Battle of Vindalium

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Battle of Vindalium
Part of the
First Transalpine War
Date121 BC
Location
Near Sorgues, modern day France
Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Allobroges
Commanders and leaders
Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus
Casualties and losses
20,000

The Battle of Vindalium (121 BC) took place near Vindalium, a Cavarian settlement probably corresponding to modern day Mourre-de-Sève in Sorgues, near the confluence of the Rhône and Durance rivers in Southern France. The battle opposed the Allobroges, a Gallic tribe dwelling further north between the Rhône and the Alps, to the Roman forces of proconsul Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Background

According to scholar Louis Rawlings, "the Roman expansion into

Transalpine Gaul aimed to help the Greek colony of Massalia (Marseille) against the Saluvii (or Salyes) and to secure a land route to the Roman provinces in Spain."[1]

In 125 BC, the consul

Arveni to raid the Aedui territory in revenge.[2][3][1]

Battle of Vindalium

In 121 BC, the Allobroges sent an envoy to the Romans on the behalf of Toutomotulus (Toutomotoulos). The proconsul Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus demanded that the Saluvii chieftains be given to Rome, but the Allobroges refused. Domitius Ahenobarbus decided to attack the Allobroges before they could join their forces with the Arveni.[2][1]

The Battle of Vindalium was fought in the territory of the

Cavares, near the oppidum Vindalium (probably Mourre-de-Sève, in Sorgues) just northeast of Avenio (Avignon).[3][1] The Allobrogian cavalry reportedly feared the Roman war elephants during the battle. Orosius writes that they lost 20,000 men, and that 3,000 of them were captured.[2][1]

Shortly afterwards, the Arveni and their king Bituitus met the Roman forces of Domitius Ahenobarbus, strengthened by the troops of Quintus Fabius Maximus, probably near present-day Bollène.[2] A confederation of Allobroges, Arverni, and the remaining Saluvii eventually fought the Roman army at the Battle of the Isère River later in 121 BC, which turned into a decisive Roman victory.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Rawlings 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Pelletier 1982, pp. 17–18.
  3. ^ a b Rivet 1988, pp. 40–41.

Bibliography

  • Pelletier, André (1982). Vienne antique: de la conquête romaine aux invasions alamanniques (IIe siècle avant–IIIe siècle après J.-C.). Éditions Horvath.
    ISBN 978-2-7171-0213-0
    .
  • Rawlings, Louis (2017). "The Roman Conquest of Southern Gaul, 125-121 BC". In Whitby, Michael; Sidebottom, Harry (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Ancient Battles. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 1–7.
    ISBN 978-1-4051-8645-2
    .
  • ISBN 978-0-7134-5860-2
    .
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