Siege of Philippopolis (250)

The siege of Philippopolis was fought in about 250 between Rome and the Goths during the invasions of 249–253 at the Thracian city of Philippopolis, modern Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was part of the long-running series of Gothic Wars.

Siege of Philippopolis
Part of the Crisis of the Third Century Gothic War (248-253) and Roman–Germanic Wars
Location of Philippopolis
Date 250 or 251 AD Location Philippopolis, Thracia, Roman Empire (present-day Plovdiv, Bulgaria) Result Gothic victory
Belligerents
Goths	Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Cniva	Titus Julius Priscus
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Goths were led by King Cniva who had crossed the Danube in 249 or 250 with two armies. His army attacked Novae and Nicopolis ad Istrum unsuccessfully before defeating the army of Emperor Decius at Augusta Traiana and moving on to Philippopolis.^[1]

Decius had been on his way to relieve Philippopolis with a reinforced army, but arrived too late.

After a long siege, Cniva was victorious after the city was betrayed by a citizen.^[2] The king subsequently allied himself with the governor of Thrace, Titus Julius Priscus, to take on the Roman Emperor Decius again at Abritus.^[3]

References

1. chs. 101-103, MGH Auct. Antiqu . V 1, 83-84 Mommsen
2. Further Dexippus (2) By Christopher P Jones, https://www.academia.edu/11913736/Further_Dexippus_online_
3. JORDANES: THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS Goths in the 3rd Century

External links

• Book excerpt

42°9′0″N 24°45′0″E