Battle of Verona (312)

The Battle of Verona was fought in 312 between the forces of Constantine I and those of Maxentius. The armed forces of Maxentius suffered under the leadership of capable Ruricius Pompeianus, who died in battle, a defeat. This opens the way to Rome was free for Constantine.

Prehistory

After Constantine had crossed the Alps and had inflicted in the Battle of Turin, the armed forces of Maxentius a bitter defeat, the most northern Italian cities featured on the side of Constantine. Constantine gathered his forces, and defecting troops of the northern Italian cities of Mediolanum. The march to Rome was about 400 miles on the Via Aemilia and the Via Flaminia. However, in a march on Rome Constantine left flank by the city of Verona would be jeopardized. Verona had been expanded by Maxentius became an important stronghold and was also in a bend of the Athesis. Verona was therefore accessible only from the west side and was also able to relate reinforcement and food across the river. Maxentius had left there a strong garrison under the command of his ablest general, the praetorian prefect Ruricius Pompeianus.

Constantine was advancing to Verona and defeated a strong detachment of cavalry at Brescia, which had been opposed to him from Ruricus. Konstantin surrounded Verona with a strong siege, which also miteinbezog the river. Failure of the Ruricus could be rejected. Ruricus could flee the city, but not out of selfishness, but to come back with an army.

Slaughtering process

Ruricus returned again in August with an army, the army of Constantine surpassed numbers. Constantine was a part of his troops in the siege and moved with his most reliable troops Ruricus contrary. Constantine had his troops only in the duplex acies, twice the slaughter line, set up, but decreased the second meeting, at the first battle line of the Ruricus to be equal. The battle took place in the evening of the day, so rather the courage and the motivation of the troops of Constantine decided the battle. During the fighting Ruricus Pompeianus was killed, which took his troops strong. Another failure of the city garrison was again rejected. The morning after the battle of Constantine was decided and a few days later, Verona revealed.

Follow

With the fall of Verona the way to Rome was free and many cities of Etruria and Umbria ran to Constantine. Constantine defeated Maxentius in the final battle of the Milvian Bridge. Maxentius was killed in this battle and Constantine won the reign of the Roman Empire in the West.

Swell

• Eutropius, Breviarium urbe condita from,
• Zosimus, Historia Nea