Roman Military Conquests

Roman-Latin War

Period: 700 BCE to 400 BCE

This war took place over the entire 7th century. Rome won, but not after multiple failed Peace treatys.

Battle of silva arsia

509 BCE

One of the first recorded battles of Roman history, this was a civil battle of sorts. The Roman citizens had overturned the king in favor of a republic. The former king retreated to neighboring kindoms, and returned to Rome with an Etruscan army, who failed to secure the throne for the king.

Battle of Heraclea

280 BCE

This was the first recorded battle against Macedonia. Macedonia battled with the aid of Greece's phalanx. The battle against Rome was one of the biggest. The Macedonians did win, however, they lost the aid of Greece and suffered irreversible damage to their troops, which would determine the outcome of further battles.

Pyrrhic War

280 BCE

Phyrrus had allied against the Roman Republic with Greece. Romes complete victory struck fear into the hearts of surrounding countrys.

Battle of Agrigentum

261 BCE

Known as the battle that marked the start of the Punic wars, the Battle of Agrigentum was one of Romes biggest. The enemy forces consisted mainly of Carthan infantry and cavalry. Rome, on the other hand had a cavalry consisting of mainly elephants. Rome crushed the Carthans under foot with their Superior tactics and force.

Battle of Cape Ecnomus

256 BCE

Rome isnt famous for its naval battles, but this one would give them a tidal as the fiercest in the seven seas. Carthage had superior fire power, training, equipment and ships, but they had one fatal flaw; they couldn't organize their troops. Romes organized militia was able to out flank and outmaneuver the Carthans. Attributed to be the largest battle at sea in history.

Battle of Conae

216 BCE

Despite having better equipment and training, Rome lost to their enemies: the Carthaginians. The Roman general was Polybius, who led 8 legions courageously into battle, consisting of 4-5000 legionnaires each.

Battle of Zama

202 BCE

This was Romes biggest battle against Carthage. The Carthans were lead by Hannibal, a respected general with many victories against Rome under his belt. The Roman troops were lead by Publius Cornelius Scipio, who led the Roman soldiers to victory against the Carthans, despite the enemy wielding fierce weapons, tactics, and a cavalry consisting of elephants and horses.

The Battle of Cynoscephalae

197 BCE

This battle was the second of a series of wars involving the Macedonian's. On the day of the battle, the terrain was too foggy to actually battle. Both armies marched together to a nearby hill range, named the Cynoscephalae hills, on which the battle ensued. The Romans then proceeded to absolutely slaughter the Macedonians, not even allowing their enemy to retreat or surrender, even as the Macedonians attempted both.

Battle of magnesia

190 BCE

With Antiochus at the helm, the Syrian forces marched on to defend their corner of the world from the advancing Romans. Although the Syrians fought with great ferocity, and many Roman soldiers were injured as a result, only 300 Roman infantry and 49 Roman cavalry were killed. This was the Syrians final stand, and the defeat of the Syrians meant Rome now had control over most of Asia.

Battle of Pydna

168 BCE

One of the battles against the Macedonians, this one had a peculiar beginning. Both camps were on opposite sides of the Elpeus River, with the Macedonians closer to the Thermaic Gulf. While some Roman foot soldiers were on patrol, they came across a goat struggling in the river. They attempted to retrieve it, when some Macedonian soldiers saw the Romans trying to steal their goat, and proceeded to slaughter one of the soldiers. The other retreated to the nearby camp, and the battle ensued.

Battle of Carthage

146 BCE

The Battle of Carthage was the last in the trio of battles in the Punic wars. This battle, however, was devastating enough to end the Punic wars, leaving Rome the victor. The Carthans put up little offense, instead barricading Carthage. This only worker for a few hours as the sheer number of Romans were able to push through and over the fortified walls. Each individual house was barricaded, and the Romans proceeded to slaughter ever man, woman and child, then burn the city to the ground.

Roman Parthian War

66 BCE

It was a three way war with no allies. The forces were: The Roman Republic, The Roman Empire, and The Parthian Empire. Rome held power for a long period before losing it in the Parthian War.

Battle of Alesia

52 BCE

The Battle of Alesia was the start of the Gallic wars, a series of wars against the many Gaulish tribes littering the west. The Romans won by a relatively large margin, taking the city Alesia by storm and holding it long enough to permanently damage the Gallic food, supplies and moral. Although this was the first battle in a series of wars against tribes, it is often attributed to being the main turning point in the wars to come.

Caesars Civil War

49 BCE

One of the main events leading up to the assassination of Julius Caesar, this battle was between Caesar and the Senate. In the end, Caesar and Mark Antony died (only Caesars death was related to the events of the battle) ended up dead, but their actions lead to the creation of the empire.

Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

9 BCE

An embarrassment to Rome, this battle was a loss. Not only did the Germans (lead by Arminius) win, but they also destroyed 3 legions in the course of 4 days. With one legion containing 4-5 thousand legionnaires, this rattled the country of Rome. At the time, Rome had forgotten the taste of defeat, winning war after war. It had been documented that the Emperor of the era often cried out in random episodes of sobbing, yelling "Bring my legions back to me!"

Cimbrian War

113

Germany was putting immense pressure on Rome. The war was looking bleak. Then Rome received a brilliant new general, General Marius. He singlhandedly turned the war around.

Battle of Abritus

251

One of the more famous battles do to the amount of the battle that was left for modern era (in the form of artifacts left on the battle field), the Battle of Abritus was a loss for Rome. The enemy forces, the Goths, did something in history that would strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic. Through the course of this war, not one, but two emperors died.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

312

A civil war between two emperors, this battle saw the adoption of a new religion into Roman culture. Emperor Constantine was fighting for power against Maxentius. Apparently, Constantine received a vision from God, who said Constantine would be ensured victory if he adorned christian symbolism upon his troops shields, he would win. Interestingly, he did this and won the war. A year after being established as the emperor, Christianity was adopted as the official religion of Rome.

Battle of the Catalaunian Plains

451

This is arguably one of the most important battles in European history. This battle is credited with being the sole reason that Attila the Hun was unable to conquer the west.