Battle of Lugdunum
The battles of Lugdunum (also called Bataille of Lyon ) opposed the armies of the Roman Emperor Septime Sévère and of the Usurpateur Roman Clodius Albinus the 19 - February 20th 197 to Lugdunum.
This battle is regarded as bloodiest of the combat which opposed Roman troops between them. According to the historian Dion Cassius, until 150 000 men took there share in each camp This number is most probably exaggerated because that would mean that close to the three-quarters of the troops of the Roman empire of the time took part in it. However, the full number of soldiers is without any doubt higher than 100 000 and could have reached the figure of 150 000 advanced by Dion Cassius.
Context
After the death of the emperor Pertinax in 193, a fight began for its succession. The emperor of Rome, Didius Julianus, had to deal with applicant, the commander of the legions pannoniennes Septime Sévère. Before going to Rome, Sévère made alliance with the powerful one ordering legions of Brittany, Clodius Albinus, promising to him the title of César. After having eliminated Didius (193), Pescennius Niger (194), and after a campaign in the East (195), Sévère tried to establish its legitimacy by making it go back to Marc Aurèle. It allotted to his son the title of César. This nomination involved the rupture of its alliance with Albinus which was declared public enemy by the Sénat.In 196, after being acclaimed emperor by his troops, Clodius Albinus went with 40 000 men of three legions on the Gaulle. Once assembled additional forces, it installed its general headquarter with Lugdunum. It was joined there by Lucius Novius Rufus, the governor of Tarraconaise and by the VII {{E}} legion '' Gemina ''. But Sévère had the powerful Germanic and Danubian legions on its side. In order to decrease this advantage and to perhaps gain their support, Albinus tackled the Germanic forces directed by Virius Lupus. It beat them but this victory was not sufficient to convince them of their interest to change Albinus camp then planned to invade the Italy, but Sévère had countered this possibility by reinforcing the garrisons protecting the alpine collars. Not wishing to risk heavy losses or to be strongly delayed by forcing the passage, Albinus gave up this idea.
During winter 196-197, Sévère gathered its forces along the Danube and went towards Gaulle, where, with its great surprise Albinus had troops equivalent to his. The two armies clashed initially with Tinurtium (Tournus), where Sévère although victorious could not obtain a decisive victory.
The Battle
The army of Albinus made retirement towards Lugdunum and that of Severe followed it. The frontal and decisive battle began the February 19th 197. The exact details are very few. It is known however that the two camps were about of equal force and this bloody combat thus lasted two days (it was rather rare that the battles of the time lasts more few hours). The advantage changed several times of camp during the battle. It seems that Sévère had a better cavalry which made turn the balance in its favor for the last time. The army of Albinus was destroyed.
The contribution of archeology
Archeology locates the battle towards the Satonay place, in Lyon, district with the foot of the hill of Cross-Russet-red the and close to the the Saone.Various military objects found on site are presented in the Gallo-Roman Musée of Fourvière: knives, balls of sling out of lead, Coat of mail.
Consequences
The exact fate of Albinus is not well-known. He flees towards Lugdunum where he committed suicide because any retirement was cut or was assassinated. Severe made dismember and decapitate its body.Severe passed on its body with its horse in front of its victorious troops. The head was sent to Rome with those of the other members of its family in order to be used as warning. The town of Lugdunum as for it was delivered to the plundering of the victorious soldiers.
Following this revolt, the Roman forces in Brittany were weakened, which involved incursions, risings and a withdrawal of the Romans of the Mur of Antonin towards the Hadrian's Wall more in the south. It is by repressing one of these risings that Sévère died close to the current city of York the February 4th 211 at a few weeks of the 14th birthday of its victory of Lugdunum.
Sources
- Dion Cassius, Roman History , book 73,14 - book 76,17
- Hérodien, translation of Denis Castlings, History of the Roman Emperors of Gordien Marc-Aurèle III , Beautiful Letters, Collection the Wheel with books, anonymous Paris, 1990,
- , History Auguste , life of Severe Septime
Internal bonds
External bonds
- Account of the Severe life of Septime