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

346 Pages·2022·14.863 MB·English
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The Roman Empire in Crisis, 248–260 TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 11 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 22 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 The Roman Empire in Crisis, 248–260 When the Gods Abandoned Rome Paul N Pearson TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 33 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 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. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing. Typeset by Mac Style Printed and bound in the UK by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY. Pen & Sword Books Limited incorporates the imprints of Atlas, Archaeology, Aviation, Discovery, Family History, Fiction, History, Maritime, Military, Military Classics, Politics, Select, Transport, True Crime, Air World, Frontline Publishing, Leo Cooper, Remember When, Seaforth Publishing, The Praetorian Press, Wharncliffe Local History, Wharncliffe Transport, Wharncliffe True Crime and White Owl. For a complete list of Pen & Sword titles please contact PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS, England E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk Or PEN AND SWORD BOOKS 1950 Lawrence Rd, Havertown, PA 19083, USA E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.penandswordbooks.com TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 44 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 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 TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 55 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 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. TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 66 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 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). TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 77 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 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. TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 88 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166 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 TThhee RRoommaann EEmmppiirree iinn CCrriissiiss..iinndddd 99 0088//0033//22002222 0099::1166

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