Battle of Argentovaria
Mediolanum - Augusta Vindelicorum - Lacus Benaco - Placentia - Fano - Pavia - Langres - Vindonissa - Autun - Reims - Brumath - Senonae - Argentoratum - Solicinium - Argentovaria
The Battle of Argentovaria took 378 place in Alsace. Argentovaria is brought in the recent research with the dialed place Oedenburg at Biesheim in conjunction. The long equated with Argentovaria Horbourg is no longer tenable since the recent archaeological excavations in Oedenburg.
Prehistory
The Western Roman Emperor Gratian was preparing his troops in support of the Eastern Roman Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrian Opel against invading Huns and Goths in the province of Illyria. A Lentienser the imperial bodyguard was due to an urgent matter furlough home and told one of these preparations.
Course
This took the Lentienser out, gathered the inhabitants of every district, and put into a campaign. They crossed in February with at least 40,000 armed men the frozen Rhine and were plundering in the Roman provinces. Gratian had now recall his broken Illyricum cohorts again and unite with the retained reserve. Under the supreme command of the two francs comes Naniemus and the Frankish king comes Mallobaudes the Romans retreated against the Lentienser. In the battle to have fallen by Ammianus Marcellinus 30,000 Lentienser and their king Priarius.
Follow
According to Ammianus only 5,000 Lentienser have survived, they took refuge in the dense forests of today's Black Forest on a round precipitous mountain. The Romans succeeded neither to occupy the mountain, still encircle the refugees. Because of their good local knowledge which Lentienser could escape the pursuing Romans the stubborn again and again. But finally capitulated the Lentienser and begged for mercy. This has allowed them to position of recruits for the Roman army.
Historical Sources
- Ammianus Marcellinus XV and XXXI 4 10