Battle of Marcianople facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Marcianople
Part of the Gothic War of 376–382
Date 376 Location Marcianople Result Gothic victory
Belligerents
Goths	Eastern Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Fritigern	Lupicinus
Strength
7,000–8,000	5,000
Casualties and losses
	Over half the army killed

The Battle of Marcianople was a big fight that happened in 376 AD. It took place after a group of people called the Goths moved across the Danube River. This battle was the first major clash in a bigger conflict known as the Gothic War of 376–382.

Before the battle, the Romans tried to trick and capture the Gothic leaders at a dinner party in Marcianople. But the Goths found out! The Roman commander, Lupicinus, quickly gathered about 5,000 soldiers. He attacked the Tervingi Goths, who had between 7,000 and 8,000 warriors led by Fritigern. The fight happened about nine miles west of Marcianople.

The Romans tried to defend themselves, but the Goths attacked with full force. They used their shields, swords, and spears to fight the Romans. Commander Lupicinus ran away, and more than half of his army was killed. After their victory, the Goths took the Roman weapons for themselves.

Why the Battle Happened

Goths Arrive in the Roman Empire

In 376 AD, a powerful group called the Huns attacked the Goths. The Goths, especially the West Goths, had to leave their homes to escape the Huns. They tried to stop the Huns at the Dniester River but failed.

A group of Goths, led by Fritigern, went to the Danube River. They asked the Roman Emperor Valens for permission to cross the river. They hoped the river would protect them from the Huns. Emperor Valens agreed, but with some rules. The Goths had to give up their wealth and weapons. They also had to send some of their young nobles to the Romans. In return, they would become loyal citizens of the Empire.

The Goths were desperate and agreed to these terms. Many Goths, possibly around 50,000 people, including about 10,000 warriors, crossed the Danube.

Problems and Unfair Treatment

However, things quickly went wrong. Some of Emperor Valens' officials were very greedy. They saw the Goths as easy targets. The Romans were supposed to give the Goths food, but instead, they made the Goths pay a lot for it. They even took their property and sometimes their family members.

The Romans also failed to take away all the Goths' weapons. Soon, the Gothic camps near the Danube were filled with angry warriors. Roman generals became worried. They decided to spread the Goths out across different Roman provinces. They told Fritigern to march his people to Marcianopolis. There, they would be told where to settle. Fritigern seemed to agree and headed towards the city.

The Battle Begins

Lupicinus, the Roman commander in the area, had been very unfair to the Goths. He invited the main Gothic chiefs, including Fritigern, to a fancy dinner in Marcianople. He hoped to make peace with them and maybe stop them from telling the Emperor about his bad behavior.

But during the dinner, trouble started outside the city. The main group of Goths, who were camped outside, tried to get food from the city. The Roman soldiers guarding the city wouldn't let them in. A fight broke out between the Goths and the Roman guards.

When Fritigern heard the noise, he and the other Gothic chiefs quickly left Lupicinus's palace. They drew their swords and rushed back to their camp. War was declared against the Roman Empire right away.

Lupicinus quickly gathered all his available soldiers, about 5,000 men. He attacked the 7,000 to 8,000 Tervingi Goths, led by Fritigern, about nine miles west of Marcianople. The Romans tried to defend their position. But the Goths launched a strong, sudden attack. They fought fiercely, using their shields, swords, and spears.

Even though the Roman soldiers fought bravely, Lupicinus fled the battle. More than half of his army was killed. The Goths were too many and too fierce for the Romans. After their victory, the Goths took the Roman weapons. They then began to raid the nearby countryside, burning and destroying what they didn't take for themselves.