An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors Imperial Battle Descriptions, A.D. 306-363
Cartography by Christos Nüssli
Back to: De Imperatoribus Romanis
The descriptions of Imperial Battles between 306 and 363 A.D. are listed below in alphabetical order. If you wish to see a map of the the location of a particular battle, simply click on the hypertext link for the name of a particular battle. Remember only to have one map open at a time. Additionally, one can link to some of the imperial essays through links in some of the battle descriptions.
Sorted by Name
Battle of Adrianople, A.D. 324. This engagement was fought by Constantine and Licinius on the banks of the Hebrus River on 3 July 324 during the second civil war between the two emperors. Licinius fled the field of battle and retreated into the city of Byzantium.
Siege of Amida, A.D. 359. Sapor II besieged Amida for 73 days, before siege mounds allowed his troops to enter the city. Although victorious, the Persians lost almost 30,000 men in the effort. We have an eyewitness account by the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus who was one of the besieged.
Battle of Aquileia, A.D. 340. The sole engagement in a civil war between Constantine II and Constans I when the former attempted to seize the territory of the latter in 340. In the ensuing encounter Constans’ generals, having ambushed Constantine’s forces, were victorious. Constantine died in the rout.
Battle of Argentoratum, A.D. 357. In July or August, 357 the Caesar Julian, leading ca. 13,000 trooops, encountered an allied force of Alamanni some 30,000 strong, led by Chnodomarius. The Alamanni came close to breaking the Roman line, but were repulsed and driven into the Rhine. This was a major Roman victory; although enemy losses were heavy, Roman losses were light.
Siege of Byzantium, A.D. 324. After retreating from his defeat at Adrianople, Licinius was besieged by Constantine at Byzantium. Constantine's fleet was able to defeat Licinius' fleet in the Hellespont. Licinius then withdrew most of his forces from Byzantium and retreated to Asia Minor.
Battle of the Campus Ardiensis, A.D. 316. This battle was the second encounter in the first civil war between Constantine and Licinius. It occurred in Thrace and was a massive defeat for Licinius.
Battle of Chrysopolis, A.D. 324. The final and decisive battle of the second civil war between Licinius and Constantine took place in Asia Minor on 18 September 324. The battle was a rout and Licinius abdicated his throne.
Battle of Cibalae, A.D. 314 or 316 This battle, fought on 8 October 314 or 316 in Pannonia, was the opening engagement in the first civil war between Constantine and Licinius. After massive losses, Licinius left the field and fled to Sirmium.
Siege of Ctesiphon, A.D. 363. In May 363, the emperor Julian besieged the Persian city of Ctesiphon. Although the Romans succeeded in pushing Persian forces back into the city, they did not take advantage of the situation and seize the city
Battle of the Milvian Bridge, A.D. 312 In this battle the Emperor Constantine I faced Maxentius at the Saxa Rubra near Rome on 28 October 312. Constantine bested his opponent who died in the battle. Christian historians commented particularly on Constantine's vision the night before the encounter. Maxentius' army was pushed up against the Tiber and forced to retreat over the bridge which collapsed.
Battle of Mons Seleuci, A.D. 353. The final battle, which occurred in southern Gaul, in the civil war between Constantius II and Magnentius which occurred in late summer 353. When the usurper was finally defeated, he fled with his few remaing troops to Lugdunum.
Battle of Mursa, A.D. 351. This battle was the major struggle in the civil war in 351 between Constantius II and Magnentius. Although Constantius was the victor, massive losses of men and material, supposedly 54,000 men, made the victory Pyrrhic.
Siege of Nisibis, A.D. 350. Perhaps the most famous siege of Nisibis occurred in 350 when Sapor II of Persia besieged the city for about three months. The Persian king diverted the river Mygdonius in an attempt to undermine the walls of the city. This attempt, as well as more conventional siege operations, was unsuccessful. Nisibis was also besieged unsuccessfully in 338 and 346.
Siege of Ravenna, A.D. 307. Battle fought as part of Severus II’s attempt to wrest Rome out of the hands of Maxentius in 306/307 A.D. When Severus’ assault on Rome failed, he and his remaining forces fled to Ravenna where Maxentius’ father Maximianus Herculius, with false promises of safety, convinced Severus and the remainder of his forces to surrender.
Updated: 20 November 2004
