Battle of the Cremera
Battle of the Cremera | |||||||
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Part of the Roman–Etruscan Wars | |||||||
Heinrich Leutemannː Downfall of the Roman gens Fabia at the Battle of the Cremera (engraving) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Republic | Etruscan city of Veii | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Caeso Fabius Vibulanus † | unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
306 men | unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
306 men | unknown | ||||||
The Battle of the Cremera was fought between the
It most likely occurred on 18 July,[1] although Ovid gives a different date of 13 February.[2]
Background
Since the overthrow of the Roman monarchy in 509 BC, the Roman Republic and its neighbour Veii had been at peace.
Conflict erupted, however, in 483 BC with a series of clashes that occurred almost annually. Rome was victorious in a close-fought battle in 480 BC; nevertheless, hostilities continued.
In 479 BC, the family of the
Account of the battle
The Veientes, embarrassed by their lack of success, formed plans for an ambush of the Fabii. The Veientes led a herd of cattle along a road, at a distance from the Fabian camp at the Cremera, in order to lure the Romans from their camp and into an ambush. The Romans pursued the herd and scattered to capture the animals. At that point, the Veientes sprang from their hiding places and surrounded the Fabii. The Veientes were superior in number; however, the Romans formed a wedge formation, broke through and reached a hill, where they successfully repulsed the initial Veientine attacks, until some of the Veientes went around the Romans to attack them from the rear, uphill from the Romans.[6]
All of the Fabii were slaughtered save Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, who was too young to be sent to war.[7]
Aftermath
Upon hearing of the grave defeat, the Roman Senate sent the consul
References
- Primary sources
- Livy (1905). ISBN 0-19-282296-9)
. Translated by Canon Roberts – via
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus: Roman antiquities at LacusCurtius, IX.