The Roman Empire in Crisis, 248–260: When the Gods Abandoned Rome

346 Pages·2022·14.863 MB·English

by  Paul N Pearson

The Roman Empire
in Crisis, 248–260
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The Roman Empire
in Crisis, 248–260
When the Gods
Abandoned Rome
Paul N Pearson
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First published in Great Britain in 2022 by
Pen & Sword Military
An imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Yorkshire – Philadelphia
Copyright © Paul N Pearson 2022
ISBN 978 1 39909 097 1
The right of Paul N Pearson to be identified as Author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
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available from the British Library.
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Contents
Acknowledgements vi
List of Plates vii
List of Maps ix
Introduction xiii
Prologue: Millennium xv
Part I: Philip to Decius, 248–251 ce 1
Chapter 1 Empire at the Millennium 3
Chapter 2 Rebels 18
Chapter 3 The Forces of Conservatism 33
Chapter 4 Escalation of the Gothic War 43
Chapter 5 Ostrogotha Takes the Initiative 58
Chapter 6 The Road to Abritus 82
Part II: Gallus to Valerian, 251–260 ce 107
Chapter 7 Gallus 109
Chapter 8 253: World in Flames 127
Chapter 9 Restorers of the Human Race 156
Chapter 10 Turbulence 176
Chapter 11 Nadir 194
Chapter 12 Disintegration 212
Epilogue: Rome Abandons the Gods 231
Literature Cited 237
Notes 256
Index 295
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Acknowledgements
thank Cardiff University for supporting my investigations through the
Ip rovision of an Honorary Professorship. Jesper Ericsson of the Hunterian
Museum in Glasgow was very helpful in arranging photography of
the Sponsian coin and several other associated pieces, and discussed their
significance. Aleksander Bursche provided helpful input relating to his
discoveries of Roman gold in Eastern Europe and commented on the relevant
text sections. I am grateful to Jana Grusková and Otto Kresten for permission
to reproduce photographs of the Vienna Palimpsest with spectral imaging,
as made at the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek by the Early Manuscripts
Electronic Library Project FWF P24523-G19; and also Gunther Martin
for discussion of the Scythica Vindobonensia. I am grateful to the staff of
the Maltepe Open Air Museum in Plovdiv District, Bulgaria, for kindly
arranging access to that fascinating site before the formal opening, and also the
staff of the Regional History Museum at Razgrad for discussions regarding
the topography of Roman Moesia and the battlefield of Abritus. I am very
grateful to Bridget Wade for her support and discussion throughout the
project and helping interpret the archaeological sites in Plovdiv. Peter Davies,
Christine Dubery, Diana Frost and Trisha Humphreys of the Crewkerne
Ancient History Group contributed to various convivial discussions while the
work was in development. Thanks also to Phil Sidnell, Matt Jones and Chris
Trim for their efficient and professional work seeing the manuscript through
to publication.
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List of Plates
Plate 1. All coins: cngcoins.com.
Plate 2. Vienna palimpsest from Martin and Grusková (2014), Vienna,
Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Hist.gr. 73, fol. 195r, spectral imaging
by the Early Manuscripts Electronic Library. Project FWF P24523-G19,
public domain. Bust of Decius, Capitoline Museum, Rome, public domain.
Libellus modified from Claytor (2015) courtesy of Luther College, Iowa,
public domain. Other photographs, the author.
Plate 3. Coin: cngcoins.com. Photographs, the author.
Plate 4. The Great Ludovisi Sarcophagus. A, the lid (Landesmuseum,
Mainz, public domain). B, the front panel (photograph by Jastrow, public
domain). C, details of the central figure (Photograph by I, Saliko, license
CC-BY-SA 3.0). D, coin of Herennius Etruscus (cngcoins.com). E, coin
of Herennia Etruscilla (Roma Numismatics). F, detail of the female figure
on the lid (Landesmuseum, Mainz, public domain). G, bust of Herennia
Etruscilla (British Museum 1873,0820.734, public domain). H, detail of
captured barbarian, possibly Ostrogotha (photograph by Jastrow, public
domain).
Plate 5. The Battlefield of Abritus. Satellite image: Google Earth.
Photographs: the author. Pierced coin of Decius with permission,
Warszawskie Centrum Numizmatyczne 54/11.
Plate 6. Bust of Gallus, Vatican Museum, Rome. Mosaic, Zeugma Mosaic
Museum, public domain. Coins of Volusian, the author. Coins of Aemilian,
Gallienus and Salonina, Roma Numismatics. Coin of Valerian, cngcoins.
com. Coin of Silbannacus, British Museum 1937,1203.1.
Plate 7. Photograph of Manole mound, the author. Paris cameo, Marie-Lan
Nguyen, CC-BY 2.5. Coin of Shapur, cngcoins.com. Bust of Odaenathus,
Lord of Tadmor (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Carole Raddato, CC-Share Alike
license, public domain). Naqsh-i-Rustam relief carving (Diego Delso, delso.
photo License CC-BY-SA).
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viii The Roman Empire in Crisis, 248–260
Plate 8. Coin of Sponsian diameter 18 mm, with thanks to Jesper Ericsson,
Hunterian Museum, Glasgow GLAHM:40333 (photographed for this work
and available at http://collections.gla.ac.uk/#/details/ecatalogue/600253).
Augsburg Altar, Romisches Museum Augsburg. Coin of Postumus,
British Museum C_1864-1128-141. Coin of Dryantilla, Dr Huber Lanz at
wildwinds.com. Other coins: cngcoins.com.
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List of Maps
Map 1. The Roman Empire in the mid-third century (modified from
Pearson 2016). 4
Map 2. Possible line of Ostrogotha’s invasion of 248 ce based on the
Getica of Jordanes and coin hoards. 19
Map 3. The Battle of Verona, 249 ce. Decius drew his strength from
the armies of the Danube. Philip commanded the imperial forces from
Rome. 30
Map 4. Reconstruction of the invasion of Argaithus and Guntheric and
the sieges of Marcianopolis and Philippopolis, 250 ce. Ostrogotha may
have been campaigning simultaneously in Roman Dacia. The Battle of
Galtis between Goths and Gepids is based on Jordanes. 51
Map 5. Reconstruction of the opening moves on the Danube in 251 ce
according to the interpretation preferred here. The Goths began
operations in midwinter with a surprise attack on the key crossing point
at Oescus. Ostrogotha then marched into Roman Dacia while Cniva on
the south bank divided his force. He led one division toward the
legionary base at Novae, leaving the other division (‘Div. 3’) free from
interference to plunder part of Moesia. In response, Trebonianus Gallus,
the dux (regional commander) concentrated his forces at Novae. 60
Map 6. The Battle of Novae, 251 ce. Cniva was repulsed by Gallus and
moved on to besiege Nicopolis as Decius and his powerful strike force
arrived in the area. 68
Map 7. The Battle of Nicopolis, 251 ce. Decius re-captured Oescus
then attacked Cniva who then retreated south across the Haemus by
the Shipka Pass. The third Gothic division began to besiege Priscus in
Philippopolis. 70
Map 8. The Battle of Beroe, 251 ce. The Third Division of Goths
under an unknown commander commenced the siege of Philippopolis.
Gallus was ordered to Oescus to hold the crossing. Decius crossed the
Haemus Mountains via the Shipka Pass but his vanguard was destroyed
by Cniva in the vicinity of Beroe. 76
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