Battle of Carthage | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Numidian forces loyal to Roman Emperor Maximinus Thrax | Forces of Gordian I and Gordian II | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Cappelianus | Gordian II † | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
one legion other veteran units | larger army of untrained militia |
The Battle of Carthage was fought in 238 AD between a Roman army loyal to Emperor Maximinus Thrax and the forces of Emperors Gordian I and Gordian II. Gordian I and II were father and son, and both Emperors, supported by the Roman Senate and based in Africa Province. The battle was part of a rebellion against Emperor Maximinus Thrax started by landowners who felt they had been overly and unfairly taxed. These landowners assassinated the procurator in Thysdrus and called on Gordian I to be their emperor. Gordian I marched from Thysdrus to Carthage, where news of the rebellion was welcomed.[1] Capelianus, governor of Numidia and enemy of the Gordians, led the only legion in Africa, Legio III Augusta, in battle against the two emperors.[2]
The two armies met near Carthage. Gordian II personally led his army, consisting of militiamen without military training: he was defeated and killed, and, upon learning of his son's death, Gordian I committed suicide.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Meckler, Michael A. (26 June 2001). "Gordian I (238 A.D.)". Die Imperatoribus Romanis. Salve Regina University. http://www.roman-emperors.org/gordo1.htm. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ↑ Brent, Allen (2010). Cyprian and Roman Carthage. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 118. http://books.google.com/books?id=pGAThuzyVXcC&pg=PA118&lpg=PA118&dq=Legio+III+Augusta+at+carthage&source=bl&ots=QJeYEzQuug&sig=zbJehkqdwqsLxdLBpPB16BnXNqM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4n4ZUJ7fJ8Tl0QHF84CIBQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=Legio%20III%20Augusta%20at%20carthage&f=false.
The original article can be found at Battle of Carthage (238) and the edit history here.