Battle of the Willows

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Battle of the Willows
partof=
date=377
place=Ad Salices (exact unknown), in Moesia, Bulgaria or Romania
result=Bloody draw
combatant1=Roman Empire
combatant2=Goths
commander1=Trajanus,
Profuturus,
Richomeres
commander2=Fritigern
strength1=unknown
strength2=unknown
casualties1=many
casualties2=manyThe Battle of the Willows ( 377) took place at a place called "ad Salices" ("town by the willows"), or according to Roman records, a road way-station called "Ad Salices" ("By the Willows"); probably located within 15 kilometers of Marcianople, although its exact location is unknown. Forces from the Western Roman Empire under the command of Richomeres advanced westward, while forces of the Eastern Roman Empire under Trajanus and Profuturus advanced northward where they joined forces to attack the Goths who had recently rebelled under command of Fritigern. [cite web|url=http://romanhistorybooksandmore.freeservers.com/r_day-of-barbarians.htm|title=The Day of the Barbarians: The Battle That Led to the Fall of the Roman Empire|last=Hahn|first=Irene|date=2007|work=Book review|publisher=http://romanhistorybooksandmore.freeservers.com|language=en|date=2007|accessdate=2008-04-19] and were laying waste to the northern Balkans (see Gothic War (376-382). It was the first major conflict of the Gothic War and both sides were ready to prove their merit.

The only extant description comes from Ammianus who left few details; he gives a lengthy description of the dead and dying, but no information on the number of combatants. At one point the Roman left wing gave way, but it was re-enforced and held. The battle ended with nightfall. The result was a bloody draw with both sides taking many losses; the Goths remained encamped behind their war-wagon circle for over a week after the battle.

References

See also

*Gothic War (376-382)

External links

* [http://ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/233763 "The Battle of Adrianople Part 3: The War in Thrace"]