Battle of Immae
Battle of Immae | |||||||
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Part of The Crisis of the Third Century | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Empire | Palmyrene Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Emperor Aurelian |
Zenobia Zabdas | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
30,000–50,000 although only around 5,000-7,000 dalmatian, mauritanian, equites, and numidian cavalry were engaged | Only cavalry was engaged | ||||||
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The Battle of Immae was fought in 272 between the Roman army of Emperor Aurelian, and the armies of the Palmyrene Empire, whose leader, Empress Zenobia, had usurped Roman control over the eastern provinces.
Background and prelude to war
During the
In Aurelian's eyes her entrance into Egypt, still considered a strictly personal province of the Emperor, was nothing short of a declaration of war. Despite this Aurelian had been unable to challenge her actions directly due to the constant invasion by Germanic tribes. Finally after devastating victories over the
Preparations
Roman preparations
Realising his army was far too cumbersome to invade Egypt effectively, Aurelian sent one of his generals with a fleet to attempt to drive out the Palmyrene garrison stationed there. Meanwhile, once Emperor Aurelian restored his army to its full strength he began to march towards the city of Antioch.
Palmyrene preparations
Realising that the charade was over,
The battle
Both armies took the field "near" Antioch at Immae (close by
After some skirmishes Zabdas wanted to seize the initiative and called for a cavalry charge which forced Aurelian to counter with his own cavalry charge. When the two forces were close to engaging the Roman light cavalry suddenly broke ranks, routed, and left the battlefield. Zabdas, smelling blood and certain victory, ordered his much heavier cataphracts to give chase. After a while the lengthy chase and hot sun started to wear more on the heavily armored Palmyrene horses and men but their seemingly unshakable confidence in the superiority of their cavalry spurred them to ride on. At a predetermined point the Romans wheeled around and suddenly attacked the exhausted and surprised cavalry. The trap was devastating, and very few of the Palmyrene cavalry made it back alive.
After hearing of the destruction of his cavalry Zabdas realized the day was lost. His infantry was no match for the battle-hardened
The aftermath
In the morning the senior officials of Antioch found they had been abandoned and Aurelian's reputation for savage retribution began to fill them with paralysing fear. Having no choice they opened their gates to Aurelian and prepared for the worst. In a surprise move Aurelian did not kill the senior leadership or even allow his troops to sack the city but instead granted a general amnesty. This show of mercy had a rippling effect throughout the east as city after city, no longer fearing retribution, accepted their peaceful reincorporation into the fold of the Roman Empire.
References
- Zosimus, 1.50.2
- "Vaballathus and Zenobia" De Imperatoribus Romanis Archived 5 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine