- The Battle of Abritus (Razgad, Bulgaria) took place in July or August 251 CE between the Roman Emperors Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus, and the Gothic army led by King Cnidus.
- It resulted in one of the worst defeats in Roman History and the first death of a Roman Emperor in battle.
The Reason for the Battle
- After failing to stop the Goths at the Battle of Phillipopolis, the three Roman Legions under Decius confronted the Goths at Abritus.
The Battle
- King Cniva concealed his troops in a swamp.
- After an initial success, the Roman Army pursued the Goths into the swamp. The concealed Gothic Army then surrounded and massacred the Roman Troops.
- King Cniva and the Goths defeated the Roman Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus, who were both killed, the first Roman Emperors to be killed in Battle against Barbarians.
The Outcome
- It represented a major defeat for the Roman Empire, similar to that of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE.
- It took until 271 CE under Aurelian, before the Goths were successfully repelled.
Razgad (Abritus), Bulgaria