Marcomannic Wars

The Marcomannic Wars were a series of Wars conducted between 168-180 CE by the Roman Legions against the Marcomanii, Quadi, and Germanic Tribes, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

The Germanic Tribes along both the Rhine and the Danube were possibly under pressure from The Great Migrations of the Goths into their territories.
The Roman Empire was at the peak of its wealth and represented an opportunity to plunder.
In addition, the Antonine Plague devastated Roman manpower between 165-180 CE, leading to a perception of weakness.

In 162-165 CE, the Chatti and Chauci Tribes invade Raetia and Germania.
In 166-167 CE, 6,000 Langobardi and Lacringi Tribesmen invaded Pannonia, but were defeated by the Legio I Adiutrix from Brigetio (Szony).
In 167 CE, Dacia was invaded by the Vandals (Astingi and Lacringi) and the Sarmatian Lazyges. The Legio V Macedonica was moved into Dacia from Moesia Inferior.
In 167 CE, the Marcomanni and Victuali invaded Pannonia Inferior.

Between 165-180 CE, the Antonine Plague severely weakened Marcus Aurelius ability to respond to the German Invasions.

In 168 CE, Marcus Aurelius and his brother and co-Emperor Lucius Verus, launched a Spring Offensive, basing themselves in Aquileia.
They raised two new Legions, Legio II Italica Pia and Legio III Italica and marched across the Alps to Carnuntum. As the Legions approached, the Germanic Tribes returned across the Danube without a fight. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus returned to Aquileia where Lucius Verus died.
Then in 169 CE the Lazyges invaded Moesia Inferior.
Marcus Aurelius and his son-in-Law set out from Rome in 169 CE, to attack the Germanic Tribes.
However, a huge Germanic invasion force bypassed his army and headed for Italia.

In c. 170 CE, the Marcomanni under King Ballomar defeated 20,000 Roman Legionaries near Carnuntum, and destroyed Noricum.
He then invaded Italy, for the first time since the Cimbri and Teutones in 101 BCE, destroyed Opitergium (Oderzo) and besieged Aquileia, causing great concern on the streets of Rome.

Claudius Pompeianus was put in charge of opposing Ballomar. He first fortified all the Roads into Italy and increased the resources of the Classis Pannonica (Danubian Navy). He marched to Aquileia and relieved it, evicting the Marcomanni from Italy by 171 CE.
Meanwhile Peace Treaties were signed with the Quadi and Lazyges, whilst the Hasdingi Vandals and Lacringi became Allies of Rome.

Then in 172 CE the Roman Legions crossed the Danube and defeated the Marcomanni, the Naristi and the Cotini.
Marcus Aurelius was given the Title ‘Germanicus’ and coins were inscribed with ‘Germania Capta’ (Germany subjugated)
173 CE The Quadi were defeated.
173 CE The Chatti and the Hermunduri invaded Germania Inferior and Germania Superior, but were defeated by the Rhine Legions.
173 CE The Chauci attacked the coastline of Gallia Belgica.
174 CE The Quadi were finally subjugated by Roman Legions. They were then conscripted into the Roman Army as Roman Auxiliaries, whilst fortresses were constructed throughout their country.
175 CE The Lazyges wer also subjugated. They had to provide 8,000 Auxiliary Cavalry, most of whom went to Britannia.
Marcus Aurelius received the Title ‘Sarmaticus’
175 CE When the Revolt of Avidius Cassius in Syria and Egypt broke out, Marcus Aurelius took his new German Auxiliaries east and suppressed the Rebellion.
176 CE 23 Dec Marcus Aurelius celebrated a Roman Triumph in Rome after 8 years absence, for his ‘De Germanis’ and ‘De Sarmatis’ Titles, and erected the Marcus Aurelius Column.

177 CE The Quadi rebelled.
178 CE Marcus Aurelius quelled the Marcomanni using Carnuntum as his Base. The Quadi were then pursued and defeated at the Battle of Laugaricio (Slovakia)
180 CE 17 March Commodus became Roman Emperor after Marcus Aurelius died. He negotiated Peace Treaties with the Marcomanni and Quadi and returned to Rome.
180-182 CE The Lazyges, the Buri and a Dacian Tribe were all defeated in separate wars.
182 CE Commodus received the Title ‘Germanicus Maximus’

The Marcomannic Wars re-defined the Rhine and Danube to become heavily fortified Frontier Zones.
The Wars were a taste of the future Germanic Invasions to come over the three succeeding centuries, which ultimately succeeded in collapsing the Western Roman Empire.

Aquileia