Battle of the Willows

Battle between the Goths and the Roman Empire
Battle of the Willows
Date377 AD
Location
Ad Salices (exact unknown), in Moesia, Bulgaria
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Goths Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Fritigern
Sueridas
Colias		 Richomeres
Profuturus
Traianus
Strength
10,000[1] 5,000–6,000[2]
Casualties and losses
Heavy Heavy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Gothic War (376–382)
  • Marcianople
  • Willows
  • Dibaltum
  • 1st Adrianople
  • 2nd Adrianople
  • Constantinople
  • Thessalonica

The Battle of the Willows (377) took place at a place called ad Salices ("town by the willows"), or according to Ammianus,[3] a road way-station called Ad Salices ("by the Willows"); probably located within 15 kilometres of Marcianople (modern day Dobrudja, Bulgaria),[4] although its exact location is unknown. Forces from the Western Roman Empire under the command of Richomeres advanced westward, while forces of the eastern Roman Empire under Traianus and Profuturus advanced northward where they joined forces to attack the Goths who had recently rebelled under command of Fritigern.[5] and were laying waste to the northern Balkans.

The only extant description comes from Ammianus who left few details; he gives a lengthy description of the dead and dying, but no information on the number of combatants. At one point the Roman left wing gave way, but it was re-enforced and held. The battle ended with nightfall. The result was a bloody draw with both sides taking many losses; the Goths remained encamped behind their war-wagon circle for over a week after the battle.[6]

See also

  • Gothic War (376–382)

Citations

  1. ^ MacDowall 2001, p. 52.
  2. ^ MacDowall 2001, p. 51.
  3. ^ Ammianus. Res Gestae. p. 31.7.5.
  4. ^ Heather, Peter (2006). The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians. n.43: Oxford University Press. pp. 509–10.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ^ Hahn, Irene (2007). "The Day of the Barbarians: The Battle That Led to the Fall of the Roman Empire". romanhistorybooksandmore.freeservers.com. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
  6. ^ Heather, Peter (2006). The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians. Oxford University Press. p. 174.

References

  • MacDowall, S. (2001). Adrianople AD 378: The Goths Crush Rome's Legions. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1841761473.

43°13′00″N 27°35′00″E / 43.2167°N 27.5833°E / 43.2167; 27.5833