to have first migrated to the west early in the 3rd century AD. In 352 they invaded Gaul, supposedly incited by
Constantius II
Constantius II (; ; 7 August 317 – 3 November 361) was Roman emperor from 337 to 361. His reign saw constant warfare on the borders against the Sasanian Empire and Germanic peoples, while internally the Roman Empire went through repeated civ ...
, during the rebellion of
Magnentius, whose brother
Decentius was defeated in a battle with Chnodomarius. After the fall of Magnentius, the Alemanni refused to relinquish the territory and spoils which they had acquired in Gaul. Foiling Constantius' attempts to eject them, they ravaged the country and occupied the suburbs of the principal cities. Chnodomarius, as one of the most powerful of the Alemannic kings, assumed a prominent place in the conduct of the war, and allegedly convinced the other kings to break the agreement with Constantius after the usurper's death.
Battle of Strasbourg
Chnodomarius is known to have commanded the army which defeated the Roman
Magister Peditum (Master of Foot)
Barbatio in 357, driving him south to
Augst, and disabling him from
further action during the campaign. A simultaneous pincer movement had been conceived by the Romans, Barbatio marching right of the Rhine from near
Basel
Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
with 25,000 men while the ''
Caesar''
Julian attacked from the left towards
Strasbourg
Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...
with 13,000. Barbatio's defeat negated this plan, and also stranded Julian in enemy territory, near
Saverne
Saverne (, ; Alsatian language, Alsatian: ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Bas-Rhin departments of France, department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a mountain pass, pass ...
. Chnodomarius, confident after overcoming Barbatio's numerically superior army, learned Julian's location from a Roman deserter and decided to attack.
The full force of the Alemannic confederation, iterated by Ammianus as seven kings, ten petty princes, and thirty-five thousand common soldiers, assembled at Strasbourg. Chnodomarius, along with his nephew
Serapio, was entrusted by the confederate chiefs with overall command, in deference to his superior might and his successes against Decentius and Barbatio. Julian retained his self-confidence in the emergency, and in the ensuing battle he won a complete victory. Chnodomarius commanded the left of the Alemannic forces during the battle, composed chiefly of cavalry, and by a skillful stratagem (and an interesting early example of combined-arms warfare) he contrived to drive the heavy cavalry of the Romans in a panic from the field. Julian rallied the fleeing
Clibanarii and led them back into battle, but the defeat of the Alemanni was due principally to determined fighting by the Roman infantry.
Chnodomarius and the other Alemannic chiefs dismounted before the battle at the insistence of the Alemannic tribesmen, who feared their leaders might desert them if things went badly. Apparently, their fears were justified; as soon as the tide of battle turned in Julian's favour, Chnodomarius and a small body of retainers made discreetly for a boat which was waiting on the riverbank. They were intercepted by Roman soldiers, who recognized the king by his impressive armour, and Chnodomarius was brought to Julian's tent as a prisoner.
Death
After repeatedly assuring the disheartened chieftain of his safety as sacred to the honour of the Empire, Julian dispatched him in chains to the court of Constantius, where he was treated with conspicuous honour. Regardless, he died not long after in the Imperial city, the victim reportedly of a commonplace illness, perhaps exacerbated by the bitterness of his exile and defeat.
Character
Ammianus Marcellinus, in his account of the
Battle of Strasbourg, describes Chnodomarius as "brave as a warrior and general, eminent for skill above his fellows", and very large and strong, even by barbarian standards. Pride in his physical prowess contributed to the king's blustering demeanour, which, Ammianus claims with satisfaction, disappeared after the defeat at Strasbourg. Chnodomarius was allegedly brought before Julian in an abject and frightened condition, throwing himself on the ground and pleading for mercy until the bemused Caesar stopped him with a reassuring speech.
[Ammianus, XVI., 12]
Footnotes
References
*Cameron, Averil & Peter Garnsey editors, ''The Cambridge Ancient History'', Volume 13. CUP, Cambridge, 1998.
*Drinkwater, John F., ''The Alamanni and Rome 213-496 (Caracalla to Clovis)'', OUP Oxford 2007.
*Potter, David S. ''The Roman Empire at Bay AD180-395'', Routledge, New York, 2004, {{ISBN, 0-415-10058-5
*Gibbon, Edward, ''The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire'', The Modern Library, New York, 1932.
*Ammianus Marcellinus, ''The History'', Kindle Edition
4th-century monarchs in Europe
Alemannic monarchs
Alemannic warriors
4th-century Germanic people