Battle of Nicopolis ad Istrum

Battle between Roman and Gothic forces (250)

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Battle of Nicopolis ad Istrum

Part of the Crisis of the Third Century
Roman–Gothic Wars
and Roman–Germanic Wars

Roman ruins at Nicopolis ad Istrum
| Date| Summer 250 AD

|

Location|

Nicopolis ad Istrum, Roman Empire (modern-day near Nikyup of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria)

Result|  Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire|  Goths
Commanders and leaders
Decius
Herennius Etruscus|  Cniva
Strength
Unknown|  Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown|  Unknown

* v
* t
* e

Crisis of the Third Century

Reign of Maximinus Thrax (235–238)

* Death of Alexander Severus (235)
* Harzhorn (c. 235)
* Usurpation of Magnus (c. 235)
* Usurpation of Quartinus (235)

Year of the Six Emperors (238)

* Second Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I (237-238)
* Revolt of Gordian I & Gordian II (238)
* Battle of Carthage (238)
* Siege of Aquileia (238)
* Reign of Pupienus & Balbinus (238)
* Invasion of the Carpi (238–239)

Reign of Gordian III (238–244)

* Sabinianus Revolt (240)
* Sasanian campaign of Gordian III (242–244)
* Fall of Hatra (241)
* Resaena (243)
* Misiche (244)

Reign of Philip the Arab (244–249)

* Invasion of the Carpi (245–247)
* Secular Games of 248 (248)
* Usurpation of Sponsianus (240s)
* Usurpation of Pacatianus (248)
* Usurpation of Jotapianus (249)
* Usurpation of Silbannacus (249 or 253)
* Decius' Rebellion (249)

Verona and death of Philip & Philip II (249)

Reign of Decius (249–251)

* Plague of Cyprian (250–270)
* Decian persecution (250–251)
* Gothic invasion of Cniva (250–251)
* Carpi invasion of Dacia (250)
* Nicopolis ad Istrum (250)
* Beroe (250)
* Philippopolis (250)
* Usurpation of Julius Priscus (251)
* Abritus and death of Decius and Etruscus (251)

Reign of Trebonianus Gallus (251–253)

* Death of Hostilian (251)
* Mariades' Revolt (252)
* Nisibis (252)
* Barbalissos (253)
* Interamna Nahars (c 253)

Reign of Aemilianus (253)

* Antioch (253)

Reign of Valerian and Gallienus (253–260)

* Thessalonica (254)
* Thermopylae (254)
* Dura-Europos (256)
* Gothic invasion (256–257)
* Invasion of Shapur (258)
* Invasion of the Alemanni (258–260 approx)
* Mediolanum (259)
* Scythian invasion (259–260)
* Edessa (260)

Reign of Gallienus (260–268)

* Caesarea (260)
* Usurpation of Ingenuus (260)
* Usurpation of Regalianus (260)
* Usurpation of Macrianus Major (c. 259–261)
* Gallic Empire (260–274)
* Death of Saloninus (260)
* Roxolani Invasion of Pannonia (260)
* Campaigns of Odaenathus (260–267)
* Usurpation of Quietus (261)
* Usurpation of Balista (261)
* Usurpation of Valens Thessalonicus (261)
* Usurpation of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi (261)
* Usurpation of Macrianus Minor (261)

* Pannonian Rebellion (261)

* Usurpation of Mussius Aemilianus (261–262)
* Postumus' Campaign against the Franks (262)
* Postumus' Campaign against the Alamanni (263)
* Ctesiphon (263)
* Scythian Invasion (265–266)
* Assassination of Odaenathus (267)
* Usurpation of Maeonius (266–267)
* Scythian Invasion (267–269)
* Heruli Raids (267)
* Athens (267)
* Usurpation of Acilius Aureolus (268)

Reign of Claudius Gothicus (268–270)

* Usurpation of Laelianus (269)
* Reign of Marcus Aurelius Marius (269)
* Augustodunum Haeduorum
* Naissus (268/269)
* Lake Benacus (268 or 269)
* Capture of Athens (269)
* Palmyrene Empire (270–273)
* Bostra (270)
* Palmyrene invasion of Egypt (270)
* Vandal Invasion (270)

Reign of Aurelian (270–275)

* Usurpation of Victorinus Junior (271)
* Junthungi Invasion (271)
* Domitian II (271)
* Tetricus I & Tetricus II (271–274)
* Rebellion of Felicissimus (270s)
* Placentia (271)
* Fano (271)
* Pavia (271)
* Tyana (272)
* Immae (272)
* Emesa (272)
* Razing of Palmyra (273)
* Usurpation of Faustinus (c. 273)
* Châlons (274)

Reign of Tacitus (275-276)

* Gothic Invasion (276-277)

Reign of Probus (276-282)

* Vandal Invasion (276-278)
* Sarmatian Invasion (278)
* Usurpation of Bonosus & Proculus (280)
* Usurpation of Julius Saturninus (280)

Reign of Carus (282-283)

* Carus' Sasanian Campaign (283)

Reign of Carinus (283-285)

* Usurpation of Julian of Pannonia (284-285)
* Margum (285)

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

[edit]

In 250, the Goths, led by their king Cniva, attacked the Roman province of Moesia. Roman emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus led their army to Moesia. The Goths were, at the same time, marching to attack the Roman city of Philippopolis. The Romans intercepted them near Nicopolis ad Istrum.

## Battle

[edit]

The Romans intercepted the Goths just before they could reach Nicopolis. Decius and Herennius launched a surprise attack on the Goths while they were marching. The Romans took the disorganized Goths by surprise, fighting hard and gaining the upper hand quickly. Caught off guard, the Goths could not respond to the attack, and so were defeated.

6th century Byzantine scholar Jordanes described Cniva's defeat:

> When the Emperor Decius drew near, Cniva, with his army still in good shape, at last withdrew to the Balkan Mountains, which were not far distant.

## Aftermath

[edit]

The Romans defeated the Goths, but not decisively. Cniva's army marched in good order to besiege Philippopolis. Decius moved through the Shipka Pass to intercept him but was ambushed and heavily defeated by Cniva near Beroe at the Battle of Beroe.[1] Decius fled to Novae to link up with governor Trebonianus Gallus. Cniva mounted failed attacks on Philippopolis' walls and then negotiated a truce with the city's ambitious governor, Titus Julius Priscus. The Goths broke the truce, however, and sacked the city. In 251 AD, Cniva defeated three Roman legions at the Battle of Abritus, and Decius and Herennius were both killed.

## References

[edit]

### Bibliography

[edit]

### Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Goths in the 3rd Century

### Further reading

[edit]

* Florus on the Germanic wars Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, translated by E.S. Forster, www.livius.org 2010-10.
* The Germanic Wars, 2nd century, www.unrv.com 2010-10.
* Roman Germanic Wars, 12 BC to 17 AD, www.heritage-history.com 2010-10.
* Timeline of Ancient Europe, www.earth-history.com 2010-10.
* Speidel, Michael, 2004, Ancient Germanic warriors: Warrior styles from Trajan's column to Icelandic sagas. (book)

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