#abritus

The Battle of Abritus

The Battle of Abritus was an engagement fought between the armies of Rome under the emperor Decius (249-251 CE) and a coalition of Goths under the leadership of Cniva (c. 250 - c. 270 CE) in 251 CE resulting in a victory for Cniva and the death of Decius and his son in a total defeat of the Roman army. The Romans had no choice afterwards but to allow Cniva to march out of Roman territory with all the booty and slaves he had captured on campaign.

The forces met in the valley of the Beli Lom River, near the town of Dryanovets, in modern-day Bulgaria. Cniva had already attacked the Roman cities of Novae and laid siege to Nicopolis ad Istrum, where he first met Decius, before the decisive battle at Abritus. Had Cniva capitalized on this victory and returned for another attack, he could have destroyed whatever forces Rome had left in the region to mount against him; he did not, however, and chose to take his substantial booty home to fight against Rome another day.

He has been identified with the Goth leader Cannabaudes who was defeated by Aurelian (270-275 CE) in 270 CE and was killed, along with 5,000 of his troops. Whether Cannabaudes was the same king as the victor of Abritus is disputed, but there is no doubt that Cniva's victory in 251 CE was a severe blow to Rome and the first time a sitting emperor – as well as his son and successor – was killed in battle.

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Archaeologists to Seek Grave of First Roman Emperor to Die in Battle, Trajan Decius in 251 Battle of Abritus, near Bulgaria’s Razgrad

A collage showing a bust of Roman Emperor Trajan Decius, with the ruins of the fortress walls of ancient Abritus near Bulgaria’s Razgrad in the background. Photo: Abritus Archaeological Preserve

An international archaeological expedition is seeking EU funding in order to search for the grave of Trajan Decius, the first Emperor of the Roman Empire to die in battle, namely, the 251 AD Battle of…

Bulgaria’s Yambol Reenacts Thracian – Roman Battles in Ancient Thracian City Kabile

The historical reeactment of Thracian – Roman battles at the Kabile Archaeological Preserve near Bulgaria’s Yambol. Photo: Yambol Municipality

A two-day fair of cultural tourism entertainment organized by the city of Yambol in Southeast Bulgaria has featured reenactments of Thracian – Roman battles amidst the ruins of the Ancient Thracian city of Kabile. (more…)

Archaeologists Identify Battlefield of 251 AD Roman-Goth Battle of Abritus near Bulgaria’s Dryanovets

The field near the town of Dryanovets in Northeast Bulgaria where the Battle of Abritus between Rome and the Goths took place 1765 years ago. Photo: TV grab from BNT

The battlefield of one of the greatest battles in the Late Antiquity, the 251 AD Battle of Abritus between the Roman Empire and the invading Goths, which is known for the deaths of two Roman Emperors, has been identified by Bulgarian…

Archaeologists Find Votive Tablets of ‘Thracian Horseman’ Deity in Ancient Roman City Abritus

One of the two votive tablets of the Thracian Horseman (Heros) deity discovered by the Razgrad archaeologists in Abritus. Photo: TV grab from BNT2

Two votive tablets with images of the Thracian Horseman, also known as Heros, the alleged supreme deity of the Ancient Thracians, have been found during the 2016 summer archaeological excavations of the Ancient Roman and Byzantine city of Abritus near

Bulgaria’s Razgrad Holds Antiquity Festival at Ancient Thracian, Roman City Abritus

The opening of the 2016 Ancient Abritus Festival in the Roman villa urbana in the ancient city near Bulgaria’s Razgrad. Photo: Razgrad Regional Museum of History Facebook Page An Antiquity Festival has been held by the northeastern Bulgarian city of Razgrad celebrating the archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage of the Ancient Roman city of Abritus with a wide range of events. (more…)