Not necessarily all the time. A single figure head or power base getting felled in battle would be far more devastating than one of two.
I mean look at the prospects of invading the HRE vs more centralized states.
Just my two cents
A Difference Of Fate: A Late Roman Timeline
- Thread starter StevenIronside
- Start date
Not necessarily all the time. A single figure head or power base getting felled in battle would be far more devastating than one of two.
I mean look at the prospects of invading the HRE vs more centralized states.
Just my two cents
The visigoths are a powerful player in this era. Keeping them divided until they’ve fully integrated into the empire is a must. Otherwise they will use their strength to their advantage.
Oh yes Majorian will be in for a hell of a time, not quite like that of Aurelian, but the coming war will be the decisive event in deciding how the future goes for the Empire as a whole, as alot of events will unfold.
Yes Fredricus was one of my favorite characters to write, and even though he was a quick character. To put simply he was a bright but short flame, and as well, with how well he was doing militarily even though he was loyal at the moment, he easily could have become one of the greateat enemies of Rome had he lived, a purposefully made what if, you could say.
As for Retimer, he will indeed be useful to the romans....
Good thing for him that Constantine declared the "Praetorian Guard". Would. Be. Abolished!
In some ways it's easier to take over a bloated centralized power through a few decisive battles and having the rest of the state structure surrender willingly than getting bogged down fighting a prolonged campaign against many tiny yet competent warlords who may unite in common cause.
Not saying that's how it always happens just that its a distinct possibility.
Yes, it can be easier to do that. Which they did. But what I’m saying is that it’s easier to rule over them if they’re divided. United they can be a force to be reckoned with if the Romans let their guard down or show any weakness. Divided they can’t do that.
Chapter 11: Battle of Bolia, lead up to the Roman-Vandal War
Chapter 11
After the Noricum campaign, the newly required lands were brought into the Diocese of Italy, being under the Governorship of Of the Prefect of Italia and Dalmatia. However militarily would be under the command of the Comes Noricum, which happened to be a newly promoted Flavius Aurelius Silvanus. To help form the new Comitatenses, several hundred men were transferred from each of the other Comitatenses commands, however the farthest in Hispania wouldnt arrive until half a year later, at least. In effect, Silvanus had the job of keeping the new land quite with a paper army, as he only had 1500 men from the Dalmatian and Italian units, and his recruiting efforts wouldnt pay divet ends for several months. It is notiable that in the future, due to the constant chaos that had enveloped the area of Noricum in the past 50 years, and their proximity to the Roman Frontier, that the People of Noricum, and Dalmatia would become a constant source of recruits, and be some of the Empires best soldiers.
In Spring of 466 Majorian would once again meet with Anthemius emperor of the east, this time in Brundisium. Here it was decided, the future co operation against the Vandals, which would take place in 469. Anthemius would position 2 armies to support the west. One would take its position in Dyrachium along with a large portion of the Eastern Fleet, numbering some 30,000 men and was to be lead by the eastern Emperor himself. The other, consisting of troops from the Egyptian, and Syrian Comitatenses, and from troops in Cyrenaeica, and with another large fleet, numbered around 20,000 men and would be lead by Eastern Magister Militum Leo, and the emperors 19 year old son Athemiolus stationed in Cyrenaeica it would cross to Leptis Magna. Majorian meanwhile intended to use the troops of Marcellinus numbering around 10,000, and the Majority of the Italian Comitatenses, with the Hispanian Comitatenses coming in later as reinforcements. In total the west was mobilizing some 36,000 men for the campaign and the east 50,000 the goal was the total destruction of the Vandals however, moves made by Genseric, and other events would greatly change how the war would unfold.
Genseric understood that the treaty with Rome would not last, being proactive he had made Alliance with the Visigoths. The Seuvi on the other hand were still recovering from their previous war with Rome, and thier new King, Rechicus son of Rechiar only gave non committal support to Genseric much to the Vandal kings dissapointment.
However Genseric was not out of options, and instead turned to the neigboring berber tribes, such as the Gaetulians, Garmantians, and the Berber Roman kingdoms of Altava. Genseric made treaties with the Garmantians and Gaetulians, giving them grain and trade, which was a major boom to these desert tribes as their Wells which supplied them with water were beginning to run dry. In return he would recieve their support against the romans, by supplying him with cavalry, and infantry. As for the Berber-Roman kingdom of Atlava, Genseric tried several times to sway the minor kingdom to his side, however the king Massonas, and his son Masuna, were staunchly Neutral, and Genseric feared that they could be a major part in turning the war into Roman favour.
However events along the Danube would change everything. Ever since the battle of Nedao, the germanic tribes along the Danube had been in a constant state of war each tribe vying for dominance. The two dominant tribes were the Ostrogoths and Gepids. In 467 the Gepids gathered a coalition to finish the Ostrogoths. This coalition included the Herulii, Scirii, and some units of Sarmations and Seubi, and while this army outnumbered the Ostrogothic forces, the two Ostrogoth leaders, Valamir and Theodemir, would refuse battle, instead focusing on baiting thier opponents into ambushes and hit and run attacks. This campaign of attrition would draw out the year, forcing the Gepid Coalition to pull back their forces without a succeful battle in 467. However in 468 the Gepids and their allies once again crossed the Danube intent on smashing the Ostrogoths, this time however the Ostrogoths met them in battle.
The battle of Bolia was the exact opposite of what the Gepids thought would happen. Outnumbering the Ostrogoths with 50,000 men to the Gothic 40,000. The Ostrogoth kings placed their army along the Bolia river their line was nearly anchored on the forested ridge that ran along the battlefield, however this space was left open for the Ostrogoth cavalry to operate. In total the Ostrogoths deployed 32,000 Infantry, and 3,000 Cavalry along the River. The remaining 5,000 were hid in the woods on the Ostrogth left flank where they would await the right moment of battle.
When the 50,000 warriors of the Gepid Coalition charged they crashes into the Goth lines, and while the main line held the Cavalry on the left flank were falling trying to hold back triple their number in Gepid cavalry. It was in this part of the fighting that the great Ostrogoth King Valamir was killed, trying to hold the line. Some say that Theodemir who was with the hidden contigent, purposefully waited hoping that Valamir would be killed. However in the end Theodemir and his 5,000 would crash into the Gepid flank within an hour the Coalitions army collapsed, and over 15,000 men of the Gepids army were killed, only 3,000 Ostrogoths lost thier lives.
The battle of Bolia changed the structure of the Danube Region. Before the region had been in constant war between the tribes. After the battle and the treaties made by Theodemir, the Ostrogoths while only making marginal territorial gains, would make many of the defeated tribes thier client states, setting up a Ostrogoth Empire that was effectively the ruling state from the Danube to the Carpathians and into the lands of the north.
It was with his Kingdom in this state of power that Theodemir going into 469 decided that he should renegotiate his kingdoms status as Fedorati of the east. Just as the armies of the east and west were preparing for war with the Vandals.
After the Noricum campaign, the newly required lands were brought into the Diocese of Italy, being under the Governorship of Of the Prefect of Italia and Dalmatia. However militarily would be under the command of the Comes Noricum, which happened to be a newly promoted Flavius Aurelius Silvanus. To help form the new Comitatenses, several hundred men were transferred from each of the other Comitatenses commands, however the farthest in Hispania wouldnt arrive until half a year later, at least. In effect, Silvanus had the job of keeping the new land quite with a paper army, as he only had 1500 men from the Dalmatian and Italian units, and his recruiting efforts wouldnt pay divet ends for several months. It is notiable that in the future, due to the constant chaos that had enveloped the area of Noricum in the past 50 years, and their proximity to the Roman Frontier, that the People of Noricum, and Dalmatia would become a constant source of recruits, and be some of the Empires best soldiers.
In Spring of 466 Majorian would once again meet with Anthemius emperor of the east, this time in Brundisium. Here it was decided, the future co operation against the Vandals, which would take place in 469. Anthemius would position 2 armies to support the west. One would take its position in Dyrachium along with a large portion of the Eastern Fleet, numbering some 30,000 men and was to be lead by the eastern Emperor himself. The other, consisting of troops from the Egyptian, and Syrian Comitatenses, and from troops in Cyrenaeica, and with another large fleet, numbered around 20,000 men and would be lead by Eastern Magister Militum Leo, and the emperors 19 year old son Athemiolus stationed in Cyrenaeica it would cross to Leptis Magna. Majorian meanwhile intended to use the troops of Marcellinus numbering around 10,000, and the Majority of the Italian Comitatenses, with the Hispanian Comitatenses coming in later as reinforcements. In total the west was mobilizing some 36,000 men for the campaign and the east 50,000 the goal was the total destruction of the Vandals however, moves made by Genseric, and other events would greatly change how the war would unfold.
Genseric understood that the treaty with Rome would not last, being proactive he had made Alliance with the Visigoths. The Seuvi on the other hand were still recovering from their previous war with Rome, and thier new King, Rechicus son of Rechiar only gave non committal support to Genseric much to the Vandal kings dissapointment.
However Genseric was not out of options, and instead turned to the neigboring berber tribes, such as the Gaetulians, Garmantians, and the Berber Roman kingdoms of Altava. Genseric made treaties with the Garmantians and Gaetulians, giving them grain and trade, which was a major boom to these desert tribes as their Wells which supplied them with water were beginning to run dry. In return he would recieve their support against the romans, by supplying him with cavalry, and infantry. As for the Berber-Roman kingdom of Atlava, Genseric tried several times to sway the minor kingdom to his side, however the king Massonas, and his son Masuna, were staunchly Neutral, and Genseric feared that they could be a major part in turning the war into Roman favour.
However events along the Danube would change everything. Ever since the battle of Nedao, the germanic tribes along the Danube had been in a constant state of war each tribe vying for dominance. The two dominant tribes were the Ostrogoths and Gepids. In 467 the Gepids gathered a coalition to finish the Ostrogoths. This coalition included the Herulii, Scirii, and some units of Sarmations and Seubi, and while this army outnumbered the Ostrogothic forces, the two Ostrogoth leaders, Valamir and Theodemir, would refuse battle, instead focusing on baiting thier opponents into ambushes and hit and run attacks. This campaign of attrition would draw out the year, forcing the Gepid Coalition to pull back their forces without a succeful battle in 467. However in 468 the Gepids and their allies once again crossed the Danube intent on smashing the Ostrogoths, this time however the Ostrogoths met them in battle.
The battle of Bolia was the exact opposite of what the Gepids thought would happen. Outnumbering the Ostrogoths with 50,000 men to the Gothic 40,000. The Ostrogoth kings placed their army along the Bolia river their line was nearly anchored on the forested ridge that ran along the battlefield, however this space was left open for the Ostrogoth cavalry to operate. In total the Ostrogoths deployed 32,000 Infantry, and 3,000 Cavalry along the River. The remaining 5,000 were hid in the woods on the Ostrogth left flank where they would await the right moment of battle.
When the 50,000 warriors of the Gepid Coalition charged they crashes into the Goth lines, and while the main line held the Cavalry on the left flank were falling trying to hold back triple their number in Gepid cavalry. It was in this part of the fighting that the great Ostrogoth King Valamir was killed, trying to hold the line. Some say that Theodemir who was with the hidden contigent, purposefully waited hoping that Valamir would be killed. However in the end Theodemir and his 5,000 would crash into the Gepid flank within an hour the Coalitions army collapsed, and over 15,000 men of the Gepids army were killed, only 3,000 Ostrogoths lost thier lives.
The battle of Bolia changed the structure of the Danube Region. Before the region had been in constant war between the tribes. After the battle and the treaties made by Theodemir, the Ostrogoths while only making marginal territorial gains, would make many of the defeated tribes thier client states, setting up a Ostrogoth Empire that was effectively the ruling state from the Danube to the Carpathians and into the lands of the north.
It was with his Kingdom in this state of power that Theodemir going into 469 decided that he should renegotiate his kingdoms status as Fedorati of the east. Just as the armies of the east and west were preparing for war with the Vandals.
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Sorry for the lack of updates as the last few months i have been extremely busy, however going forward i should have more time to put into putting out new chapters. I do plan on putting out another map within the next few updates so that we know the details going into the Roman-Barbarian wars.
As always thank you for the support in this timeline!
As always thank you for the support in this timeline!
I dont want to spoil things to much for the war, but suffice to say that Anthemius and Marcellinus will be occupied in Pannonia
Chapter 12: 469, Anthemius Balkan campaign
Chapter 12
469
Eastern Roman Empire
On April 20th 469, Theodemir with 25,000 Goths and 15,000 Gepids, Lombards Heruli, and other warriors of his client kingdoms invaded into the Diocese of Dacia. While Theodemir had 40,000 warriors this was not his full might as 15,000 more warriors were kept in his kingdoms heartland to prevent any roman invasion from the west. The Ostrogoth king quickly marched his army southwest directed towards Naissus, burning and pillaging the regions he passed through.
By this point word of the gothic invasion was quickly spreading, and importantly reached 2 locations. The first was Dyrrachium were the Emperor and his family were, all except Anthemiolus who had been in Egypt preparing for his african campaign. Anthemius who was within days of transporting his troops to Italy, quickly aborted his campaign and began marching his 30,000 men east along the via Egnatia to Thessalonica. However Anthemius did send the half of his fleet west, to support Majorian, the rest would join him at Thessalonica.
However as Anthemius was marching east a certain Ostrogoth Prince, who had been a captive in Constantinople would enter the story. Theodoric 15 year old son of Theodemir had been held in Constantinople since he had been five years old raised with a good roman education and military training, he was being raised to be a good ally and client king of Rome. However Theodoric took the outbreak of the war as the perfect time to escape his captivity, and with a guard of 100 Ostrogoths escaped the Imperial city in a daring night escape. While only half of his group would make it they were able to escape on Horse back and went northwest, in hopes of finding his father.
When Anthemius and his army arrived at Thessalonica on June 10th, news was already there from the North. The emperor had left 12,000 men in the north to guard the Danube which had been thought to have been safe. These were split between the Dioceses of Dacia and Thrace. Theodemir had arrived at Naissus in the middle of May, which had been Garrisoned by the 6,000 men, the city had fallen on June 2nd, the garrison slaughtered and the city sacked.
At this point Anthemius had several options, however their outcomes would greatly differ on the actions of the Ostrogoths. Anthemius could march straight north on good Roman roads and try to catch the Ostrogoths, or if luck was on his side and the Ostrogoths went south from Naissus and not further East meet them in battle. Or Anthemius could march east towards Adrianople where he could join with the Thracian army and block the Ostrogoths from Constantinople. The last option was to split the army and try to cover both routes East and South. After a days delay of serious debate with his Generals Anthemius chose to go North, with his full army. It was thought that Theodemir would rather go south and face the imperial army at its current strength then allow it to be reinforced and even the numbers. At the same time going east would only weaken the Ostrogths before the fight with the Imperial army, and stretch any supply lines the Goths had, liable to be cut off if the Romans went north, while the possibility of the thracian army moving from its position was small.
Anthemius and his generals were right. As they marched north a Gothic scouting party was ambushed by Roman scouts, and all but 5 were killed, 2 of these were captured, and the remaining 3 escaped. After a night in the roman camp being tortured they gave up their king and his army. Who they divulged was besieging the city of Scupi to the northwest. The goths also told that their army was 37,000 strong, and that they were receieving supplies from the north by caravans guarded by Gepid cavalry.
The next day the Roman army moved with importance hoping the reach the city and break the seige. Only to find the city clear of any enemy armies, however the signs of war were written on the battlements which were scared signs of battle and artillery fire. Theodemir had retreated as to not be caught inbetween the city and the enemy. Only a few days later along the Morava river the two forces would finally meet. Having heard of how the Gepid cavalry guarded the Ostrogoth supply caravans Anthemius was nervous of becoming a new Valens being caught in battle by returning cavalry.
However on June 28th battle would finally be joined after several days of manoeuvring and skirmishing. The battle of Scupi would not be the decisive battle that each side was looking for. While the Ostrogoths had the advantage in numbers both forces were experienced battle hardened armies. After the infantry lines smashed together the battle was fought at a standstill for many hours. Both Emperor and King were nervous of using their cavalry as the two forces had near equal number of cavalry. And therefore the battle dragged on until evening when both forces mutually withdrew. Both forces lost around 4,000 men each, and another day of battle would only make the odds worse for the romans, and for that reason Anthemius made the decision to strategically withdraw to fight on another field, falling back to Scupi building a camp and monitoring the Gothic army with scouts.
It was because of this withdrawal that while Roman sources called the battle a draw, Gothic sources called this a victory. After this Victory both forces were in defensible positions with strong supply lines. However Theodemir had the constant thought of Roman reinforcements coming from Thrace, and would try to force the emperor into moving. To do this Theodemir uprooted is forces and marched on the city of Ulpiana crossing the Morava river, and following it west.
This movement did force Anthemius to quick march his men north and into a blocking position in front of the goths. The battle of Ulpiana was a different matter than that of Scupi. Instead of a full fledged battle, the battle of Ulpiana on July 7th began when the Gothic and Gepid cavalry tried to capture the roman baggage train that were coming into the new roman camp. Anthemius would send his cavalry to fight the Gothic enemy. However the minor battle soon turned into a raging battle for supplies as both forces continued to send men into the fight, with nearly half of both armies fighting over a now destroyed baggage train. The goths however were forced to withdraw first. While the casualty count was minor compared to scupi, the goths still lost 3,000 men and the romans 1500. This minor roman victory however was enough for Theodemir to retreat back towards Naissus following the imperial roads first east then north, Anthemius would follow.
At this point the goths were down to 29,000 men, and the Romans 24,500 and no decisive battle had been fought. At Naissus a siege similar to that of Caesar and Pompeys at Dyrrachium took place with both forces building massive fortifications. Anthemius tried to trap the goths inbetween his army and the city, while the goths were trying to prevent such a thing. On July 30th Theodemir made a daring attack with his army on the last unfotified ground, a open plain in which a single roman camp held out as ramparts were built over a mile away from any other fort. Before Anthemius and his army could respond the Goths surged from their camp and overran the fort, slaughtering the 500 men inside and began marching east towards Serdica. Anthemius once again followed knowing the farther east they went the closer he was to the reinforcements of the Thracian Comitatenses, even sending them a message to finally come join the war as the could potentially block the Ostrogoth advance and trap them between two armies.
It is during this time that Theodoric would be reunited with his father, and that the decisive battle of the year happened.
The battle of Serdica began on August 20th 5 miles from Serdica capital of the Dacian Diocese, With the Goths instead of marching further east, turning and facing the romans, and forming battle lines. Anthemius would form his own battle lines both forces kept several thousand infantry in reserve and their Cavalry on either flank. The battle lines clashed together and the battle began, however unlike the battle of Scupi, Anthemius and Theodemir both had their cavalry advance, and the battle continued at a quick pace.
The battle continued for hours, with both armies comitting every available man into the battle around noon. At around 1 in the afternoon the Roman cavalry broke overwhelmed. However instead of turning and smashing into the Roman rear, the gothic cavalry chased their roman counterparts clear of the field by which time thier own mounts where to exhausted to charge. While the Gothic cavalry waited for thier horses to gain back some energy a dust cloud was spotted coming from the east, this happened to be the 6,000 strong Thracian Comitatenses. This was relayed to both Emperor and King, Anthemius is said to have responded by riding along his armies lines rallying his men, While Theodemir sent his son to take command of the cavalry and smash the emperors army.
Theodoric and the Gothic cavalry would smash into the Roman flank however the exhausted horses ment that the charge had not been a full charge not gaining nearly enough momentum in the final 50 paces. This ment that Anthemius was able to rally some men to meet this charge and repel the gothic charge.
On the other flank however Theodemir gathered what men he could and wrapped around the romans flank. This resulted in the romans pulling back to try and hold their formation, they did manage to hold however.
Seing his army now bent in a L formation, Anthemius ordered a fighting withdrawal with men takin a step back every 20 count. Theodemir allowed this Withdrawal as the Thracian army was now within a gew miles march and continuing the battle would result in only another battle, and their was no guarantee he could defeat the romans by the time the reinforcements arrived. Theodemir and his army would retreat from the field in good order.
The battle of Serdica cost the Romans 7,000 men, and the Goths, 6,000. Both sides would claim victory, and both sides had right to, the goths causing more casualties and pushing the romans from the field. The romans having held the battlefield after the goths withdrew.
While the now combined roman army followed the goths back to Naissus towards the end of campaign season, news reached Anthemius from the west that would cripple any further Campaigning for the year....
469
Eastern Roman Empire
On April 20th 469, Theodemir with 25,000 Goths and 15,000 Gepids, Lombards Heruli, and other warriors of his client kingdoms invaded into the Diocese of Dacia. While Theodemir had 40,000 warriors this was not his full might as 15,000 more warriors were kept in his kingdoms heartland to prevent any roman invasion from the west. The Ostrogoth king quickly marched his army southwest directed towards Naissus, burning and pillaging the regions he passed through.
By this point word of the gothic invasion was quickly spreading, and importantly reached 2 locations. The first was Dyrrachium were the Emperor and his family were, all except Anthemiolus who had been in Egypt preparing for his african campaign. Anthemius who was within days of transporting his troops to Italy, quickly aborted his campaign and began marching his 30,000 men east along the via Egnatia to Thessalonica. However Anthemius did send the half of his fleet west, to support Majorian, the rest would join him at Thessalonica.
However as Anthemius was marching east a certain Ostrogoth Prince, who had been a captive in Constantinople would enter the story. Theodoric 15 year old son of Theodemir had been held in Constantinople since he had been five years old raised with a good roman education and military training, he was being raised to be a good ally and client king of Rome. However Theodoric took the outbreak of the war as the perfect time to escape his captivity, and with a guard of 100 Ostrogoths escaped the Imperial city in a daring night escape. While only half of his group would make it they were able to escape on Horse back and went northwest, in hopes of finding his father.
When Anthemius and his army arrived at Thessalonica on June 10th, news was already there from the North. The emperor had left 12,000 men in the north to guard the Danube which had been thought to have been safe. These were split between the Dioceses of Dacia and Thrace. Theodemir had arrived at Naissus in the middle of May, which had been Garrisoned by the 6,000 men, the city had fallen on June 2nd, the garrison slaughtered and the city sacked.
At this point Anthemius had several options, however their outcomes would greatly differ on the actions of the Ostrogoths. Anthemius could march straight north on good Roman roads and try to catch the Ostrogoths, or if luck was on his side and the Ostrogoths went south from Naissus and not further East meet them in battle. Or Anthemius could march east towards Adrianople where he could join with the Thracian army and block the Ostrogoths from Constantinople. The last option was to split the army and try to cover both routes East and South. After a days delay of serious debate with his Generals Anthemius chose to go North, with his full army. It was thought that Theodemir would rather go south and face the imperial army at its current strength then allow it to be reinforced and even the numbers. At the same time going east would only weaken the Ostrogths before the fight with the Imperial army, and stretch any supply lines the Goths had, liable to be cut off if the Romans went north, while the possibility of the thracian army moving from its position was small.
Anthemius and his generals were right. As they marched north a Gothic scouting party was ambushed by Roman scouts, and all but 5 were killed, 2 of these were captured, and the remaining 3 escaped. After a night in the roman camp being tortured they gave up their king and his army. Who they divulged was besieging the city of Scupi to the northwest. The goths also told that their army was 37,000 strong, and that they were receieving supplies from the north by caravans guarded by Gepid cavalry.
The next day the Roman army moved with importance hoping the reach the city and break the seige. Only to find the city clear of any enemy armies, however the signs of war were written on the battlements which were scared signs of battle and artillery fire. Theodemir had retreated as to not be caught inbetween the city and the enemy. Only a few days later along the Morava river the two forces would finally meet. Having heard of how the Gepid cavalry guarded the Ostrogoth supply caravans Anthemius was nervous of becoming a new Valens being caught in battle by returning cavalry.
However on June 28th battle would finally be joined after several days of manoeuvring and skirmishing. The battle of Scupi would not be the decisive battle that each side was looking for. While the Ostrogoths had the advantage in numbers both forces were experienced battle hardened armies. After the infantry lines smashed together the battle was fought at a standstill for many hours. Both Emperor and King were nervous of using their cavalry as the two forces had near equal number of cavalry. And therefore the battle dragged on until evening when both forces mutually withdrew. Both forces lost around 4,000 men each, and another day of battle would only make the odds worse for the romans, and for that reason Anthemius made the decision to strategically withdraw to fight on another field, falling back to Scupi building a camp and monitoring the Gothic army with scouts.
It was because of this withdrawal that while Roman sources called the battle a draw, Gothic sources called this a victory. After this Victory both forces were in defensible positions with strong supply lines. However Theodemir had the constant thought of Roman reinforcements coming from Thrace, and would try to force the emperor into moving. To do this Theodemir uprooted is forces and marched on the city of Ulpiana crossing the Morava river, and following it west.
This movement did force Anthemius to quick march his men north and into a blocking position in front of the goths. The battle of Ulpiana was a different matter than that of Scupi. Instead of a full fledged battle, the battle of Ulpiana on July 7th began when the Gothic and Gepid cavalry tried to capture the roman baggage train that were coming into the new roman camp. Anthemius would send his cavalry to fight the Gothic enemy. However the minor battle soon turned into a raging battle for supplies as both forces continued to send men into the fight, with nearly half of both armies fighting over a now destroyed baggage train. The goths however were forced to withdraw first. While the casualty count was minor compared to scupi, the goths still lost 3,000 men and the romans 1500. This minor roman victory however was enough for Theodemir to retreat back towards Naissus following the imperial roads first east then north, Anthemius would follow.
At this point the goths were down to 29,000 men, and the Romans 24,500 and no decisive battle had been fought. At Naissus a siege similar to that of Caesar and Pompeys at Dyrrachium took place with both forces building massive fortifications. Anthemius tried to trap the goths inbetween his army and the city, while the goths were trying to prevent such a thing. On July 30th Theodemir made a daring attack with his army on the last unfotified ground, a open plain in which a single roman camp held out as ramparts were built over a mile away from any other fort. Before Anthemius and his army could respond the Goths surged from their camp and overran the fort, slaughtering the 500 men inside and began marching east towards Serdica. Anthemius once again followed knowing the farther east they went the closer he was to the reinforcements of the Thracian Comitatenses, even sending them a message to finally come join the war as the could potentially block the Ostrogoth advance and trap them between two armies.
It is during this time that Theodoric would be reunited with his father, and that the decisive battle of the year happened.
The battle of Serdica began on August 20th 5 miles from Serdica capital of the Dacian Diocese, With the Goths instead of marching further east, turning and facing the romans, and forming battle lines. Anthemius would form his own battle lines both forces kept several thousand infantry in reserve and their Cavalry on either flank. The battle lines clashed together and the battle began, however unlike the battle of Scupi, Anthemius and Theodemir both had their cavalry advance, and the battle continued at a quick pace.
The battle continued for hours, with both armies comitting every available man into the battle around noon. At around 1 in the afternoon the Roman cavalry broke overwhelmed. However instead of turning and smashing into the Roman rear, the gothic cavalry chased their roman counterparts clear of the field by which time thier own mounts where to exhausted to charge. While the Gothic cavalry waited for thier horses to gain back some energy a dust cloud was spotted coming from the east, this happened to be the 6,000 strong Thracian Comitatenses. This was relayed to both Emperor and King, Anthemius is said to have responded by riding along his armies lines rallying his men, While Theodemir sent his son to take command of the cavalry and smash the emperors army.
Theodoric and the Gothic cavalry would smash into the Roman flank however the exhausted horses ment that the charge had not been a full charge not gaining nearly enough momentum in the final 50 paces. This ment that Anthemius was able to rally some men to meet this charge and repel the gothic charge.
On the other flank however Theodemir gathered what men he could and wrapped around the romans flank. This resulted in the romans pulling back to try and hold their formation, they did manage to hold however.
Seing his army now bent in a L formation, Anthemius ordered a fighting withdrawal with men takin a step back every 20 count. Theodemir allowed this Withdrawal as the Thracian army was now within a gew miles march and continuing the battle would result in only another battle, and their was no guarantee he could defeat the romans by the time the reinforcements arrived. Theodemir and his army would retreat from the field in good order.
The battle of Serdica cost the Romans 7,000 men, and the Goths, 6,000. Both sides would claim victory, and both sides had right to, the goths causing more casualties and pushing the romans from the field. The romans having held the battlefield after the goths withdrew.
While the now combined roman army followed the goths back to Naissus towards the end of campaign season, news reached Anthemius from the west that would cripple any further Campaigning for the year....
Whether Roman or Goth victory, all of these battles were mostly inconclusive, with only the last battle truly having any divisiveness in its aftermath as the Thracian reinforcments brought the Roman numbers above the Ostrogoths forcing them to retreat from the Empire.
Thanks for the support! Exactly i agree, and particularly after Serdica both forces were lucky to still be alive, and able to fight another year. That the Ostrogoths went toe to toe against the Emperor and fought him to a stalemate in 3 seperate battles is a statement to their strength in this war, and could be called a Victory in its own right.
The Goths cannot afford the blood letting as much as the Romans could.Those 40k would constituted the vast majority of their adult male population.The Romans on the other hand can lose all of their forces and rebuild their army just like the aftermath of Adrianople.The Goths would also need to take into account how many of those casualties were Goths vs those of other tribes.It would be a very serious concern for the Goths if the majority of the casualties happened to be Goths for example, this would result in them losing control over the other tribes.
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That is all a very good point! Over the course of the war against Anthemius the Gothic army lost 12000 men. These casualties were a good mix between goths and their vassals, this also doesnt count the 15,000;that were still in the Ostrogoths kingdom. In the next year of this war young Theodoric will have some strong impact in how the war develops, and how the Ostrogoths engage the Romans.
Surely the West Romans wouldn't just do nothing? The Ostrogoths represent a bigger security concern to them than the East Romans.
It will be in either the next chapter or the one following when we get word of what the Western Romans will do to help the east against the Goths, but needless to say, just like Anthemius, Marcellinus will be turning his army around, and he will be going back to Dalmatia, needless to say this leaves Majorians whole strategy a little undermanned.
Hey guys, i just wanted to provide an update on the timeline seeing as how it has been a month since i released a chapter, the Timeline is not done or abandoned, it is simply on hiatus for now, as i have become busy irl with myself being a farmer and having another job on top of that. With it being harvest i dont exactly have time to be making chapters or release chapters. Once i am back my plan is auctually to switch the order of the next two chapters, as of right now i am tentatively calling the next chapter (whenever it releases) : A 5th Century Carrhae....