
This is a chronology of warfare between the Romans and various
Germanic peoples. The nature of these wars varied through time between
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of Roman civilization
*Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
conquest,
Germanic uprisings, later Germanic invasions of the
Western Roman Empire
In modern historiography, the Western Roman Empire was the western provinces of the Roman Empire, collectively, during any period in which they were administered separately from the eastern provinces by a separate, independent imperial court. ...
that started in the late second century BC, and more. The series of conflicts was one factor which led to the ultimate
downfall of the Western Roman Empire in particular and
ancient Rome
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...
in general in 476.
List of campaigns
*
Cimbrian War
The Cimbrian or Cimbric War (113–101 BC) was fought between the Roman Republic and the Germanic peoples, Germanic and Celts, Celtic tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutons, Ambrones and Tigurini, who migrated from the Jutland peninsula into Roma ...
(113–101 BCE)
**
Battle of Noreia
The Battle of Noreia, in 113 BC, was the opening battle of the Cimbrian War fought between the Roman Republic and the migrating Proto-Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and the Teutons (Teutones). It ended in defeat, and near disaster, for the Romans.
...
(112 BCE)
**
Battle of Agen (107 BCE)
Theodor Mommsen
Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen (; ; 30 November 1817 – 1 November 1903) was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician and archaeologist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest classicists of the 19th ce ...
, ''Römische Geschichte''. Vol. 2. ''Von der Schlacht von Pydna bis auf Sullas Tod.''. 3.Ed. Weidmann, Berlin 1861, S. 178. (Roman History: From the battle of Pydna down to Sulla's death.)
Römische Geschichte: Bd. Von der Schlacht von Pydna bis auf Sullas Tod
'
**
Battle of Arausio
The Battle of Arausio took place on 6 October 105 BC, at a site between the town of Arausio, now Orange, Vaucluse, and the Rhône river, where two Roman armies, commanded by proconsul Quintus Servilius Caepio and consul Gnaeus Mallius Maximus ...
(105 BCE)
**
Battle of Aquae Sextiae
The Battle of Aquae Sextiae (Aix-en-Provence) took place in 102 BC. After a string of Roman defeats (see: the Battle of Noreia, the Battle of Burdigala, and the Battle of Arausio), the Romans under Gaius Marius finally defeated the Teutones ...
(102 BCE)
**
Battle of Vercellae
The Battle of Vercellae or Battle of the Raudine Plain was fought on 30 July 101 BC on a plain near Vercellae in Gallia Cisalpina (modern-day Northern Italy). A Celto-Germanic confederation under the command of the Cimbric king Boiorix was de ...
(101 BCE)
*
Battle of Vosges (58 BCE)
*
Battle of the Sabis
The Battle of the Sabis also (arguably erroneously) known as the Battle of the Sambre or the Battle against the Nervians (or Nervii) was fought in 57 BC near modern Saulzoir in Northern France, between Caesar's legions and an association of B ...
(57 BCE)
*''
Clades Lolliana
The ''clades Lolliana'' or Lollian disaster was a battle in 16 BC, when the consul Marcus Lollius was defeated by the Sicambri, Usipetes and Tencteri, Germanic tribes who had crossed the Rhine. This defeat is coupled by the historian Suetonius w ...
'' (16 BCE)
*
Early Imperial campaigns in Germania
Early may refer to:
Places in the United States
* Early, Iowa, a city
* Early, Texas, a city
* Early Branch, a stream in Missouri
* Early County, Georgia
* Fort Early, Georgia, an early 19th century fort
Music
* Early B, stage name of Jamaican d ...
(12 BCE–16 CE)
**
Drusus' Germanic campaign (11–9 BCE)
***
Battle of Arbalo The Battle of Arbalo was fought between the Romans and the Germani in 11 BC. It was part of the Drusus' campaigns (12–8 BC), which started in the unstable north of the Roman Empire near Gaul. With the Germanic from the east of Gaul constantly at ...
(11 BCE)
***
Battle of the Lupia River
The Battle of the Lupia River was fought in 11 BC between a Roman force led by Nero Claudius Drusus and the Sicambri.Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'LIV.33/ref> The Lupia River, now Lippe, flows westwards through the Ruhr Valley in North Rhine-Wes ...
(11 BCE)
**
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, also called the Varus Disaster or Varian Disaster () by Ancient Rome, Roman historians, was a major battle fought between an alliance of Germanic peoples and the Roman Empire between September 8 and 11, 9&nbs ...
(9 CE)
**
Germanicus' Germanic campaign
***
Campaign against the Marsi (14)
***
Campaign against the Chatti (15)
***
Campaign against the Bructeri (15)
***
Battle at Pontes Longi
The Battle at Pontes Longi was fought near Bramsche, Germany in 15 AD between the Roman general Aulus Caecina Severus and an alliance of Germanic peoples commanded by Arminius. It was part of a three-year series of campaigns by Germanicus in ...
(15)
***
Battle of Idistaviso
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
(16)
***
Battle of the Angrivarian Wall
The Battle of the Angrivarian Wall was fought near Porta Westfalica, Germany in 16 AD between the Roman general Germanicus and an alliance of Germanic tribes commanded by Arminius. This battle followed immediately after the Battle of Idistavi ...
(16)
***
Campaign against the Chatti (16)
*
Battle of Baduhenna Wood (28)
*
Revolt of the Batavi
The Revolt of the Batavi took place in the Roman province of Germania Inferior ("Lower Germania") between AD 69 and 70. It was an uprising against the Roman Empire started by the Batavi, a small but militarily powerful Germanic tribe that inhab ...
(69–70)
*
Domitian's Campaign against the Chatti (82)
*
Clashes along the Danube (92)
*
Marcomannic Wars
The Marcomannic Wars () were a series of wars lasting from about AD 166 until 180. These wars pitted the Roman Empire against principally the Germanic peoples, Germanic Marcomanni and Quadi and the Sarmatian Iazyges; there were related conflicts ...
(166–180)
**
Battle of Carnuntum (170)
*
Crisis of the Third Century
The Crisis of the Third Century, also known as the Military Anarchy or the Imperial Crisis, was a period in History of Rome, Roman history during which the Roman Empire nearly collapsed under the combined pressure of repeated Barbarian invasions ...
(235–284)
**
Battle at the Harzhorn
The Battle at the Harzhorn took place in the early 3rd century between Germanic and Roman troops near the Harzhorn hill between the towns of Kalefeld and Bad Gandersheim, in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany.
The battlefield, spanning sever ...
()
**
Battle of Nicopolis ad Istrum
The Battle of Nicopolis ad Istrum was fought between the Roman army of Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus, and the Gothic army of King Cniva, in 250. The Romans were victorious.
Prelude
In 250, the Goths, led by their king Cniva, ...
(250)
**
Battle of Beroe
The Battle of Beroe was a conflict near Stara Zagora, ancient ''Ulpia Augusta Traiana'', between the Romans and Goths
The Goths were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medi ...
(250)
**
Siege of Philippopolis (250)
**
Battle of Abritus
The Battle of Abritus also known as the Battle of Forum Terebronii occurred near Abritus (modern Razgrad) in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior in the summer of 251. It was fought between the Romans and a federation of Gothic and Scythian t ...
(251)
**
Siege of Thessalonica (254)
**
Battle of Thermopylae
The Battle of Thermopylae ( ) was fought in 480 BC between the Achaemenid Empire, Achaemenid Persian Empire under Xerxes I and an alliance of Polis, Greek city-states led by Sparta under Leonidas I. Lasting over the course of three days, it wa ...
(254)
**
Battle of Mediolanum
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
(259)
**
Battle of Augusta Vindelicorum (260)
**
Siege of Mainz (268)
**
Battle of Lake Benacus
The Battle of Lake Benacus was fought along the banks of Lake Garda in northern Italy, which was known to the Romans as Benacus, in 268 or early 269, between the army under the command of the Roman Emperor Claudius II and the Germanic tribe ...
(268)
**
Battle of Naissus
The Battle of Naissus in 268 or 269 was the defeat of a Gothic coalition by the Roman Empire under Emperor Gallienus (or Emperor Claudius II Gothicus) and the future Emperor Aurelian near Naissus (Niš). The events around the invasion and the ...
(269)
**
Battle of Placentia (271)
**
Battle of Fano The Battle of Fano also known as the Battle of Fanum FortunaeMichael Grant, The History of Rome, p. 285 was fought in 271 between the Roman and the Juthungian armies. The Romans led by Emperor Aurelian, were victorious.
Background
Aurelian ...
(271)
**
Battle of Pavia
The Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of 24 February 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521–1526 between the Kingdom of France and the Habsburg Empire of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, Holy Roman Empero ...
(271)
*
Battle of Lingones (298)
*
Battle of Vindonissa (298)
*
German and Sarmatian campaigns of Constantine (306–336)
*
Siege of Senonae The siege of Senonae was a siege during Roman–Alamanni conflict which resulted in a Roman victory.
In 356, after leaving Cologne, Julian the Apostate, the future Roman emperor, wintered in Senonae (possibly modern Sens) in Gaul. Following de ...
(356)
*
Siege of Autun The siege of Autun was a conflict fought between the Roman Empire and the invading barbarian Alamanni tribe, who were ravaging Gaul, in 356 AD. The Romans successfully defended the city, and the barbarians retreated on the approach of reinforcements ...
(356)
*
Battle of Reims (356)
*
Battle of Brumath
The Battle of Brumath in 356 AD was part of Roman Emperor Julian's campaigns against the Germanic tribes. Following the Battle of Reims, Julian's forces pursued several Germanic war bands through the Gallic countryside. Outside Brocomagus ...
(356)
*
Battle of Strasbourg
The Battle of Strasbourg, also known as the Battle of Argentoratum, was fought in 357 between the Western Roman army under Julian and the Alamanni tribal confederation led by the joint paramount King Chnodomar. The battle took place near Str ...
(357)
*
Great Conspiracy
The Great Conspiracy was a year-long state of war and disorder that occurred near the end of Roman Britain. Fourth-century Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus describes it as a ('barbarian conspiracy') which took advantage of a depleted milit ...
(367–368)
*
Battle of Solicinium
The Battle of Solicinium was fought in 368 between the Roman army, led by Emperor Valentinian I, and an army of Alamanni invading the province of Gaul. The Romans managed to repel the Alamanni but suffered heavy losses during the battle.
Backg ...
(368)
*
Battle of Noviodunum (369)
*
Gothic War (376–382)
**
Battle of Marcianople
The Battle of Marcianople or Marcianopolis took place in 376 following the Goths' migration over the Danube. It was the first notable battle of the Gothic War of 376–382.
After a failed Roman attempt to assassinate the Gothic leadership at a b ...
(376)
**
Battle of the Willows
The Battle of the Willows (377) took place at a place called ''ad Salices'' ("town by the willows"), or according to Ammianus, a road way-station called ''Ad Salices'' ("by the Willows"); probably located within 15 kilometres of Marcianopolis, Ma ...
(377)
**
Battle of Dibaltum
The Battle of Dibaltum was fought between the Roman army and an army of Goths, Huns, and Alans in the summer of 377. The battle took place outside the city of Dibaltum in Thrace and resulted in a Gothic victory.
Background
After Saturninus is ...
(377)
**
Battle of Adrianople
The Battle of Adrianople also known as Battle of Hadrianopolis was fought between the Eastern Roman army led by the Roman emperor Valens and Gothic rebels (largely Thervings as well as Greutungs, non-Gothic Alans, and various local rebels) ...
(378)
**
Siege of Adrianople (378)
**
Battle of Constantinople (378)
**
Battle of Thessalonica (380)
*
Battle of Argentovaria
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force c ...
(378)
*
Frankish invasion of 388
The Frankish invasion of 388 was an armed conflict in northern Gaul and in free Germania east of the Rhine. A Frankish raid in 388 led to a short-lived war with the Western Roman Empire. Under the leadership of three rulers, groups of Franks cross ...
*
Gothic Revolt of Tribigild
The Gothic Revolt of Tribigild was a revolt in 399–400 of the Goths in Anatolia (Eastern Roman Empire) that caused a major political crisis during the reign of Emperor Arcadius (395-408). The uprising was led by Tribigild, leader of a unit of Go ...
(399–400)
*
Gothic War (401–403)
**
Siege of Asti (402)
**
Battle of Pollentia
The Battle of Pollentia was fought on 6 April 402 between the Romans under Stilicho and the Visigoths under Alaric I, during the first Gothic invasion of Italy (401–403). The Romans were victorious, and forced Alaric to retreat, though he r ...
(402)
**
Battle of Verona (403)
*
War of Radagaisus
The War of Radagaisus was a military conflict in northern Italy in the period 405–406. This conflict was caused by the invasion of Radagaisus in 405. He invaded the Western Roman Empire with a huge population shortly after the empire had ended a ...
(405–406)
**
Battle of Faesulae (406)
*
Crossing of the Rhine
The crossing of the Rhine River by a mixed group of barbarians which included Vandals, Alans and Suebi is traditionally considered to have occurred on the last day of the year 406 (December 31, 406). The crossing transgressed one of the Roman E ...
(406)
*
Sack of Rome (410)
*
Gothic War in Spain (416–418)
*
Castinus campaign against the Franks
Castinus campaign against the Franks was a military campaign of the Roman army in the provinces of Germania II and Belgica I. The campaign was directed against the Ripuarian Franks, a Frankish people on the other side of the Rhine border. The com ...
*
Vandal war of 422
The Vandal War of 422 was a military conflict within the Western Roman Empire. The war took place in the province Baetica where the Romans went to war against the Vandals and Alans who had settled in the Diocese of Hispania since 409. The imperial ...
(422)
*
Gothic revolt of Theodoric I
The Gothic revolt of Theodoric I was an uprising of the Gothic Foederati in Aquitaine (Western Roman Empire) during the regime of Emperor Valentinian III (425-455). That rebellion was led by Theodoric I, King of the Visigoths and took place in th ...
(426)
*
Frankish War (428)
*
Vandal conquest of Roman Africa
The Vandal conquest of Roman Africa, also known as the Vandal conquest of North Africa, was the conquest of Mauretania Tingitana, Mauretania Caesariensis, and Africa Proconsolaris by the migrating Vandals and Alans. The conflict lasted 13 year ...
(429–432)
**
Battle of Calama
The Battle of Calama was fought between the Western Roman Empire and the Vandals in the war known as the Vandal conquest of Roman Africa. The battle took place in May 430 near the city of Calama. (429)
**
Siege of Hippo Regius
The siege of Hippo Regius was a siege from June 430 to August 431, carried out by the Vandals under their king Gaiseric against Roman defenders under Boniface, Count of Africa.
Background
Boniface, freshly reconciled with imperial power in R ...
(430–431)
*
Aetius campaign in the Alps
Aetius' campaign in the Alps was a military campaign of the Roman army in the northern Alpine region, where the dioceses Raetia and Noricum were situated. The campaign was directed against the Juthungi and the rebellious population of Noricum (the ...
(430–431)
*
Frankish War (431–432)
*
Burgundian Revolt of Gunther
The Burgundian Revolt of Gunther was a revolt of the Burgundian foederati in the Western Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Valentinian III. The uprising took place in the Gallic province of Germania Prima and was led by the King of the Bur ...
(436)
*
Gothic War (436–439)
**
Battle of Narbonne (436)
**
Battle of Mons Colubrarius The Battle of Mons Colubrarius was a battle in the Gothic War from 436 to 439. It was one of the many armed conflicts between the Gothic people and the Western Roman Empire during the first half of the fifth century. The main protagonists in the w ...
(439)
*
Vandalic War
The Vandalic War (533–534) was a conflict fought in North Africa between the forces of the Byzantine Empire (also known as the Eastern Roman Empire) and the Germanic Vandal Kingdom. It was the first war of Emperor Justinian I's , wherein the ...
(439–442)
*
Frankish War (441-446)
**
Battle of Vicus Helena
The Battle of Vicus Helena was a clash between the Franks, led by Chlodio, and Roman soldiers, commanded by general Flavius Aetius. The battle is attested in a limited number of late Roman and early Medieval sources, having occurred around the y ...
(445)
*
Sack of Rome (455)
*
Gothic War in Spain (456)
**
Battle of Órbigo (456)
*
Gothic War (457–458)
**
Battle of Arelate
The Battle of Arles was fought in 458 near Arelate (Arles) between Western Roman Emperor Majorian and Visigothic king Theodoric II. After the assassination of Flavius Aetius in 454, the Visigoths began to expand their kingdom at the expense ...
(458)
*
Battle of Cartagena (461)
*
Battle of Orleans (463)
*
Vandalic War
The Vandalic War (533–534) was a conflict fought in North Africa between the forces of the Byzantine Empire (also known as the Eastern Roman Empire) and the Germanic Vandal Kingdom. It was the first war of Emperor Justinian I's , wherein the ...
(461–468)
**
Battle of Cap Bon (468)
*
Battle of Bolia
The Battle of Bolia took place in 468 between the Ostrogoths (Amal dynasty) and a coalition of Germanic tribes in the Roman province of Pannonia. It was fought on the south side of the Danube near its confluence with the river Bolia, in present- ...
(469)
*
Battle of Arles (471)
*
Battle of Ravenna (476)
*
Burgundian Civil War
The Burgundian Civil War was a military conflict between the Burgundian kings Gundobad and Godigisel. The war took place around 500 in the former Roman provinces Gallia Lugdunesis I and Maxima Sequanorum, where a Burgundian state had emerged af ...
(500-501)
*
Franco–Gothic War (507–511)
The Franco–Gothic War (507–511), also known as the Second Frankish–Visigothic War, was a military conflict between the Franks and the Visigoths aimed at the hegemony of Gaul. The main opponents in this war were the kings Clovis I and Alaric ...
*
Vandalic War
The Vandalic War (533–534) was a conflict fought in North Africa between the forces of the Byzantine Empire (also known as the Eastern Roman Empire) and the Germanic Vandal Kingdom. It was the first war of Emperor Justinian I's , wherein the ...
(533–534)
**
Battle of Ad Decimum
The Battle of Ad Decimum took place on September 13, 533 between the armies of the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, and the Byzantine Empire, under the command of General Belisarius. This event and events in the following year are sometimes ...
(533)
**
Battle of Tricamarum
The Battle of Tricamarum took place on December 15, 533 between the armies of the Byzantine Empire, under Belisarius, and the Vandal Kingdom, commanded by King Gelimer, and his brother Tzazo. It followed the Byzantine victory at the Battle of ...
(533)
*
Gothic War (535–554)
**
Siege of Naples (536)
**
Siege of Rome (537–538)
**
Battle of Treviso
The Battle of Treviso was an engagement in 541 near Treviso, Italy, between Ostrogoths and Byzantines during the Gothic War.
In the prelude to the battle, the new Ostrogothic king Ildibad had exploited the withdrawal by Eastern Roman Emperor J ...
(541)
**
Siege of Verona (541)
**
Battle of Faventia
In the spring of 542, at the Battle of Faventia (modern Faenza), an Ostrogothic army under king Totila scattered the larger Roman forces of generals Constantian and Alexander, beginning the resurgence of Gothic resistance to the Roman reconques ...
(542)
**
Battle of Mucellium
The Battle of Mucellium was an engagement in 542 near Mugello, Italy, between Ostrogoths and Byzantines during the Gothic War. Having lifted a siege of Florence, the Ostrogoths led by Totila turned on the pursuing Byzantines, defeating their ...
(542)
**
Siege of Naples (543)
**
Sack of Rome (546)
**
Siege of Rome (549–550)
**
Battle of Sena Gallica (551)
**
Battle of Taginae
At the Battle of Taginae (also known as the Battle of Busta Gallorum) in June/July 552, the forces of the Byzantine Empire under Narses broke the power of the Ostrogoths in Italy, and paved the way for the temporary Byzantine reconquest of the It ...
(552)
**
Battle of Mons Lactarius
The Battle of Mons Lactarius (also known as Battle of the Vesuvius) took place in 552 or 553 AD during the Gothic War waged on behalf of Justinian I against the Ostrogoths in Italy.
After the Battle of Taginae, in which the Ostrogoth king Toti ...
(553)
**
Battle of the Volturnus
The Battle of the Volturnus, also known as the Battle of Casilinum or Battle of Capua, was fought in 554 between an army of the Eastern Roman Empire and a combined force of Franks and Alemanni. The Byzantines, led by the old eunuch general Nars ...
(554)
*
Byzantine–Lombard wars (568–750)
Chronology
Second century BC

*113–101 BC, Germanic
Collision with the Roman Republic,
Cimbrian War
The Cimbrian or Cimbric War (113–101 BC) was fought between the Roman Republic and the Germanic peoples, Germanic and Celts, Celtic tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutons, Ambrones and Tigurini, who migrated from the Jutland peninsula into Roma ...
, Beginning of Germanic Wars.
**112 BC,
Battle of Noreia
The Battle of Noreia, in 113 BC, was the opening battle of the Cimbrian War fought between the Roman Republic and the migrating Proto-Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and the Teutons (Teutones). It ended in defeat, and near disaster, for the Romans.
...
,
Suicide of Consul
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo ( – 82 BC) was thrice consul of the Roman Republic in 85, 84, and 82 BC. He was the head of the Marianists after the death of Cinna in 84 and led the resistance to Sulla during the civil war. He was proscribed by Sulla ...
.
**107 BC,
Helvetii
The Helvetii (, , Gaulish: *''Heluētī''), anglicized as Helvetians, were a Celtic tribe or tribal confederation occupying most of the Swiss plateau at the time of their contact with the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC. According to Ju ...
defeat the Romans in the
Battle of Agen,
Consul
Lucius Cassius Longinus dies in battle,
General
Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus dies in battle.
(Battle against Allies of the
Cimbri
The Cimbri (, ; ) were an ancient tribe in Europe. Ancient authors described them variously as a Celtic, Gaulish, Germanic, or even Cimmerian people. Several ancient sources indicate that they lived in Jutland, which in some classical texts was ...
)
**105 BC,
Battle of Arausio
The Battle of Arausio took place on 6 October 105 BC, at a site between the town of Arausio, now Orange, Vaucluse, and the Rhône river, where two Roman armies, commanded by proconsul Quintus Servilius Caepio and consul Gnaeus Mallius Maximus ...
, Execution of Roman General
Marcus Aurelius Scaurus
Marcus Aurelius Scaurus (died 105 BC) was a Roman politician and general during the Cimbrian War. After one of the consul designates was prosecuted and condemned, Scaurus was made consul suffectus in 108 BC.
In 105 BC he went as a senior legate w ...
, Proconsul
Quintus Servilius Caepio Quintus Servilius Caepio may refer to:
* Quintus Servilius Caepio (consul 140 BC)
* Quintus Servilius Caepio (consul 106 BC)
* Quintus Servilius Caepio (quaestor 103 BC)
* Quintus Servilius Caepio (adoptive father of Brutus)
* Quintus Servilius ...
and Consul
Gnaeus Mallius Maximus
Gnaeus Mallius Maximus was a Roman politician and general.
A '' novus homo'' ("new man"), Mallius was elected to the consulship of the Roman Republic in 105 BC. He was sent as consul to the province of Transalpine Gaul to stop the migration of the ...
exiled.
**102 BC, Consul
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius (; – 13 January 86 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. Victor of the Cimbrian War, Cimbric and Jugurthine War, Jugurthine wars, he held the office of Roman consul, consul an unprecedented seven times. Rising from a fami ...
defeats the
Sciri
The Sciri, or Scirians, were a Germanic people. They are believed to have spoken an East Germanic language. Their name probably means "the pure ones".
The Sciri were mentioned already in the late 3rd century BC as participants in a raid on the ...
and
Teutons
The Teutons (, ; ) were an ancient northern European tribe mentioned by Roman authors. The Teutons are best known for their participation, together with the Cimbri and other groups, in the Cimbrian War with the Roman Republic in the late seco ...
in the
Battle of Aquae Sextiae
The Battle of Aquae Sextiae (Aix-en-Provence) took place in 102 BC. After a string of Roman defeats (see: the Battle of Noreia, the Battle of Burdigala, and the Battle of Arausio), the Romans under Gaius Marius finally defeated the Teutones ...
, Capture of King
Teutobod
Teutobod was a king of the Teutons, who, together with the allied Cimbri, invaded the Roman Republic in the Cimbrian War and won a spectacular victory at the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC. He was later captured at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae in 10 ...
, Extermination of the
Teutons
The Teutons (, ; ) were an ancient northern European tribe mentioned by Roman authors. The Teutons are best known for their participation, together with the Cimbri and other groups, in the Cimbrian War with the Roman Republic in the late seco ...
,
Cimbri
The Cimbri (, ; ) were an ancient tribe in Europe. Ancient authors described them variously as a Celtic, Gaulish, Germanic, or even Cimmerian people. Several ancient sources indicate that they lived in Jutland, which in some classical texts was ...
defeat Consul
Quintus Lutatius Catulus
Quintus Lutatius Catulus (149–87 BC) was a Roman consul, consul of the Roman Republic in 102 BC. His consular colleague was Gaius Marius. During their consulship the Cimbri and Teutons, Teutones marched south again and Cimbrian War, threatened ...
in the
Adige
The Adige is the second-longest river in Italy, after the Po. It rises near the Reschen Pass in the Vinschgau in the province of South Tyrol, near the Italian border with Austria and Switzerland, and flows through most of northeastern Italy ...
Valley.
**101 BC, Roman consuls
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius (; – 13 January 86 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. Victor of the Cimbrian War, Cimbric and Jugurthine War, Jugurthine wars, he held the office of Roman consul, consul an unprecedented seven times. Rising from a fami ...
and
Manius Aquillius defeat the Cimbri in the
Battle of Vercellae
The Battle of Vercellae or Battle of the Raudine Plain was fought on 30 July 101 BC on a plain near Vercellae in Gallia Cisalpina (modern-day Northern Italy). A Celto-Germanic confederation under the command of the Cimbric king Boiorix was de ...
,
King
Boiorix
Boiorix or Boeorix was a king of the Cimbri tribe during the Cimbrian War. His most notable achievement was the spectacular victory against the Romans at the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC, seen as the worst Roman military disaster since the Battle ...
dies in battle,
Extermination of the
Cimbri
The Cimbri (, ; ) were an ancient tribe in Europe. Ancient authors described them variously as a Celtic, Gaulish, Germanic, or even Cimmerian people. Several ancient sources indicate that they lived in Jutland, which in some classical texts was ...
.
First century BC

*58–51 BC, Conquest of
Celtic Gaul
Gallia Celtica, meaning "Celtic Gaul" in Latin, was a cultural region of Gaul inhabited by Celts, located in what is now France, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the west bank of the Rhine River in Germany.
According to Roman ethnography and Julius C ...
to 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 ...
by
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...
,
Gallic Wars
The Gallic Wars were waged between 58 and 50 BC by the Roman general Julius Caesar against the peoples of Gaul (present-day France, Belgium, and Switzerland). Gauls, Gallic, Germanic peoples, Germanic, and Celtic Britons, Brittonic trib ...
.
**58 BC,
Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war. He ...
decisively defeats the
Helvetii
The Helvetii (, , Gaulish: *''Heluētī''), anglicized as Helvetians, were a Celtic tribe or tribal confederation occupying most of the Swiss plateau at the time of their contact with the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC. According to Ju ...
in the
Battle of the Arar The Battle of the Arar was fought between the migrating tribes of the Helvetii and six Roman legions under the command of Gaius Julius Caesar in 58 BC. It was the first major battle of the Gallic Wars and ended in a tactical victory for the outnu ...
and the
Battle of Bibracte
The Battle of Bibracte was fought between the Helvetii and six Roman legions, under the command of Gaius Julius Caesar. It was the second major battle of the Gallic Wars.
Prelude
The Helvetii, a confederation of Gallic tribes, had begun a total ...
, Caesar decisively defeats the
Suevi
file:1st century Germani.png, 300px, The approximate positions of some Germanic peoples reported by Graeco-Roman authors in the 1st century. Suebian peoples in red, and other Irminones in purple.
The Suebi (also spelled Suavi, Suevi or Suebians ...
, led by
Ariovistus
Ariovistus was a leader of the Suebi and other allied Germanic peoples in the second quarter of the 1st century BC, who name appears prominently in Julius Caesar's '' Commentarii de Bello Gallico''. Before their conflict with the Romans, Ariovis ...
, in the
Battle of Vosges.
**57 BC,
Battle of the Sabis
The Battle of the Sabis also (arguably erroneously) known as the Battle of the Sambre or the Battle against the Nervians (or Nervii) was fought in 57 BC near modern Saulzoir in Northern France, between Caesar's legions and an association of B ...
.
**55 BC, Caesar's intervention against
Tencteri
The Tencteri or Tenchteri or Tenctheri (in Plutarch's Greek, Tenteritē and possibly the same as the Tenkeroi mentioned by Claudius Ptolemy if these were not the Tungri) were an ancient tribe, who moved into the area on the right bank (the nort ...
and
Usipetes
The Usipetes or Usipii (in Plutarch's Greek, Ousipai, and possibly the same as the Ouispoi of Ptolemy) were an ancient Germanic people who entered the written record when they encountered Julius Caesar in 56/55 BC when they attempted to find a new ...
, Caesar defeats a
Germanic army then massacres the women and children, totalling 430,000 people, somewhere near the
Meuse
The Meuse or Maas is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of .
History
From 1301, the upper ...
and
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 ...
rivers, Caesar's first crossing of the Rhine against the
Suevi
file:1st century Germani.png, 300px, The approximate positions of some Germanic peoples reported by Graeco-Roman authors in the 1st century. Suebian peoples in red, and other Irminones in purple.
The Suebi (also spelled Suavi, Suevi or Suebians ...
,
Caesar's invasions of Britain
In the course of his Gallic Wars, Julius Caesar invaded Britain twice: in 55 and 54 BC. On the first occasion, Caesar took with him only two legions, and achieved little beyond a landing on the coast of Kent. The second invasion was more subst ...
. Archaeologists with
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The (abbreviated as ''VU Amsterdam'' or simply ''VU'' when in context) is a public university, public research university in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1880. The VU Amsterdam is one of two large, publicly funded research universities in ...
claim they've found the first physical evidence that the battle took place in what is now the Netherlands, near the city of
Kessel, North Brabant
Kessel is a village in the southern Netherlands. It is located in Oss, North Brabant about 12 km northeast of 's-Hertogenbosch on the river Maas.
The village was first mentioned in 997 as Casella. It is derived from castle, but means littl ...
.
**54 BCE, Destruction of the legion
Legio XIV Gemina
Legio XIV Gemina ("The Twinned Fourteenth Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army, levied by Julius Caesar in 57 BC. The cognomen ''Gemina'' (Twinned) was added when the legion was combined with another understrengthed legion after the ...
by the
Eburones
The Eburones ( Greek: ) were a Gaulish- Germanic tribe dwelling in the northeast of Gaul, who lived north of the Ardennes in the region near what is now the southern Netherlands, eastern Belgium and the German Rhineland, in the period immediately ...
led by
Cativolcus
Cativolcus or Catuvolcus (died 53 BC) was king of half of the country of the Eburones, a people between the Meuse and Rhine rivers, united with Ambiorix, the other king, in the insurrection against the Romans in 54 BC; but when Julius Caesar in ...
and
Ambiorix
Ambiorix (Gaulish "king of the surroundings", or "king-protector") ( 54–53 BC) was, together with Cativolcus, prince of the Eburones, leader of a Belgic tribe of north-eastern Gaul (Gallia Belgica), where modern Belgium is located. In the ...
,
Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta
Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta (, ; died 54 BC) was an officer in the Gallic army of Gaius Julius Caesar. The little we know of Cotta is found in Book V of Caesar's '' De Bello Gallico''. In 54 BC, when Caesar returned to Gaul from his second exped ...
dies in battle,
Quintus Titurius Sabinus
Quintus Titurius Sabinus (, ; died 54 BC) was one of Caesar's legates during the Gallic Wars. He is first mentioned in Caesar's campaign against the Remi, in 57 BC. In 56 BC, he was sent by Caesar with three legions against the Venelli, Curios ...
dies in battle.
**53 BC,
Caesar's
Caesar's is a restaurant inside a hotel of the same name on Avenida Revolución in Tijuana, Mexico. The restaurant is best known for originating the Caesar salad.
History
The restaurant was founded by Italian immigrants Cesare (Cesar) an ...
retaliation against the
Eburones
The Eburones ( Greek: ) were a Gaulish- Germanic tribe dwelling in the northeast of Gaul, who lived north of the Ardennes in the region near what is now the southern Netherlands, eastern Belgium and the German Rhineland, in the period immediately ...
second crossing of the Rhine, Extermination of the Eburones.
**52 BC,
Fall of Celtic Gaul,
Gaul
Gaul () was a region of Western Europe first clearly described by the Roman people, Romans, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Italy. It covered an area of . Ac ...
becomes a
Roman province
The Roman provinces (, pl. ) were the administrative regions of Ancient Rome outside Roman Italy that were controlled by the Romans under the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire. Each province was ruled by a Roman appointed as Roman g ...
.
*46 BC, Execution of
Vercingetorix
Vercingetorix (; ; – 46 BC) was a Gauls, Gallic king and chieftain of the Arverni tribe who united the Gauls in a failed revolt against Roman Republic, Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars. After surrendering to C ...
the Celt.
*30–29 BC, Rebellion of the
Morini
The Morini (Gaulish language, Gaulish: 'sea folk, sailors') were a Belgae, Belgic coastal tribe dwelling in the modern Pas-de-Calais, Pas de Calais region, around present-day Boulogne-sur-Mer, during the La Tène culture, Iron Age and the Roman ...
and
Treveri
The Treveri (Gaulish language, Gaulish: *''Treweroi'') were a Germanic peoples, Germanic or Celts, Celtic tribe of the Belgae group who inhabited the lower valley of the Moselle (river), Moselle in modern day Germany from around 150 BCE, if not ea ...
with aid of the Suebi crushed by proconsuls
Gaius Carrinas and
Gaius Cornelius Gallus
Gaius Cornelius Gallus (c. 70 – 26 BC) was a Roman poet, orator, politician and military commander, at one time appointed by the Emperor Augustus as prefect of Egypt. Only nine lines of his poetry are extant today, but he was much read in antiq ...
.
*20 BC,
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (; BC – 12 BC) was a Roman general, statesman and architect who was a close friend, son-in-law and lieutenant to the Roman emperor Augustus. Agrippa is well known for his important military victories, notably the B ...
, Governor of
Transalpine Gaul
Gallia Narbonensis (Latin for "Gaul of Narbonne", from its chief settlement) was a Roman province located in Occitania (administrative region) , Occitania and Provence, in Southern France. It was also known as Provincia Nostra ("Our Prov ...
, Construction of military roads and especially the military road
Lugdunum
Lugdunum (also spelled Lugudunum, ; modern Lyon, France) was an important Colonia (Roman), Roman city in Gaul, established on the current site of Lyon, France, Lyon.
The Roman city was founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus, but cont ...
--
Divodurum--
Treverorum
Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone i ...
--
Agrippinensium (from Lyon to Cologne).
*16 BC, ''
clades Lolliana
The ''clades Lolliana'' or Lollian disaster was a battle in 16 BC, when the consul Marcus Lollius was defeated by the Sicambri, Usipetes and Tencteri, Germanic tribes who had crossed the Rhine. This defeat is coupled by the historian Suetonius w ...
'',
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (), commonly referred to as Suetonius ( ; – after AD 122), was a Roman historian who wrote during the early Imperial era of the Roman Empire. His most important surviving work is ''De vita Caesarum'', common ...
, ''Augustus'', 23, ''Tiberius'', 12; Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars.
Tacitus’ two major historical works, ''Annals'' ( ...
, ''Annals'', I.10, III.48; Velleius
Marcus Velleius Paterculus (; ) was a Roman historian, soldier and senator. His Roman history, written in a highly rhetorical style, covered the period from the end of the Trojan War to AD 30, but is most useful for the period from the death o ...
II.97, 102; Pliny, ''Nat. Hist.'' IX.35 (58); Dio, liv.6. Destruction of the legion
Legio V Alaudae
Legio V Alaudae ("Fifth Legion of the Lark"), sometimes also known as Legio V Gallica ("Fifth Gallic Legion"), was a legion of the Roman army founded in 52 BC by the general Gaius Julius Caesar (dictator of Rome 49-44 BC). It was levied in Tra ...
by
Sicambri
The Sicambri or Sugambri were a Germanic people who lived in the area between the Rhine, Lippe, and Wupper rivers, in what is now Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. They were first reported by Julius Caesar, who encountered them in 55 ...
and their allies, Fall of the
Kingdom of Noricum.
*16–13 BC, Emperor Augustus on 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 ...
, Reorganization of the Three Gauls (capital
Trier
Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also Names of Trier in different languages, names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle (river), Moselle in Germany. It lies in a v ...
), Decision to fortify the left bank of the Rhine and conquest of Germania to the Elbe, Rome pays tribute to the Frisii, Begin of invasions east of the Rhine by Rome, Construction of the modern city of Mainz begins.
*12–9 BC, Drusus' Germanic campaign, Invasions of Drusus up the Elbe from the North Sea, the Lippe and Main (river), Main,
Battle of the Lupia River
The Battle of the Lupia River was fought in 11 BC between a Roman force led by Nero Claudius Drusus and the Sicambri.Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'LIV.33/ref> The Lupia River, now Lippe, flows westwards through the Ruhr Valley in North Rhine-Wes ...
, Cherusci, Marsi and
Sicambri
The Sicambri or Sugambri were a Germanic people who lived in the area between the Rhine, Lippe, and Wupper rivers, in what is now Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. They were first reported by Julius Caesar, who encountered them in 55 ...
subdued, Chatti, Mattiaci, Tencteri and Usipetes are overrun, Frisii and other the Germans along the lower Rhine defeated, Canal of Drusus constructed, Establishment of new forts by Rome of Haltern am See, Xanten, Haltern, Oberaden, Holsterhausen, Anreppen and Beckinghausen.
[Interaktive Karte der Römerlager an der Lippe in Ulrike Kusak]
''Nach Sensationsfund fehlt das Geld für Grabungen''
, vom 6. Dezember 2014, auf ruhrnachrichten.de
*9 BC, Creation of Germania, Magna Germania (capital Cologne), Pacification campaigns against the Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes by the Roman Empire, Marcomanni defeated and forced to flee into the territory of the Boii.
*8–7 BC, Construction of military forts on both sides of the Weser, Deportation of 40,000
Sicambri
The Sicambri or Sugambri were a Germanic people who lived in the area between the Rhine, Lippe, and Wupper rivers, in what is now Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. They were first reported by Julius Caesar, who encountered them in 55 ...
and Suebi west of the Rhine.
*6–2 BC, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 16 BC), Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus leads a Roman army across the Elbe. Construction of military roads, called the pontes longi, amid the vast swamps between the Rhine and the Ems (river), Ems. Hermunduri subdued and forced to flee into the territory of the Marcomanni.
First century
*1–4 AD, Rise of the Chatti
and Bructeri (''immensum bellum'') suppressed by Tiberius, who reaches the Elbe. Canninefates, Chattuarii, Cherusci are again subdued. Lombards, Semnones, Chauci and other tribes who dwelt on both sides of the Elbe are subjugated.
*5, The Roman navy reaches the Jutland, Cimbrian peninsula for the first time. Cimbri, Charudes, Semnones and other Germanic tribes who inhabit the region declare themselves friends of the Roman people.
*6–9, Great Illyrian Revolt, Uprising in Illyricum, which cancels the major Roman project of war against Suevic Marcomanni. Romans forced to move eight of eleven legions present in Magna Germania to crush the rebellion in the Balkans and Pannonia.
*6, Publius Quinctilius Varus, Varus succeeds Saturninus as governor of Germania with the mission of peacekeeping and the implementation of tax and judicial administration.
*9, ''clades Variana'', Destruction of the legions Legio XVII, XVII, Legio XVIII, XVIII and Legio XIX, XIX by Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Battle of Teutoburg Forest, Suicide of Administrator Publius Quinctilius Varus, Varus, Loss of military camps east of the Rhine.,
Roman Empire is forced to strategically withdraw from Germania. Pro-Roman Germanic coalition led by Maroboduus and Segestes turns against Arminius. The resistance of the Roman garrison of Aliso (Roman camp), Aliso and the arrival of Roman reinforcements on the Rhine prevent Arminius from invading
Gaul
Gaul () was a region of Western Europe first clearly described by the Roman people, Romans, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Italy. It covered an area of . Ac ...
.
*10–13, Military command of Tiberius in Germania and interventions in the valley of the Lippe, replaced by Germanicus, Construction of ''Limes Germanicus'' begins.
*14, Mutiny of the legions of Germania.
*14–16, Roman retaliation against Cherusci, Chatti, Bructeri and Marsi (Germanic), Marsi, capture of Thusnelda, recovery of two legionary standards lost in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
Battle of the Weser River, Battles of Idistaviso and the Battle of the Angrivarian Wall, Angrivarian Wall.

*17, Cessation of military offensives east of 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 ...
by Tiberius, Civil war between pro-Roman and anti-Roman Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes ends in a stalemate.
*19, Death of Germanicus.
*20, In a series of actions backed by Rome, Vannius came to power following the defeat of the Marcomannic king Catualda by the Hermunduri king of Vibilius, establishing the kingdom of Vannius (''regnum Vannianum''). Vannius was a client king of the Roman Empire and ruled from 20 AD to 50 AD.
*21, Assassination of Arminius.
*28, Revolt of the Frisii, Tax collectors hanged, Romans defeated in the
Battle of Baduhenna Wood.
*41, Raid against the Chauci under Emperor Claudius, Recovery of third legionary standard lost in the
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, also called the Varus Disaster or Varian Disaster () by Ancient Rome, Roman historians, was a major battle fought between an alliance of Germanic peoples and the Roman Empire between September 8 and 11, 9&nbs ...
.
*47, Cnaeus Domitius Corbulo crosses the Rhine, defeats the Frisii and Chauci and occupies their territory.
[Goldsworthy, ''In the Name of Rome'', p. 269]
*50, Raid against the Chatti under Emperor Claudius, Liberation of Roman prisoners.
*54, Under Emperor Nero, Frisian raid repulsed.
*69–70,
Revolt of the Batavi
The Revolt of the Batavi took place in the Roman province of Germania Inferior ("Lower Germania") between AD 69 and 70. It was an uprising against the Roman Empire started by the Batavi, a small but militarily powerful Germanic tribe that inhab ...
, Destruction of 2 Roman legions by the Batavi (Germanic tribe), Batavi, Rebellion crushed by Quintus Petillius Cerialis.
[Luttwak, ''The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire'', p. 53]
*72, Under Emperor Vespasian, Romans occupy and settle the Agri Decumates.
*82–83, Domitian#Campaign against the Chatti, Campaign against the Chatti under Emperor Domitian, Roman armies conquer the territory of Chatti with the help of Mattiaci, Hermunduri and Cherusci, Triboci and Nemetes subdued, Establishment of new Roman forts of Ladenburg, Neuenheim, Ladenburg, Sulz am Neckar, Sulz, Geislingen, Germany, Geislingen, Rottenburg an der Laaber, Burladingen, Gomadingen, Donnstetten, Urspring, Günzburg.
[R.Syme, ''Guerre e frontiere del periodo dei Flavi'', pp.606 ss.]
*89, Lucius Antonius Saturninus,
Legio XIV Gemina
Legio XIV Gemina ("The Twinned Fourteenth Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army, levied by Julius Caesar in 57 BC. The cognomen ''Gemina'' (Twinned) was added when the legion was combined with another understrengthed legion after the ...
and Legio XXI Rapax revolt against Rome with aid of the Chatti.
[Dean-Jones, Lesley (1992), p. 144]
Second century
*c. 165, Invasion of Pannonia by Lombards and Ubii.
*166–180, Germanic peoples, Germanic tribes invade the frontiers of the Roman Empire, specifically the provinces of Raetia and Moesia,
Marcomannic Wars
The Marcomannic Wars () were a series of wars lasting from about AD 166 until 180. These wars pitted the Roman Empire against principally the Germanic peoples, Germanic Marcomanni and Quadi and the Sarmatian Iazyges; there were related conflicts ...
.
*180, Goths reach the banks of the Black Sea.
Third century
*213–214, Emperor Caracalla's successful campaign against the Alamanni, fortifications of Raetia and Germania Superior strengthened.
*235–284,
Crisis of the Third Century
The Crisis of the Third Century, also known as the Military Anarchy or the Imperial Crisis, was a period in History of Rome, Roman history during which the Roman Empire nearly collapsed under the combined pressure of repeated Barbarian invasions ...
.
**235,
Battle at the Harzhorn
The Battle at the Harzhorn took place in the early 3rd century between Germanic and Roman troops near the Harzhorn hill between the towns of Kalefeld and Bad Gandersheim, in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany.
The battlefield, spanning sever ...
.
**238, Gothic raid on Histria (Sinoe), Istria,
[Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, ]
Rome's Gothic Wars
', p. 18.
**248–249, Raid in Marcianopolis by Goths.
**250, Roman victory at the
Battle of Nicopolis ad Istrum
The Battle of Nicopolis ad Istrum was fought between the Roman army of Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus, and the Gothic army of King Cniva, in 250. The Romans were victorious.
Prelude
In 250, the Goths, led by their king Cniva, ...
. Gothic victory at the
Battle of Beroe
The Battle of Beroe was a conflict near Stara Zagora, ancient ''Ulpia Augusta Traiana'', between the Romans and Goths
The Goths were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medi ...
. Battle of Philippopolis (250), Siege and sack of Philippopolis by Goths led by Cniva.
**251, Three Roman legions defeated by Goths at the
Battle of Abritus
The Battle of Abritus also known as the Battle of Forum Terebronii occurred near Abritus (modern Razgrad) in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior in the summer of 251. It was fought between the Romans and a federation of Gothic and Scythian t ...
, Emperor Decius dies in battle, Co-Emperor Herennius Etruscus dies in battle.
**254, successful Graeco-Roman defense of Thessalonica at the
Siege of Thessalonica. Successful Graeco-Roman defense of Achaea at the
Battle of Thermopylae
The Battle of Thermopylae ( ) was fought in 480 BC between the Achaemenid Empire, Achaemenid Persian Empire under Xerxes I and an alliance of Polis, Greek city-states led by Sparta under Leonidas I. Lasting over the course of three days, it wa ...
.
**259, 300,000 Alemanni die in the
Battle of Mediolanum
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
(Milan).

**259–260, Evacuation of the agrarian area Agri Decumates by the Roman Empire, Roman Empire retreats behind the Rhine.
**260–274, Usurper Postumus, of possible Batavian origin, declares himself Emperor of the Gallic Empire including Roman Gaul, Roman Britain, Hispania, Roman Spain and Germania. He assumed the title Germanicus Maximus after successfully campaigning against Franks and Alamanni.
**c. 267–269, Battle of Naissus#Background, Invasion of the Goths, Gothic attacks on Marcianopolis and Üsküdar, Chrysopolis, Sack of Byzantium.
**268,
Siege of Mainz,
Battle of Lake Benacus
The Battle of Lake Benacus was fought along the banks of Lake Garda in northern Italy, which was known to the Romans as Benacus, in 268 or early 269, between the army under the command of the Roman Emperor Claudius II and the Germanic tribe ...
, assassination of Gallic Emperor Postumus.
**269,
Battle of Naissus
The Battle of Naissus in 268 or 269 was the defeat of a Gothic coalition by the Roman Empire under Emperor Gallienus (or Emperor Claudius II Gothicus) and the future Emperor Aurelian near Naissus (Niš). The events around the invasion and the ...
,
[Zosimus, ''Historia Nova'']
book 1.43
end of Gothic Invasion.
**271,
Battle of Placentia,
Battle of Fano The Battle of Fano also known as the Battle of Fanum FortunaeMichael Grant, The History of Rome, p. 285 was fought in 271 between the Roman and the Juthungian armies. The Romans led by Emperor Aurelian, were victorious.
Background
Aurelian ...
,
Battle of Pavia
The Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of 24 February 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521–1526 between the Kingdom of France and the Habsburg Empire of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, Holy Roman Empero ...
, Destruction of Alemannic army, Emperor Aurelian repelled another Goths, Gothic invasion but abandoned the province of Dacia north of Danube forever, Construction of the Aurelian Walls, Aurelian Wall begins.
**277–278, Emperor Probus (emperor), Probus's successful campaigns against Goths, Alamanni, Lugii, Longiones, Franks and Burgundians. Reportedly, 400,000 barbarians were killed during this campaign, and the entire nation of the Lugii were extirpated.
*286, Campaign against the Alamanni, Burgundians, Heruli and Chaibones under Emperor Maximian.
*287–288, Salian Franks, Chamavi and Frisii surrender and become subjects of the Roman Empire. Maximian move them to Germania Inferior to provide manpower and prevent the settlement of other Germanic tribes.
[Williams, 50–51.][Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', 7.]
*292, Constantius Chlorus, Constantius defeat the Franks who had settled at the mouth of the Rhineand and deport them to the nearby region of Toxandria providing a buffer along the northern Rhine and reducing his need to garrison the region.
[
*296, Frisians deported into Roman territory as laeti.
*298, Battle of Lingones.
*298, Battle of Vindonissa.
]
Fourth century
*306–310, Emperor Constantine the Great drives the Franks back beyond the Rhine and captures two of their kings, Ascaric and Merogaisus. The prisoners are fed to the beasts of Trier
Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also Names of Trier in different languages, names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle (river), Moselle in Germany. It lies in a v ...
's amphitheater in the ''Adventus (ceremony), adventus'' (arrival) celebrations that followed. Constantine crosses the Rhine in 308 and 310, devastating the lands of the Franks and the Bructeri.
*332, Roman invasion north of the Danube under Emperor Constantine the Great. Capture of Gothic Prince Ariaricus. Nearly one hundred thousand Goths die before submitting to Rome.[Odahl, Charles M., ]
Constantine and the Christian Empire
', chapter X.
*306–337, After German and Sarmatian campaigns of Constantine, thirty years of military campaigns Constantine regains control over a good part of the territories which had been abandoned by Gallienus and Aurelian. This included the Agri decumates from the Alemanni, the plain south of the Tisza (Banat) from the Sarmatians and Oltenia & Wallachia from the Goths.[Y. Le Bohec, ''Armi e guerrieri di Roma antica. Da Diocleziano alla caduta dell'impero'', Roma 2008. p. 52.][R.Ardevan & L.Zerbini, ''La Dacia romana'', p.210.]
*c. 350, Infiltration of Germania Inferior by Franks.
*354–355, Roman double victory over Alamanni under Emperor Constantius II.
*356, Recapture of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) by future Emperor Julian the apostate, Julian the Apostate, Siege of Senonae The siege of Senonae was a siege during Roman–Alamanni conflict which resulted in a Roman victory.
In 356, after leaving Cologne, Julian the Apostate, the future Roman emperor, wintered in Senonae (possibly modern Sens) in Gaul. Following de ...
by Alamanni, Siege of Autun The siege of Autun was a conflict fought between the Roman Empire and the invading barbarian Alamanni tribe, who were ravaging Gaul, in 356 AD. The Romans successfully defended the city, and the barbarians retreated on the approach of reinforcements ...
by Alemanni, Battle of Durocortorum, Battle of Reims, Battle of Brumath
The Battle of Brumath in 356 AD was part of Roman Emperor Julian's campaigns against the Germanic tribes. Following the Battle of Reims, Julian's forces pursued several Germanic war bands through the Gallic countryside. Outside Brocomagus ...
.
*357, Roman invasion of Alemannic territory led by general Barbatio and Julian, Attack on Lugdunum
Lugdunum (also spelled Lugudunum, ; modern Lyon, France) was an important Colonia (Roman), Roman city in Gaul, established on the current site of Lyon, France, Lyon.
The Roman city was founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus, but cont ...
(Lyon) by Laeti, End of coordinated operation against the Alemanni, Battle of Strasbourg, Battle of Argentoratum, Capture of Alemannic King Chnodomarius, Julian crosses the Rhine at Moguntiacum and forces three Alamannic kingdoms to submit, Franks expelled from the basin of the Meuse.
*358, Raid in the province of Raetia by Alemannic Juthungi, Destruction of Regensburg, Castra Regina (Regensburg) by Alemanni, Julian forces the Salian Franks into submission and expel the Chamavi back to Hamaland.
*359, Execution of Roman General Barbatio, Recapture of Moguntiacum#History, Moguntiacum by Julian, Emperor Constantius II crosses the Danube at Brigetio (Komárom) and devastates the Quadian lands.
*365, Invasion of Roman Gaul by Alemanni, Alemanni leave with spoil and captives
*366, Alemanni invade Roman Gaul a second time
*367, Sack of Moguntiacum#History, Moguntiacum by Alemanni, Battle of Solicinium
The Battle of Solicinium was fought in 368 between the Roman army, led by Emperor Valentinian I, and an army of Alamanni invading the province of Gaul. The Romans managed to repel the Alamanni but suffered heavy losses during the battle.
Backg ...
, Roman army led by Eastern Emperor Valens defeats Goths, Gothic Greuthungi and captures their king Ermanaric.
*367–368, Great Conspiracy, Great Barbarian Conspiracy against Roman Britain and Roman Gaul by Saxons and Franks, Death of Nectaridus.
*367–369, Attack on Goths, Gothic Thervingi under Eastern Emperor Valens.[Ammianus Marcellinus, ''wikisource:Roman History, Historiae'', wikisource:Roman History/Book XXVII#V, book 27, chapter 5.]
*368, Invasion of Alemannic territory under Emperor Valentinian I, Valentinian the Great, Crossing of 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 ...
by the Roman Empire.
*369, Destruction of a Castra, fortress near Heidelberg by Alemanni.
*370, Invasion of Roman Gaul by Saxons, Death of all invading Saxons, Invasion of Alemannic territory by Valentinian I, Valentinian the Great, Rome captures thousands of Alemannia, Alemannic Bucinobantes, Deposition of Alemannic King Macrian, Huns, Hunnic raids on Goths, Gothic Greuthungi.[Zosimus (historian), Zosimus, ]
Historia Nova
''
.[Philostorgius, ''wikisource:Ecclesiastical history (Philostorgius), Ecclesiastical history'', wikisource:Ecclesiastical history (Philostorgius)/Epitome of book IX, book 9, chapter 17.][Sozomen, ''wikisource:Ecclesiastical history (Sozomen), Ecclesiastical History'', book 6, chapter 37.][Heather, Peter, 1998, ''The Goths'', pp. 98–104.][Kulikowski, Michael, 2007, ]
Rome's Gothic Wars
', pp. 124–128.
*374, Assassination of Quadic King Quadi, Gabinius, Invasion of former Illyricum by Quadi and Sarmatians.
*375, Pillaging of Quadi lands by the Roman Empire, Western Emperor Valentinian I, Valentinian the Great dies during peace negotiations.
*376, Ostrogoths#Hunnic invasions, Invasion of the Huns, Hunnic war against Visigoths and Ostrogoths, Suicide of Goths, Gothic King Ermanaric, Goths, Gothic King Vithimiris, Vithimer dies in battle.
*376–382, Hunnic raids on Gothic Thervingi (Visigoths),[Ammianus Marcellinus, ''wikisource:Roman History, Historiae'', wikisource:Roman History/Book XXXI#III, book 31, chapter 3.] Gothic War, Plundering and destruction throughout the Balkans by Goths.
**377, Battle of the Willows
The Battle of the Willows (377) took place at a place called ''ad Salices'' ("town by the willows"), or according to Ammianus, a road way-station called ''Ad Salices'' ("by the Willows"); probably located within 15 kilometres of Marcianopolis, Ma ...
, Gothic chieftain Farnobius dies in battle.
**378, Battle of Adrianople
The Battle of Adrianople also known as Battle of Hadrianopolis was fought between the Eastern Roman army led by the Roman emperor Valens and Gothic rebels (largely Thervings as well as Greutungs, non-Gothic Alans, and various local rebels) ...
,[Zosimus, ''Historia Nova'', book 4.] Eastern Emperor Valens dies in battle, Begin of the Fall of the Western Roman Empire
In modern historiography, the Western Roman Empire was the western provinces of the Roman Empire, collectively, during any period in which they were administered separately from the eastern provinces by a separate, independent imperial court. ...
.[Roman Empire – Adrianople](_blank)
roman-empire.net. Illustrated History of the Roman Empire. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
*377–378, Invasion of Thrace and Moesia by Gothic Greuthungi led by chieftain Alatheus.
*378, Invasion of Alsace by Alemanni, Battle of Argentovaria
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force c ...
, Extermination of Alemannia, Alemannic Lentienses, Alemannic King Priarius dies in battle.
*380, Battle of Thessalonica, Death of Gothic chieftain Fritigern, Begin of naval raids by Saxons, Begin of the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Migration of the Saxons.
*382, Peace between Rome and the Goths, Large Gothic contingents of Thervingi, Taifali and Victohali settle along the southern Danube frontier in the province of Thrace.
*383, Failed raid in the province of Raetia by Alemannic Juthungi.
*387, Failed Invasion of Thrace and Moesia by Gothic Greuthungi led by chieftain Alatheus, Greuthungi chieftain Alatheus dies in battle.
*390, Massacre of Thessalonica.
*392, Emperor Valentinian II is hanged, Frankish General Arbogast (magister militum), Arbogast names Eugenius to be Western Emperor.
*394, 20,000 Gothic mercenaries support Eastern Emperor Theodosius I, Theodosius the Great in the Battle of the Frigidus, Suicide of Frankish General Arbogast (magister militum), Arbogast, Execution of puppet Western Emperor Eugenius.
*395, Assassination of Consul Rufinus (consul), Rufinus by Goths, Gothic mercenary, mercenaries.
Fifth century
''For the timeline of events in Britannia after its abandonment by Emperor Valentinian III, see Timeline of conflict in Anglo-Saxon Britain.''
*401–402, Raid in Raetia by Vandals.
*401–403, Invasion of Italy by Visigoths under Alaric I, Gothic War (402-403), Gothic War.
**402, Gothic Siege of Asti lifted by Stilicho.
**402, Alaric defeated by Stilicho at the Battle of Pollentia
The Battle of Pollentia was fought on 6 April 402 between the Romans under Stilicho and the Visigoths under Alaric I, during the first Gothic invasion of Italy (401–403). The Romans were victorious, and forced Alaric to retreat, though he r ...
.
**403, Alaric's army destroyed at the Battle of Verona, Visigoths pushed into former Illyricum (Roman province), Illyricum by Stilicho.
*405–406, Siege of Florence (405), Siege of Florentia,[Heather, Peter, ''The Goths'', p. 205] Battle of Faesulae, execution of Gothic King Radagaisus (August 406),[Heather, Peter, ''The Goths'', p. 194] 12,000 Gothic higher-status fighters are drafted into the Roman army. War between Franks, Frankish federates and Vandals (Vandal king Godigisel dies in battle), "Battle of Mainz (406), Battle of Moguntiacum" (Alans under King Respendial rescue the Vandals), Crossing of the Rhine
The crossing of the Rhine River by a mixed group of barbarians which included Vandals, Alans and Suebi is traditionally considered to have occurred on the last day of the year 406 (December 31, 406). The crossing transgressed one of the Roman E ...
by Vandals, Suebi, Burgundians (?) and Alans (405–406, exact date disputed).[Michael Kulikowski, Kulikowski, Michael, "Barbarians in Gaul, Usurpers in Britain", ''Britannia'' 31 (2000), 325–345.]
*406, Usurpation of Marcus (usurper), Marcus in Britannia (late 406), supposedly in response to the Crossing of the Rhine.
*408, Failed invasion of Moesia by Huns and Germanic mercenaries led by Uldin, Uldin the Hun, Capture of thousands of Germanic mercenaries, Execution of Roman General Stilicho (August), Slaughter of wives and children of barbarian ''foederati'', Siege of Rome (408), Siege of Rome by Visigoths, Attacks on Roman Britain by Saxons.
*409, second Siege of Rome (409), Siege of Rome by Visigoths. Invasion of Hispania, Roman Spain by Vandals, Suebi (Marcomanni, Quadi, Buri (Germanic tribe), Buri) and Alans (September or October 409).
*410, Sack of Rome by Visigoths, beginning of attacks on Vandals by Visigoths, Begin of Barbarian raids by Picts, Scoti and Irish Celts, End of Roman rule in Britain, Suevi
file:1st century Germani.png, 300px, The approximate positions of some Germanic peoples reported by Graeco-Roman authors in the 1st century. Suebian peoples in red, and other Irminones in purple.
The Suebi (also spelled Suavi, Suevi or Suebians ...
establish a Suebic Kingdom of Galicia, kingdom in Galicia.
*411, Jovinus declares himself Western Roman Emperor with aid of the Burgundians, Franks and Alans, Burgundian Kingdom#Burgundian kingdoms, Burgundians establish a Kingdom left of the Rhine under King Gundahar. First sack of Trier
Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also Names of Trier in different languages, names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle (river), Moselle in Germany. It lies in a v ...
by the Franks
*413, Capture of Narbonne and Toulouse by Visigoths led by King Ataulf. Usurper Jovinus is executed. Second sack of Trier by the Franks.
*421, Third sack of Trier by the Franks.
*418 Visigoths settle in southwestern Gaul.
*426–436, Campaigns against the Visigoths in southern Gaul under Western Emperor Valentinian III, Battle of Narbonne, Capture of Visigothic chieftain Anaolsus.
*428–431, Failed Roman campaigns against Salian Franks, Alemannia, Alemannic Juthungi on 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 ...
and Danube, Germanus of Auxerre leads Romano-Britons to a victory against Saxon raiders.
*428 or 435, Fourth sack of Trier by the Franks.
*429–439, Invasion of Africa (Roman province), Africa by Vandals led by Vandal King Genseric, Siege of Hippo Regius
The siege of Hippo Regius was a siege from June 430 to August 431, carried out by the Vandals under their king Gaiseric against Roman defenders under Boniface, Count of Africa.
Background
Boniface, freshly reconciled with imperial power in R ...
, Battle of Carthage (439), Capture of Carthage by Vandals, Capture of Roman navy by Vandals, Pillaging of Sicily, Begin of pirate raids by Vandals.
*431, Invasion to the Somme River by Salian Franks.
*436–437, Invasion of Burgundians, Burgundian Rhineland by Hun mercenaries controlled by Rome, Burgundian King Gundahar dies in battle.
*c. 443, Britain plunges into civil war, Groans of the Britons, Britain is abandoned by Western Emperor Valentinian III.
*c. 445–450, Invasion of Northern Gaul by Salian Franks led by king Chlodio, who conquers the cities of Tournai and Cambrai.
*448, Defeat of the Salian Franks in the Battle of Vicus Helena
The Battle of Vicus Helena was a clash between the Franks, led by Chlodio, and Roman soldiers, commanded by general Flavius Aetius. The battle is attested in a limited number of late Roman and early Medieval sources, having occurred around the y ...
by Roman General Flavius Aetius, Aëtius.
*451, Invasion of Gaul
Gaul () was a region of Western Europe first clearly described by the Roman people, Romans, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Italy. It covered an area of . Ac ...
by the Huns with Franks, Frankish, Goths, Gothic and Burgundians, Burgundian mercenaries led by Attila, Attila the Hun, Sack of Trier
Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also Names of Trier in different languages, names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle (river), Moselle in Germany. It lies in a v ...
, Attack on Metz, Siege of Orléans, Coalition of Romans, Franks and Visigoths led by General Flavius Aetius, Aëtius stop the Huns in the Battle of Châlons, Visigothic King Theodoric I dies in battle.
*452, Invasion of northern Italy under Attila, Attila the Hun: Sack of Aquileia, Vicenza, Vicetia, Verona, Brescia, Brixia, Bergamum and Milan.
*453, Hunnic and Germanic attacks on Constantinople, Attila, Attila the Hun dies during heavy drinking.
*454, Assassination of Roman General Flavius Aetius, Aëtius, Gepids establish Kingdom of the Gepids, a kingdom in Pannonia.
*455, Sack of Rome by Vandals, Capture of Empress Licinia Eudoxia by Vandals.
*456, Visigoths defeat the Suebic Kingdom of Galicia in the Battle of Órbigo.
*458, Emperor Majorian leads the Roman army to a victory over the Vandals near Sinuessa, Roman victory over the Visigoths in southern Gaul
Gaul () was a region of Western Europe first clearly described by the Roman people, Romans, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Italy. It covered an area of . Ac ...
in the Battle of Arelate
The Battle of Arles was fought in 458 near Arelate (Arles) between Western Roman Emperor Majorian and Visigothic king Theodoric II. After the assassination of Flavius Aetius in 454, the Visigoths began to expand their kingdom at the expense ...
.
*459, Seizure of Trier
Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also Names of Trier in different languages, names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle (river), Moselle in Germany. It lies in a v ...
by Franks, Roman reconquest of southern Gaul and most of Hispania under Emperor Majorian.
*460, Roman victory over the Suebi at Lugo, Lucus Augusti, Roman fleet is destroyed by traitors paid by the Vandals, Attack on the kingdom of the Vandals cancelled.
*461, Seventeen Vandal ships destroy forty Roman ships in Battle of Cartagena (461), a surprise attack.
*463, Battle of Orleans.
*465, Ostrogoths, Ostrogothic King Valamir dies in battle.
*468, Invasion of the Vandals, Vandal Kingdom by the Byzantine Empire, Defeat of the Byzantine Empire by the Vandals in the Battle of Cape Bon (468), Battle of Cape Bon.
*469, Ostrogoths decisively defeat an alliance of pro-Roman Germanic forces in the Battle of Bolia
The Battle of Bolia took place in 468 between the Ostrogoths (Amal dynasty) and a coalition of Germanic tribes in the Roman province of Pannonia. It was fought on the south side of the Danube near its confluence with the river Bolia, in present- ...
, Fall of the Huns#Unified Empire under Attila, Hunnic Empire, Visigoths thwarted an attack by an alliance of Breton people, Bretons and Romans in the Battle of Déols.
*471, Battle of Arles, Roman army crushed by Visigoths, most of southern Gaul re-captured by Visigoths, Emperor Anthemius deposed by his own general.
*472, Revolt in Thrace by Ostrogoths led by chieftain Theodoric Strabo.
*476, Revolt of Heruli, Sciri
The Sciri, or Scirians, were a Germanic people. They are believed to have spoken an East Germanic language. Their name probably means "the pure ones".
The Sciri were mentioned already in the late 3rd century BC as participants in a raid on the ...
and Turcilingi mercenaries, Battle of Ravenna, Germanic Heruli chieftain Odoacer becomes King of Italy, Deposition of Romulus Augustulus, the last ''de facto'' Western Roman Emperor, Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
*480, Assassination of Julius Nepos, the last ''de jure'' Western Roman Emperor.
*486, Franks under Merovingian dynasty, Merovingian King Clovis I defeat the Kingdom of Soissons in the Battle of Soissons (486), Battle of Soissons, Fall of the Kingdom of Soissons.
*489, Theodoric the Great defeats Odoacer in the Battle of Isonzo (489), Battle of Isonzo, Battle of Verona (489), Battle of Verona.
Sixth century
*526, Raid against Gothic Gepids, Gepidae by Byzantine General Belisarius.
*533–534, Invasion of North Africa by the Byzantine Empire, Vandalic War
The Vandalic War (533–534) was a conflict fought in North Africa between the forces of the Byzantine Empire (also known as the Eastern Roman Empire) and the Germanic Vandal Kingdom. It was the first war of Emperor Justinian I's , wherein the ...
.
**533, Battle of Ad Decimum
The Battle of Ad Decimum took place on September 13, 533 between the armies of the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, and the Byzantine Empire, under the command of General Belisarius. This event and events in the following year are sometimes ...
, Capture of Carthage by the Byzantine Empire.
**533, Battle of Tricamarum
The Battle of Tricamarum took place on December 15, 533 between the armies of the Byzantine Empire, under Belisarius, and the Vandal Kingdom, commanded by King Gelimer, and his brother Tzazo. It followed the Byzantine victory at the Battle of ...
, Destruction of the Vandals, Vandal Kingdom by the Byzantine Empire, Fall of the Vandals#The Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, Kingdom of the Vandals.
*535–554, Invasion of Italy by the Byzantine Empire, Gothic War (535–554), Ostrogothic War.
**535, Capture of Sicily by Byzantine General Belisarius.
**536, Capture of Naples and Rome by Byzantine General Belisarius.
**537–538, Siege of Rome by Ostrogoths.
**540, Capture of Milan, Mediolanum and the Ostrogothic capital Ravenna by Byzantine General Belisarius, Capture of Ostrogoths, Ostrogothic King Witiges.
**541–542, Plague of Justinian, Bubonic plague wipes out most of the farming community of the Decline of the Roman Empire, former Roman Empire and leaving dead an estimated 25 million people across the world.
**541–544, Recapture of Northern Italy by Ostrogoths.
***542, Battle of Faventia
In the spring of 542, at the Battle of Faventia (modern Faenza), an Ostrogothic army under king Totila scattered the larger Roman forces of generals Constantian and Alexander, beginning the resurgence of Gothic resistance to the Roman reconques ...
, Battle of Mucellium
The Battle of Mucellium was an engagement in 542 near Mugello, Italy, between Ostrogoths and Byzantines during the Gothic War. Having lifted a siege of Florence, the Ostrogoths led by Totila turned on the pursuing Byzantines, defeating their ...
.
***543, Siege of Naples.
**546, Sack of Rome by Ostrogoths.
**c. 548, Recapture of Rome by the Byzantine Empire.
**549–550, Siege of Rome (549–550), Siege and Capture of Rome by Ostrogoths.
**551, Battle of Sena Gallica, Capture of Ostrogothic chieftain Gibal, Demoralization of Gothic army.
**552, Byzantine Empire with aid of the Heruli and Lombards defeat the Ostrogoths in the Battle of Taginae
At the Battle of Taginae (also known as the Battle of Busta Gallorum) in June/July 552, the forces of the Byzantine Empire under Narses broke the power of the Ostrogoths in Italy, and paved the way for the temporary Byzantine reconquest of the It ...
, Ostrogothic King Totila dies on the run, Defeat of Gothic Gepids in the Battle of Asfeld against Lombards (Longbeards), Gepids, Gepid King Thurisind dies in battle.
**552–553, Capture of Rome and Siege of Cumae by Byzantine General Narses, Battle of Mons Lactarius
The Battle of Mons Lactarius (also known as Battle of the Vesuvius) took place in 552 or 553 AD during the Gothic War waged on behalf of Justinian I against the Ostrogoths in Italy.
After the Battle of Taginae, in which the Ostrogoth king Toti ...
, Ostrogothic king Teia dies in battle, Fall of the Ostrogothic Kingdom.
*552, Justinian sends a force of 2,000 men, led by Liberius (praetorian prefect), Liberius, against the Visigoths in Hispania. Conquest of Cartagena, Spain, Cartagena and other cities on the southeastern coast and foundation of the new province of Spania.
*554, Byzantine General Narses defeats the Franks and Alemanni in the Battle of the Volturnus
The Battle of the Volturnus, also known as the Battle of Casilinum or Battle of Capua, was fought in 554 between an army of the Eastern Roman Empire and a combined force of Franks and Alemanni. The Byzantines, led by the old eunuch general Nars ...
.[Haldon, John, 2008, ]
The Byzantine Wars
', p. 39.
*c. 558–561, Failed Uprising of the Ostrogoth Widin.
*567, Lombards decisively defeat the Gepids, Gepids, Gepid King Cunimund dies in battle, Fall of the Kingdom of the Gepids, Kingdom of the Gepidae.
*568–c. 572, Invasion of Italy by a confederation of Lombards, a Germanic people that had been previously allied with the Byzantine Empire from Pannonia and Bavarians, Gepids, Suebi, Heruls, Thuringians, Saxons, Ostrogoths and Rugii.[De Bello Gothico IV 32, pp. 241–245] Longbeards (Lombards) establish kingdoms in Northern Italy (Langobardia Major) and in Southern Italy (Langobardia Minor).
**569, Seizure of Cividale del Friuli, Vicenza, Verona, Brescia and Milan, Mediolanum by Lombards.
**570–572, Siege of Pavia (569–572), Siege of Ticinum, Seizure of Tuscany by Lombards. Faroald I of Spoleto, Faroald and Zotto found the Duchies of Duchy of Spoleto, Spoleto and Duchy of Benevento, Benevento.
*585, King Autari, led the Byzantines to ask, for the first time since the Lombards had entered Italy, for a truce. The territories which remained under Byzantine control were called "Romania" (today's Italian region of Romagna) in northeastern Italy and had its stronghold in the Exarchate of Ravenna, including Rome.
Eighth century
*751, the Lombards conquer Ravenna, but Pope Stephen II controlled the territories of Rome, Sicily, Sardinia and others.
*751–756, just when it seemed Aistulf was able to defeat all opposition on Italian soil, Pepin the Short, the old enemy of the usurpers of Liutprand's family, finally managed to overthrow the Merovingian dynasty in Gaul
Gaul () was a region of Western Europe first clearly described by the Roman people, Romans, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Italy. It covered an area of . Ac ...
, deposing Childeric III and becoming king ''de jure'' as well as ''de facto''. The support Pepin enjoyed from the papacy was decisive. Because of the threat this move represented for the new king of the Franks, an agreement between Pepin and Stephen II settled, in exchange for the formal royal anointing, the descent of the Franks in Italy.
*In 754, the Lombard army, deployed in defence of the ''Locks'' in Val di Susa, was defeated by the Franks. Aistulf, perched in Pavia, had to accept a treaty that required the delivery of hostages and territorial concessions, but two years later resumed the war against the pope, who in turn called on the Franks. Defeated again, Aistulf had to accept much harsher conditions: Ravenna was returned not to the Byzantine Empire, Byzantines, but to the pope, increasing the core area of the Patrimony of St. Peter; Aistulf had to accept a sort of Frankish protectorate, the loss of territorial continuity of his domains, and payment of substantial compensation. The duchies of Spoleto and Benevento were quick to ally themselves with the victors. Aistulf died in 756, shortly after this severe humiliation.
*In 772 CE, the Roman pope pope Adrian I, Adrian I, of the opposite party of Desiderius, reversed the delicate game of alliances, demanding the surrender of the area never ceded by Desiderius and thus causing him to resume the war against the cities of Romagna. Charlemagne, though he had just begun his campaign against the Saxons, came to the aid of the pope. He feared the capture of Rome by the Lombards and the consequent loss of prestige that would follow.
*Between 773 and 774 Charlemagne invaded Italy. Once again the defence of the ''Locks'' was ineffective, the fault of the divisions among the Lombards. Charlemagne, having prevailed against a tough resistance, captured the capital of the kingdom, Pavia. Charles then called himself Gratia Dei rex Francorum et Langobardorum ("By the grace of God king of the Franks and the Lombards"), realizing a personal union of the two kingdoms. Thus ended the Lombard Kingdom in Latin Italy, led by the Roman Pope Adrian I.
See also
*Germanic-Roman contacts, Contact between Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire
*Gothic and Vandal warfare
*Anglo-Saxon warfare
*Furor Teutonicus
*Germanic Iron Age
*Germanic Heroic Age
*Timeline of Anglo-Saxon settlement in Britain
*Timeline of Germanic kingdoms in the Iberian peninsula#5th Century, Timeline of Germanic kingdoms in the Iberian peninsula
*Operation Achse
*Roman-Persian wars
References
Works cited
*
*
Further reading
Florus on the Germanic wars
, translated by E.S. Forster, www.livius.org October 2010
The Germanic Wars
second century, www.unrv.com October 2010
Roman Germanic Wars
12 BC to 17 AD, www.heritage-history.com October 2010
www.earth-history.com October 2010
*Speidel, Michael, 2004,
Ancient Germanic warriors: Warrior styles from Trajan's column to Icelandic sagas
'. (book)
{{History of Europe
1st-millennium BC conflicts
1st-millennium conflicts
Military history of Germany
Wars involving the Roman Republic
Wars involving the Roman Empire
Battles involving the Roman Empire
Iron Age Europe
Wars involving Germanic peoples
Lists of wars by former country involved