Roman Battle Index

The expansion of Rome and eventual dominance of the western world came at a price. While many cultures came under Roman power through cultural absorption, the primary spread of this power was through its Legions and conquest.

The following Battle Index presents a great number of known battles, both victory and defeats, during the course of Roman history.

Several wars, including the conquest of Britannia and the Germanic Wars of Marcus Aurelius didn't occur as individual recorded battles, but as a great series of conflicts.

In these cases there are gaps where actual battles are not listed and it seems the empire was at peace, but skirmishes, tribal conflicts, elimination and conquests were also scattered throughout without major 'known' battles.

Also be aware that, especially in the 5th century AD where armies are listed as Roman, in many cases, under Aetius or Stlicho for example, the armies were actually made up of various 'barbarian' tribes under the command of Roman Legates.

Since the objective of these armies was the preservation of the Roman state, in whatever form it still existed in, they have been listed as Roman for the purposes of this index.

Battle Index

Please click on a heading below to view the index of battles for that era:

Early Battles

3rd Century BC

2nd Century BC

Late Republic

1st Century AD

2nd Century AD

3rd Century AD

4th Century AD

5th Century AD

Did you know...?

The Battle of Adrianople was the beginning of the end for the Roman empire.The Roman empire was weakening, and the barbarians were on the rise.

"Roman Military" Index of Pages

Legio II Augusta

Legio VI Victrix

Artillery

Battles of the Late Roman Republic

Battles of the First Century AD

Battles of the Second Century AD

Battles of the Third Century AD

Battles of the Fourth Century AD

Battles of the Fifth Century AD

Early Battles of the Roman Republic

Legionary Discipline

Legion Gear and Tactics

Legionary Decorations

Legionary Weapons and Equipment

Legions of the Roman Empire - Page 1

Legions of the Roman Empire - Page 2

Legions of the Roman Empire - Page 3

Organization of the Roman Imperial Legion

Organization of the Roman Republican Legion

Roman Republican Legion

Praetorian Guard

Roman Battle Index

Roman Battles of the Second Century BC

Roman Battles of the Third Century BC

Roman Cavalry

Roman Navy

Roman Siegecraft

Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion

by Stephen Dando-Collins

The complete history of every Imperial Roman legion and what it achieved as a fighting force, by an award-winning historian. Featuring more than 150 maps, photographs, diagrams and battle plans, Legions of Rome is an essential read for ancient history enthusiasts, military history experts and general readers alike.

The Roman Army: A History 753BC-AD476

by Patricia Southern

Around a third of a million men policed and protected the Empire, eventually guarding frontiers like Hadrian's Wall. This book covers the complete history of the Roman Army from 753 BC to AD 476, including its successes and failures against Rome's enemies such as Gauls, Carthaginians, Goths and Persians.

Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome (2nd edition)

by M. C. Bishop and J. C. Coulston

The authors of this book have gathered a wealth of evidence from all over the Roman Empire's excavated examples as well as pictorial and documentary sources to present a picture of what range of equipment would be available at any given time, what it would look like and how it would function.

The Complete Roman Army

by Adrian Goldsworthy

This book is the first to examine in detail not just the early imperial army but also the citizens' militia of the Republic and the army of the later Empire. The unprecedented scope and longevity of Roman military success is placed in the context of ordinary soldiers' daily lives, whether spent in the quiet routine of a peaceful garrison or in arduous campaign and violent combat. Key battles and tactics are described, and there are brief biographies of the great commanders.

On Roman Military Matters; A 5th Century Training Manual in Organization, Weapons and Tactics, as Practiced by the Roman Legions

by Vegetius

A 5th Century training manual for the organization, weapons and tactics of the Roman Legions. Vegetius's "De Re Militari" was the only major work of Roman military science to survive from classical times. It was widely studied in the Middle Ages and was a key source for Medieval warfare and siege tactics.