Battle of Pollentia

The Battle of Pollentia in northern Italy took place between troops of the Roman Empire and the invading from the east Visigoths on April 6, 402.

Italy was at the time when the Visigoths under King Alaric I approached, largely without military protection, as most troops were deployed to battle against the Alemanni on the troubled northern border. Thus, the Visigoths were the Julian Alps crossing largely unhindered, besieging Aquileia and Istria and occupy Veneto. Then advised the Western Roman commander, Stilicho the emperor Honorius, to entrench themselves in fortified Milan; Stilicho himself crossed in winter 401/402 with his troops the Alps and caused more rapid levies or summoned legions from distant provinces. Given the seemingly inexorable advance of the Visigoths Stilicho important first back up to Arles, decided in the spring but, south of Turin on the river Tanaro to dare the battle where he wanted the siege, Alaric had laid around the town of Asti break. The attack date Stilicho put on the morning of April 6, that is, on Easter, as he expected, so to surprise the Visigoths during the morning prayer. The surprise attack succeeded at first, but Alaric was able to avoid the onset of a panic. He even managed to beat the Alans auxiliary troops of Stilicho under their leader Saul, who kills him. But the subsequent assault of the main troops of Stilicho to the Visigoth camp proved to be a resounding success. Alaric was forced to leave the battlefield and deduct the evening with the remaining troops to Liguria. Much of his looted treasures in the Balkans remained in the camp, as well as his wife.

Stilicho was resented that he did not afterwards put the Visigoths. This strengthened, despite his victory, the mistrust of the Anti-Germanic group of the empire against him and should contribute to with his subsequent fall. Alaric at any rate could say Northern Italy and reorganize his troops, with which he then ventured again in the same year a battle ( Battle of Verona) in the east.

Today, in the district of the city Pollenzo Bra is an archaeological site to find the remains of ancient Pollentia.

• Battle ( Roman Empire )
• Battle ( Goths )
• Visigoths
• 402
• Conflict (5th century)