List of Roman battles

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The following is a List of Roman battles, organized by date. The list is not exhaustive. For the complete list see List of battles, for other contemporary battles see List of battles 1400 BC-AD 600.

Table of contents

1 5th century BC
2 4th century BC
3 3rd century BC
4 2nd century BC
5 1st century BC
6 1st century
7 2nd century
8 3rd century
9 4th century
10 5th century
11 6th century
12 External Links

5th century BC

496 BC Battle of Lake Regillus - A legendary early Roman victory, won over either the Etruscanss or the Latins

4th century BC

396 BC - Battle of Veii - Romans complete conquest of Etruscans
390 BC - Battle of the Allia - Gauls defeat the Romans, leading to the Gallic sack of Rome
342 BC - Battle of Mount Gaurus - Roman general Marcus Valerius Corvus defeats the Samnites
339 BC - Battle of Vesuvius - The rebellious Latins defeat Romans under P. Decius Mus.
338 BC - Battle of Trifanum - Roman general T. Manlius Torquatus decisively defeats the Latins.
321 BC - Battle of the Claudine Forks - Romans under Spurius Postumius and T. Verturius Calvinus are defeated by the Samnites under Gaius Pontius.
316 BC - Battle of Lautulae - Romans are defeated by the Samnites.
315 BC - Battle of Ciuna - Romans defeated the Samnites
310 BC - Battle of Lake Vadimo - Romans defeat the Etruscanss.
305 BC - Battle of Bovianum - Roman consuls M. Fulvius and L. Postumius decisiviely defeat the Samnites to end the Second Samnite War.

3rd century BC

298 BC - Battle of Camerinum - Samnites defeat the Romans under Lucius Cornelius Scipio in the first battle of the Third Samnite War.
295 BC - Battle of Sentinum - Romans under Fabius Rullianus and Publius Decimus Mus defeat the Samnites and their Etruscan and Gallic allies, forcing the Etruscans, Gauls, and Umbrians to make peace
293 BC - Battle of Aquilonia - Romans decisively defeat the Samnites.
285 BC - Battle of Arretium - A Roman army under Lucius Caecilius is destroyed by the Gauls
283 BC - Battle of Lake Vadimo - A Roman army under P. Cornelius Dolabello defeats the Etruscans and Gauls.
282 BC - Battle of Populonia - Etruscan resistance to Roman domination of Italy is finally crushed.
280 BC - Battle of Heraclea - First engagement of Roman and Greek armies, the latter led by Pyrrhus of Epirus, who is victorious, but at great cost.
279 BC - Battle of Asculum - Pyrrhus again defeats the Romans.
275 BC - Battle of Beneventum - Pyrrhus is finally defeated by the Romans under Marcus Curius Dentatus.
261 BC - Battle of Agrigentum - Carthaginian forces under Hannibal Gisco and Hanno are defeated by the Romans, that attain control of most of Sicily.
260 BC –
- Battle of the Lipari Islands - A Roman naval force is defeated by the Carthaginians
- Battle of Mylae - A Roman naval force under C. Duillius defeats the Carthaginian fleet, giving Rome control of the western Mediterranean.
256 BC -
- Battle of Cape Ecnomus - A Carthaginian fleet under Hamilcar and Hanno is defeated in an attempt to stop a Roman invasion of Africa by Marcus Atilius Regulus.
- Battle of Adys - Romans under Regulus defeat the Carthaginians in North Africa
255 BC - Battle of Tunes - Carthaginians under Xanthippus, a Greek mercenary, defeat the Romans under Regulus, who is captured.
251 BC - Battle of Panormus - Carthaginian forces under Hasdrubal are defeated by the Romans under L. Caecilius Metellus.
249 BC - Battle of Drepana - Carthaginians under Adherbal defeat the fleet of Roman admiral Publius Claudius Pulcher.
242 BC - Battle of the Aegates Islands - Roman sea victory over the Carthaginians, ending the First Punic War
225 BC - Battle of Faesulae - Romans are defeated by the Gauls of Northern Italy.
224 BC - Battle of Telamon - Romans under Aemilius Papus and Caius Atilius Regulus defeat the Gauls.
222 BC - Battle of Clastidium - Romans under Marcus Claudius Marcellus defeat the Gauls.
218 BC -
- November Battle of the Ticinus - Hannibal defeats the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio the elder in a small cavalry fight.
- Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal defeats the Romans under Titius Sempronius, who had foolishly attacked.
217 BC, in April - Battle of Lake Trasimene - In an ambush, Hannibal destroys the Roman army of Gaius Flaminius, who is killed.
216 BC -
- August 2 - Battle of Cannae - Hannibal destroys the Roman army of Lucius Aemilius Paulus and Publius Terentius Varro in what is considered one of the great masterpieces of the tactical art.
- First Battle of Nola - Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus holds off an attack by Hannibal.
215 BC - Second Battle of Nola - Marcellus again repulses an attack by Hannibal.
214 BC - Third Battle of Nola - Marcellus fights an inconclusive battle with Hannibal.
212 BC -
- First Battle of Capua - Hannibal defeats the consuls Q. Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escapes
- Battle of the Silarus - Hannibal destroys the army of the Roman praetor M. Centenius Penula.
- Battle of Herdonia - Hannibal destroys the Roman army of the praetor Gnaeus Fulvius.
211 BC -
- Battle of the Upper Baetis - Publius and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio are killed in battle with the Carthaginians under Hannibal's brother Hasdrubal
- Second Battle of Capua - Hannibal is unable to break the Roman siege of the city.
210 BC -
- Second Battle of Herdoinia - Hannibal destroys the Roman army of Fulvius Centumalus, who is killed
- Battle of Numistro - Hannibal defeats Marcellus once more
209 BC - Battle of Asculum - Hannibal once again defeats Marcellus, in an indecisive battle
208 BC - Battle of Baecula - Romans in Spain under P. Cornelius Scipio the Younger defeat Hasdrubal Barca
207 BC -
- Battle of Grumentum - Roman general Gaius Claudius Nero fights an indecisive battle with Hannibal, then escapes north to confront Hannibal's brother Hasdrubal, who has invaded Italy
- Battle of the Metaurus - Hasdrubal is defeated and killed by Nero's Roman army.
206 BC - Battle of Ilipa - Scipio again decisively defeats the remaining Carthaginian forces in Spain.
204 BC - Battle of Crotona - Hannibal fights a drawn battle against the Roman general Sempronius in Southern Italy.
203 BC - Battle of Bagbrades - Romans under Scipio defeat the Carthaginian army of Hasdrubal Gisco and Syphax. Hannibal is sent to return to Africa.
202 BC, October 19 - Battle of Zama - Scipio Africanus Major decisively defeats Hannibal in North Africa, ending the Second Punic War
200 BC - Battle of Cremona - Roman forces defeat the Gauls of Cisalpine Gaul

2nd century BC

198 BC - Battle of the Aous - Roman forces under Titus Quinctius Flamininus defeat the Macedonians under Philip V
197 BC - Battle of Cynoscephalae - Romans under Flamininus decisively defeats Philip in Thessaly
194 BC -
- Battle of Mutina - Roman victory over the Gauls
- Battle of Gythium - With some Roman assistance, Philopoemen of the Achaean League defeats the Spartans under Nabis
191 BC - Battle of Thermopylae - Romans under Marcus Acilius Glabrio defeat Antiochus III the Great and force him to evacuate Greece
190 BC -
- Battle of the Eurymedon - Roman forces under Lucius Aemilius Regillus defeat a Seleucid fleet commanded by Hannibal, fighting his last battle.
- Battle of Myonessus - Another Seleucid fleet is defeated by the Romans
- December, Battle of Magnesia - (near Smyrna) Romans under Lucius Cornelius Scipio and his brother Scipio Africanus Major defeat Antiochus III the Great in the decisive victory of the war.
171 BC - Battle of Callicinus - Perseus of Macedon defeats a Roman army under Publius Licinius Crassus.
168 BC, June 22 - Battle of Pydna - Romans under Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus defeat and capture Macedonian King Perseus, ending the Third Macedonian War
148 BC - Battle of Pydna - The forces of the Macedonian pretender Andriscus are defeated by the Romans under Quintus Caecilius Metellus in the decisive engagement of the Fourth Macedonian War
146 BC -
- Battle of Carthage - Scipio Africanus Minor captures and destroys Carthage, ending the Third Punic War
- Battle of Corinth - Romans under Lucius Mummius defeat the Achaean League forces of Critolaus, who is killed. Corinth is destroyed and Greece comes under direct Roman rule.
108 BC - Battle of the Muthul - Roman forces under Caecilius Metellus defeat the forces of Jugurtha of Numidia
105 BC, October 6 - Battle of Arausio - Cimbri inflict a major defeat on the Roman army of Mallius Maximus
102 BC - Battle of Aquae Sextae - Romans under Gaius Marius defeat Teutons
101 BC - Battle of Vercellae - Romans under Gaius Marius defeat the Cimbri, who are entirely annihilated.

1st century BC

89 BC -
- Battle of Fucine Lake - Roman forces under Lucius Porcius Cato are defeated by the Italian rebels in the Social War
- Battle of Asculum - Roman army of C. Pompeius Strabo decisively defeats the rebels in the Social War.
86 BC - Battle of Chaeronea - Roman forces of Lucius Cornelius Sulla defeat the Pontic forces of Archelaus in the First Mithridatic War
85 BC - Battle of Orchomenus - Sulla again defeats Archelaus in the decisive battle of the First Mithridatic War.
83 BC - Battle of Mount Tifata - Sulla defeats the popular forces of Caius Norbanus in the First Roman Civil War.
82 BC - Battle of Colline Gate - Sulla defeats Samnites allied to the popular party in Rome in the decisive battle of the Civil War.
80 BC - Battle of the Baetis River - Rebel forces under Quintus Sertorius defeat the legal Roman forces of Lucius Fulfidias in Spain.
74 BC - Battle of Cyzicus - Roman forces under Lucius Lucullus defeat the forces of Mithridates VI of Pontus
72 BC - Battle of Cabira - Lucullus again defeats Mithridates, overrunning Pontus
69 BC - Battle of Tigranocerta - Lucullus defeats the army of Tigranes I of Armenia, who was harbouring his father-in-law Mithridates VI of Pontus
68 BC - Battle of Artaxata - Lucullus again defeats Tigranes.
66 BC - Battle of the Lycus - Pompey the Great decisively defeats Mithridates VI, effectively ending the Third Mithridatic War
62 BC, January - Battle of Pistoria - The forces of the conspirator Catiline are defeated by the loyal Roman armies under Gaius Antonius.
58 BC -
- June - Battle of the Arar (Saone) - Caesar defeats the migrating Helvetians
- July - Battle of Bibracte - Caesar again defeats the Helvetians, this time decisively.
- September - Caesar decisively defeats the forces of the Germanic chieftain Ariovistus near modern Belfort
57 BC -
- Battle of the Axona (Aisne) - Caesar defeats the forces of the Belgae under King Galba of Suessiones.
- Battle of the Sabis (Sambre) - Caesar defeats the Nervii.
53 BC - Battle of Carrhae - Roman triumvir Crassus is defeated and killed by the Parthians
52 BC - Battle of Alesia - Caesar defeats the Gallic rebel Vercingetorix, completing the Roman conquest of Transalpine Gaul.
49 BC, August 24 - Battle of the Bagradas River - Caesar's general Gaius Curio is defeated in North Africa by the Pompeians under Attius Varus and King Juba of Numidia. Curio commits suicide.
48 BC -
- July 10 - Battle of Dyrrhachium - Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia
- August 9 - Battle of Pharsalus - Caesar decisively defeats Pompey, who flees to Egypt
47 BC -
- February - Battle of the Nile - Caesar defeats the forces of the Egyptian king Ptolemy XIII
- May - Battle of Zela - Caesar defeats Pharnaces II of Pontus. This is the battle where he famously said Veni, vidi, vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered.)
46 BC, February - Battle of Thapsus - Caesar defeats the Pompeian army of Metellus Scipio in North Africa.
45 BC March 17 - Battle of Munda - In his last victory, Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Gnaeus Pompey the Younger in Spain. Labienus is killed in the battle and the Younger Pompey captured and executed.
43 BC -
- April 14 - Battle of Forum Gallorum - Antony, besieging Caesar's assassin Decimus Brutus in Mutina, defeats the forces of the consul Pansa, who is killed, but is then immediately defeated by the army of the other consul, Hirtius
- April 21 - Battle of Mutina - Antony is again defeated in battle by Hirtius, who is killed. Although Antony fails to capture Mutina, Decimus Brutus is murdered shortly thereafter.
42 BC -
- October 3 - First Battle of Philippi - Triumvirs Marc Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's assassins Marcus Brutus and Cassius. Although Brutus defeats Octavian, Antony defeats Cassius, who commits suicide.
- October 23 - Second Battle of Philippi - Brutus's army is decisively defeated by Antony and Octavian. Brutus escapes, but commits suicide soon after.
41 BC - Battle of Perugia - Marc Antony's brother Lucius Antonius and his wife Fulvia are defeated by Octavian.
36 BC - Battle of Naulochus - Octavian's fleet, under the command of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa defeats the forces of the rebel Pompey.
31 BC, September 2 - Battle of Actium - Octavian decisively defeats Antony and Cleopatra in a naval battle near Greece
11 BC - Battle of the Lupia River - Roman forces under Augustus's stepson Drusus win a victory in Germany.

1st century

September, 9 - Battle of the Teutoburg Forest - German leader Arminius defeats the Roman legions of Publius Quinctilius Varus
43 - Battle of Medway - Claudius and general Aulus Plautius defeat a confederation of British Celtic tribes. Roman invasion of Britain begins
50 - Battle of Caer Caradock - British chieftain Caractacus is defeated and captured by the Romans under Ostorius Scapula.
61 - Battle of Towcester - The uprising of the British queen Boudicca against the Romans is defeated by Suetonius Paullinus
62 - Battle of Rhandeia - Romans under Lucius Caesennius Paetus are defeated by a Parthian-Armenian army under King Tiridates of Parthia.
69 -
- April 14 - Battle of Bedriacum - Vitellius, commander of the Rhine armies, defeats Emperor Otho and seizes the throne.
- October 24 - Second Battle of Bedriacum - Forces under Antonius Primus, the commander of the Danube armies, loyal to Vespasian, defeat the forces of Emperor Vitellius.
84 - Battle of Mons Graupius. Romans under Gnaeus Julius Agricola defeat the Caledonians.

2nd century

193 -
- Battle of Cyzicus - Septimius Severus, the new Emperor, defeats his eastern rival Pescennius Niger
- Battle of Nicaea - Severus again defeats Niger
194 - Battle of Issus (194) - Severus finally defeats Niger.
197, February 17 - Battle of Lugdunum - Emperor Septimius Severus defeats and kills his rival Clodius Albinus, securing full control over the Empire.

3rd century

218 - Battle of Antioch - Varius Avitus defeats Emperor Macrinus to claim the throne under the name Elagabalus.
238 - Battle of Carthage (238) - Troops loyal to the Roman Emperor Maximinus defeat and kill the usurper Gordian II.
243 - Battle of Resaena - Roman forces under Gordian III defeat the Persians under Shapur I. Gordian is murdered before he can exploit his victory.
250 - Battle of Philippopolis - King Cuiva of the Goths defeats a Roman army.
251 - Battle of Abrittus - Goths defeat and kill the Roman Emperor Trajan Decius
260 - Battle of Edessa - King Shapur I of Persia defeats and captures the Roman Emperor Valerian
268 - Battle of Lake Benacus - Romans under Claudius II defeat the Alamanni
269 - Battle of Naissus - Claudius II decisively defeats the Goths, earning the surname Gothicus.
271 -
- Battle of Placentia - Emperor Aurelian is defeated by the Alemanni forces invading Italy
- Battle of Fano - Aurelian defeats the Alemanni, who begin to retreat from Italy
- Battle of Pavia (271) - Aurelian destroys the retreating Alemanni army.
- Battle of Immae - Aurelian defeats the army of Zenobia of Palmyra
272 - Battle of Emesa - Aurelian decisively defeats Zenobia.
273 - Battle of Chalons (273) - Aurelian defeats the Gallic usurper Tetricus, reestablishing central control of the whole empire.
285 - Battle of the Margus - The usurper Diocletian defeats the army of the Emperor Carinus, who is killed.
296 - Battle of Callinicum - Romans under the Caesar Galerius are defeated by the Persians under Narses.
298 -
- Battle of Lingones - Caesar Constantius Chlorus defeats the Alemanni
- Battle of Vindonissa - Constantius again defeats the Alemanni

4th century

312 -
- Battle of Turin (312) - Constantine defeats forces loyal to Maxentius.
- October 28 - Battle of Milvian Bridge - Constantine defeats Maxentius and takes control of Italy.
313 - Battle of Tzirallum - In the eastern part of the Empire, the forces of Licinius defeat Maximin Daia.
314 -
- Battle of Cibalae - Constantine defeats Licinius
- Battle of Mardia - Constantine again defeats Licinius, who cedes Illyricum to Constantine.
323 -
- July 3 - Battle of Adrianople (323) - Constantine defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium
- July - Battle of the Hellespont - Flavius Julius Crispus, son of Constantine defeats the naval forces of Licinius
- September 18 - Battle of Chrysopolis - Constantine decisively defeats Licinius, establishing his sole control over the empire.
344 - Battle of Singara - Emperor Constantius II fights an indecisive battle against the Persian King Shapur II (approximate date)
351 - Battle of Mursa Major - Emperor Constantius II defeats the usurper Magnentius
353 - Battle of Mons Seleucus - Final defeat of Magnentius by Constantius II
356 - Battle of Reims (356) - Caesar Julian is defeated by the Alemanni
357 - Battle of Strasbourg (357) - Julian expels the Alamanni from the Rhineland
359 - Battle of Amida - Persians capture Amida from Romans
363 - Battle of Ctesiphon - Emperor Julian defeats Shapur II of Persia outside the walls of the Persian capital, but is unable to take the city, leading to an ultimate disaster on the retreat back to Roman territory.
367 - Battle of Solicinium - Romans under Emperor Valentinian I defeat yet another Alemanni incursion.
377 - Battle of the Willows - Roman troops fight an inconclusive battle against the Visigoths under Fritigern
378 -
- Battle of Argentaria - Western Emperor Gratianus is victorious over the Alemanni, yet again.
- August 9 - Battle of Adrianople (378) - Visigoths under Fritigern defeat and kill the Eastern Emperor Valens
388 - Battle of the Save - Emperor Theodosius I defeats the usurper Magnus Maximus.
394, September 6 - Battle of Frigdus - Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the pagan usurper Eugenius and his Frankish general Arbogast.

5th century

402 -
- Battle of Asta - Roman general Stilicho fights an indecisive engagement against Alaric's Visigoths.
- April 6 - Battle of Pollentia - Stilicho stymies the Visigoths under Alaric
403, in June - Battle of Verona - Stilicho again defeats Alaric, who withdraws from Italy.
410 August 24 - Sack of Rome - Visigoths under Alaric sack Rome.
425 - Roman general Aetius defeats the Visigoths under Theodoric I.
430 - Battle of Halys
432 - Battle of Ravenna - Roman general Aetius defeats his rival Count Boniface, who is killed.
436 - Battle of Narbonne - Aetius again defeats the Visigoths under Theodoric I.
447 - Battle of the Utus - Attila the Hun is defeated by the East Romans in an indecisive battle
451, in June - Battle of Chalons - Forces of the Visigoth king Theodoric and Romans under Aetius repulse the attack of Attila the Hun. Theodoric is killed in the battle.

6th century

528 - Battle of Daras - Justinian's commander Belisarius defeats Persians in his first major battle of the campaign to regain Eastern empire
533 - Battle of Ad Decimum (or "Battle of Carthage (533)") - Belisarius defeats Vandals near Carthage
552 - Battle of Taginae - Eunuch general Narses replaces Belisarius and defeats Ostrogoths under Totila

External Links

Elton, Hugh and Christos Nüssli, "Imperial Battle Map Index". An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors.