List of battles before 601
*c.
2071 BC Magh Ithe, the first recorded (mythological) battle in
Ireland (according to
Geoffrey Keating).
*c.
1500 BC,
Battle of the Ten Kings - king
Sudas defeats the invading
Puru kings in the
Punjab (the battle is both historical and legendary)
*c.
1457 BC Battle of Megiddo - Egyptian forces, led by
Thutmose III, rout the
Canaanite forces under the King of Kadesh.
*c.
1299 BC Battle of Qadesh -
Hittites of king
Muwatallis surprises
Ramesses II but he turns the tide, result is a draw
*c.
1184 BC Battle of Troy - After the ten-year Trojan War, Troy falls (mixed legendary and historic)
*c.
1100 BC Battle of Mount Gilboa - Israelites and the Philistines, King
Saul and his son
Jonathan die (biblical, mixed legendary and historic)
*
853 BC Battle of Karkar - Indecisive, Assyrian
Shalmaneser III faces a military alliance of the king of Damascus and other rulers including Tyre
*
632 BC Battle of Chengpu - Duke Wen of Jin defeats the
Chu commander
Ziyu, in the biggest battle of the
Spring and Autumn Period.
*
612 BC Battle of Nineveh -
Medes and
Scythians join to sack
Nineveh, capital of
Assyria*
609 BC Battle of Megiddo -
Necho II of
Egypt defeats and kills King
Josiah of
Judah*
605 BC Battle of Carchemish -
Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon begins reign by defeating
Necho II of Egypt
*
595 BC Battle of Bi -
Spring and Autumn Period*
588 BC Battle of An -
Spring and Autumn Period*
585 BC Battle of Halys -
Thales predicts
Eclipse,
Lydians vs.
Medians
*
575 BC Battle of Yanling -
Spring and Autumn Period*
547 BC Battle of Pteria -
Croesus and
Cyrus the Great fight to a draw
*
546 BC Battle of Thymbra -
Croesus of
Lydia is defeated by
Cyrus the Great of
Persia*
540 BC Battle of Alalia -
Carthaginian and
Etruscan fleet defeats
Phocaeans
*
539 BC or
538 BC (early October) -
Battle of Opis Cyrus the Great defeats
Nabonidus (or
Belshazzar)
*
506 BC Battle of Bai ju - Forces of
Wu under
Sun Tzu, defeat the forces of
Chu*
498 BC Battle of Ephesus - Persian victory during the Ionian revolt.
*
496 BC Battle of Lake Regillus - A legendary early Roman victory, won over either the
Etruscans or the Latins
*
494 BC Battle of Lade - defeat of the
Ionian Revolt against
Persia*
490 BC Battle of Marathon August or September.
Athens under
Miltiades defeat the punitive Persian expedition of
Darius I of Persia and
Artaphernes,
Phidippides dies after running a long distance to tell the Athenians of the victory
*
480 BC -
**
August 11 Battle of Thermopylae Persians under
Xerxes defeat
Spartans under King
Leonidas who fight to the last man
**August
Battle of Artemisium Persian fleet fights an inconclusive battle with the Greek allied fleet.
**
September 23 Battle of Salamis Greek ships under
Themistocles and
Eurybiades of
Sparta defeat Persian fleet in
Bay of Eleusis**
Battle of Himera (480 BC) The Carthaginians under Hamilcar are defeated by the Greeks of Sicily, led by
Gelo of
Syracuse.
*
479 BC -
**
August 20 Battle of Plataea End of the Persian invasion of
Greece,
Mardonius routed by
Pausanias, the Spartan commander of the Greek army
**
Battle of Mycale Greeks under
Leotychidas, King of Sparta, sailed to
Asia Minor to attack beached Persian fleet, then destroyed trapped Persian army of 60,000
**
Battle of the Cremera - The Carthaginians invade Sicily
*
474 BC Battle of Cumae The Syracusans under
Hiero I defeat the
Etruscans and end Etruscan expansion in southern Italy.
*
466 BC Battle of the Eurymedon Athenians under
Cimon defeat the Persians in a great naval battle.
*
458 BC Battle of Mons Algidus Romans under
Cincinnatus defeat the
Aequi*
457 BC -
**
Battle of Tanagra The Spartans defeat the Athenians, near Thebes
**
Battle of Oenophyta The Athenians defeat the Thebans and take control of
Boeotia*
450 BC Battle of Salamis Athenians under
Cimon defeat the Persian fleet.
*
447 BC Battle of Coronea The Athenians are driven from Boeotia
*
433 BC Battle of Sybota Athenians and Corcyreans fight Corinthians, both claim victory
*
432 BC Battle of Potidaea Athens defeats Sparta, leading to the
Peloponnesian War*
429 BC -
**
Battle of Chalcis Chalcidians and their allies defeat Athens
**
Battle of Naupactus Phormio defeats the Peloponnesian fleet.
*
427 BC -
**
Battle of Mytilene Athens puts down Mytilenian revolt
**
Battle of Plataea Sparta besieges and destroys Plataea
*
426 BC -
**
Battle of Tanagra Athenians under
Nicias defeat
Tanagra and
Thebes**
Battle of Olpae Athenians under
Demosthenes defeat the Spartansin
Aetolia*
425 BC -
**
Battle of Pylos Athenians under
Demosthenes again defeat the Spartans, this time capturing a Spartan fleet and leaving a Spartan contingent isolated on the island of
Sphacteria**
Battle of Sphacteria The Spartans on Sphacteria are captured by an operation led by
Demosthenes and
Cleon*
424 BC **
Battle of Megara Athens is defeated at
Megara**
Battle of Delium Another Athenian invasion of Boeotia is defeated
*
422 BC Battle of Amphipolis. The Spartans under
Brasidas defeat the Athenians under
Cleon. Both generals are killed.
*
418 BC Battle of Mantinea The Spartans under King
Agis II defeat the Argives, Mantineans, and Athenians.
*
415 BC Battle of Melos Athens invades
Melos*
413 BC Battle of Syracuse The Athenian expedition in Sicily, under
Nicias and
Demosthenes, is utterly destroyed.
*
411 BC -
**
Battle of Eretria Spartans defeat Athenian fleet.
**
Battle of Syme Spartans defeat Athenian fleet; Persia is drawn into the Peloponnesian War
**
Battle of Cynossema The Athenians under
Alcibiades defeat the Spartan fleet.
*
410 BC Battle of Cyzicus The
Athenian fleet, under the leadership of
Alcibiades, destroys the
Spartan fleet.
*
406 BC -
**
Battle of Notium The Spartans under
Lysander defeat a segment of the Athenian fleet.
**
Battle of Mytilene Sparta defeats Athens
**
Battle of Arginusae last
Athenian victory of
Peloponnesian War*
405 BC Battle of Aegospotami last battle in
Peloponnesian War, navy of
Athens, under
Conon is destroyed by Lysander
*
401 BC Battle of Cunaxa Cyrus the Younger revolts against
Artaxerxes II of Persia with help of ten thousand Greek mercenaries, including
Xenophon, but is defeated
*
396 BC Battle of Veii Romans complete conquest of
Etruscans*
395 BC Battle of Haliartus The Spartan general
Lysander is killed in a Spartan defeat to the Thebans
*
394 BC -
**
Battle of Nemea Spartans defeat the Thebans Athenians Argives and Corinthians.
**
Battle of Cnidus The Spartan fleet under Peisander is utterly destroyed by the Persian-Athenian fleet of
Conon**
Battle of Coronea King
Agesilaus II of Sparta defeats the Thebans.
*
390 BC Battle of the Allia The Gauls defeat the Romans, leading to the Gallic sack of Rome
*
389 BC Battle of the Elleporus Dionysius of Syracuse defeats the
Italiote League, securing his domination of Greek Southern Italy.
*
386 BC Siege of Rhegium Dionysius of Syracuse conquers the city and sells the inhabitants into slavery.
*
376 BC Battle of Naxos The Athenians under
Chabrias defeat the Spartans at sea.
*
371 BC July
Battle of Leuctra Spartans under king
Cleombrotus lose to the Thebans under
Epaminondas - Cleombrotus is killed. This ends the period of Spartan domination of Greece
*
364 BC Battle of Cynoscephalae The Thebans under
Pelopidas fight a drawn battle with
Alexander of Pherae in
Thessaly. Pelopidas is killed
*
362 BC Battle of Mantinea The Thebans and their allies, under Epaminondas, defeat the Spartans and Athenians, but Epaminondas himself is killed, ending the brief period of Theban domination
*
353 BC -
**
Battle of Volo Philip II of Macedon defeats the
Phocians in the
Third Sacred War**
Battle of Guiling*
342 BC Battle of Mount Gaurus Roman general
Marcus Valerius Corvus defeats the Samnites
*
340 BC Battle of the Crimissus Timoleon defeats the
Carthaginian invaders of
Sicily*
340 BC Siege of Byzantium by
Philip II of Macedonia*
339 BC -
Battle of Vesuvius - Romans under P. Decius Mus and T. Manlius Imperiosus defeat the rebellious Latins.
*
338 BC -
**
August 2 Battle of Chaeronea Philip of Macedon crushes Athens and Thebes in their struggle to maintain their independence
**
Battle of Trifanum Roman general T. Manlius Imperiosus decisively defeats the Latins.
*
334 BC Battle of the Granicus -
Alexander the Great defeats the Persian army in Western Asia Minor
*
333 BC Battle of Issus -
Alexander the Great defeats the main Persian army under King
Darius III in northern Syria.
*
332 BC Siege of Tyre Alexander the Great besieges the city.
*
331 BC -
**
Battle of Pandosia Alexander of Epirus, the uncle of
Alexander the Great, is defeated and killed in Italy by the
Samnites.
**
Battle of Megalopolis Antipater, Alexander's regent in Macedon and Greece, defeats the Spartans under King
Agis III**
Battle of Gaugamela October 1 Alexander the Great defeats
Darius III in Mesopotamia and conquers Persia
*
326 BC Battle of the Hydaspes Alexander defeats the Indian King
Porus*
322 BC **
Battle of Crannon Lamian War**
Battle of Abydos *
321 BC Battle of the Caudine Forks The Romans under Spurius Postumius and T. Verturius Calvinus are defeated by the
Samnites under Gaius Pontius.
*
317 BC Battle of Paraitacene Antigonus Monophthalmus vs.
Eumenes *
316 BC **
Battle of Lautulae The Romans are defeated by the Samnites.
**
Battle of Gabiene Antigonus Monophthalmus vs. Eumenes
*
312 BC Battle of Gaza Ptolemy I of Egypt vs. Demetrius I Poliorcetes
*
311 BC Battle of Himera The Carthaginian general Hamilcar defeats the tyrant
Agathocles of
Syracuse, which is then besieged.
*
310 BC Battle of Lake Vadimo The Romans defeat the
Etruscans.
*
306 BC Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (306 BC) Demetrius I Poliorcetes defeats the fleet of Menelaeus, brother of
Ptolemy I*
305 BC Battle of Bovianum The Roman consuls M. Fulvius and L. Postumius decisiviely defeat the Samnites to end the
Second Samnite War.
*
301 BC Battle of Ipsus Antigonus Monophthalmus is defeated and killed by
Seleucus and
Lysimachus*
298 BC Battle of Camerinum - The Samnites defeat the Romans under
Lucius Cornelius Scipio in the first battle of the
Third Samnite War.
*
295 BC Battle of Sentinum - The Romans under Fabius Rullianus and Publius Decimus Mus defeat the Samnites and their Etruscan and Gallic allies, forcing the Etruscans, Gauls, and Umbrians to make peace
*
293 BC Battle of Aquilonia - The Romans decisively defeat the Samnites.
*
285 BC Battle of Arretium A Roman army under Lucius Caecilius is destroyed by the Gauls
*
283 BC Battle of Lake Vadimo A Roman army under P. Cornelius Dolabello defeats the Etruscans and Gauls.
*
282 BC Battle of Populonia Etruscan resistance to Roman domination of Italy is finally crushed.
*
281 BC Battle of Corupedium - Last battle in the wars of the
Diadochi. Seleucus defeats and kills
Lysimachus.
*
280 BC Battle of Heraclea First engagement of Roman and Greek armies, the latter led by
Pyrrhus of Epirus, who is victorious.
*
279 BC Battle of Asculum - Pyrrhus again defeats the Romans, at a great cost.
*
275 BC Battle of Beneventum - Pyrrhus fights Rome one last time in this inconclusive draw, but elects to leave Italy afterwards.
*
269 BC -
Battle of Yanyu*
262 BC Battle of Agrigentum - Carthaginian forces under Hannibal Gisco and Hanno are defeated by the Romans, giving them control of most of Sicily.
*
260 BC -
**
Battle of Changping Army of Qin under Bai Qi routed army of Zhao and massacred 500,000 prisoners of war. Military superiority of Qin over all other states of China. Unification became a matter of time.
**
Battle of the Lipara Islands - A Roman naval force is defeated by the Carthaginians
**
Battle of Mylae - A Roman naval force under C. Duillius defeats the Carthaginian fleet, giving Rome control of the western Mediterranean.
*
258 BC -
**
Battle of Cos Naval victory of
Antigonus II Gonatas over
Ptolemy II**
Battle of Sulci Minor Roman naval victory during
First Punic War.
*
257 BC -
Battle of Tyndaris Sicilian town captured by Rome.
*
256 BC -
**
Battle of Cape Ecnomus A Carthaginian fleet under Hamilcar and Hanno is defeated in an attempt to stop a Roman invasion of Africa by Marcus Atilius Regulus.
**
Battle of Adys The Romans under Regulus defeat the Carthaginians in North Africa
*
255 BC Battle of Tunes The Carthaginians under
Xanthippus, a Greek mercenary, defeat the Romans under
Regulus, who is captured.
*
251 BC Battle of Panormus - Carthaginian forces under
Hasdrubal are defeated by the Romans under L. Caecilius Metellus.
*
249 BC Battle of Drepana -
Carthaginians under Adherbal defeat the fleet of Roman admiral
Claudius Pulcher.
*
242 BC Battle of the Aegates Islands Roman sea victory over the
Carthaginians, ending the
First Punic War*
238 BC Battle of Utica Rebellious Carthaginian mercenaries are defeated by the loyal troops of
Hamilcar Barca*
225 BC -
**
Battle of Faesulae The Romans are defeated by the Gauls of Northern Italy.
**
Battle of Telamon The Romans under Aemilius Papus and Caius Atilius Regulus defeat the Gauls.
*
222 BC -
**
Battle of Clastidium The Romans under
Marcus Claudius Marcellus defeat the Gauls.
**
Battle of Sellasia Defeat of
Cleomenes III of
Sparta by
Antigonus Doson of
Macedon and the
Achaean League*
218 BC -
**
Battle of the Ticinus (November)
Hannibal defeats the Romans under
Publius Cornelius Scipio the elder in a small cavalry fight.
**
Battle of the Trebia Hannibal defeats the Romans under
Tiberius Sempronius Longus, who had foolishly attacked.
*
217 BC -
**
Battle of Lake Trasimene (April)- In an ambush, Hannibal destroys the Roman army of
Gaius Flaminius, who is killed.
**
Battle of Raphia June 22 -
Antiochus III the Great is defeated by
Ptolemy IV*
216 BC -
**
Battle of Cannae August 2 -
Hannibal destroys the Roman army of Lucius Aemilius Paulus and Publius Terentius Varro in what is considered one of the great masterpieces of the tactical art.
**
First Battle of Nola The Roman general
Marcus Claudius Marcellus holds off an attack by Hannibal.
*
215 BC Second Battle of Nola Marcellus again repulses an attack by Hannibal.
*
214 BC Third Battle of Nola Marcellus fights an inconclusive battle with Hannibal.
*
212 BC -
**
Siege of Syracuse (212 BC) After two years of siege, Roman general
Marcellus finally captures the city, which had rebelled against Rome. Despite Marcellus' orders,
Archimedes is killed by Roman soldiers.
**
First Battle of Capua Hannibal defeats the consuls Q. Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius, but the Roman army escapes
**
Battle of the Silarus Hannibal destroys the army of the Roman praetor M. Centenius Penula.
**
Battle of Herdonia Hannibal destroys the Roman army of the praetor Gnaeus Fulvius.
*
211 BC -
**
Battle of the Upper Baetis Publius and
Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio are killed in battle with the Carthaginians under Hannibal's brother
Hasdrubal Barca**
Second Battle of Capua Hannibal is unable to break the Roman siege of the city.
*
210 BC -
**
Second Battle of Herdonia Hannibal destroys the Roman army of Fulvius Centumalus, who is killed
**
Battle of Numistro Hannibal defeats Marcellus once more
*
209 BC -
**
First Battle of Lamia Philip V of Macedon defeats an Aetolian force under Phyrrhias.
**
Second Battle of Lamia Philip V of Macedon again defeats Phyrrhias.
**
Battle of the Arius Antiochus III defeats the
Parthians
**
Battle of Asculum Hannibal once again defeats Marcellus, in an indecisive battle
*
208 BC Battle of Baecula The Romans in Spain under
P. Cornelius Scipio the Younger defeat
Hasdrubal Barca*
207 BC -
**
Battle of Grumentum The Roman general
Gaius Claudius Nero fights an indecisive battle with Hannibal, then escapes north to confront Hannibal's brother
Hasdrubal Barca, who has invaded Italy
**
Battle of Julu -
Xiang Yu destroys the main
Qin army for control of
China**
Battle of the Metaurus - Hasdrubal is defeated and killed by Nero's Roman army.
**
Battle of Mantinea Philopoemen of the
Achaean League defeats the
Spartans under
Machanidas, who is killed
*
206 BC Battle of Ilipa Scipio again decisively defeats the remaining Carthaginian forces in Spain.
*
205 BC -
**
Battle of Jingxing -
Han Xin, with an army of 30,000 levies, defeats a numerically larger army of the
Zhao near
Jingxing (
Jing Gorge)
**
Battle of Tao River -
Han Xin, positioning his army with a river behind them to make them fight to the death, defeats a Zhao army, killing
Chen Yu and capturing
Zhao Xie, the Prince of Zhao.
*
204 BC -
**
Battle of Crotona - Hannibal fights a drawn battle against the Roman general Sempronius in Southern Italy.
**
Battle of Wei River -
Han Xin defeats a joint Qi and Western Chu army by building a temporary dam, luring his enemies into the river, and opening the dam to drown them.
*
203 BC Battle of Bagbrades The Romans under Scipio defeat the Carthaginian army of
Hasdrubal Gisco and
Syphax. Hannibal is sent to return to Africa.
*
202 BC Battle of Zama October 19 -
Scipio Africanus Major decisively defeats
Hannibal in North Africa, ending the
Second Punic War*
201 BC Battle of Chios Philip V of Macedon is defeated at sea by the Egyptians, Rhodians, and Pergamese
*
200 BC Battle of Cremona Roman forces defeat the Gauls of
Cisalpine Gaul*
198 BC -
**
Battle of Panium Antiochus III the Great secures the conquest of Syria and Palestine from Egypt with this victory
**
Battle of the Aous Roman forces under
Titus Quinctius Flamininus defeat the Macedonians under
Philip V*
197 BC Battle of Cynoscephalae Romans under Flamininus decisively defeats Philip in Thessaly
*
194 BC -
**
Battle of Mutina Roman victory over the Gauls
**
Battle of Gythium With some Roman assistance,
Philopoemen of the
Achaean League defeats the
Spartans under
Nabis*
191 BC Battle of Thermopylae Romans under
Manius Acilius Glabrio defeat
Antiochus III the Great and force him to evacuate Greece
*
190 BC -
**
Battle of the Eurymedon Roman forces under
Lucius Aemilius Regillus defeat a Seleucid fleet commanded by
Hannibal, fighting his last battle.
**
Battle of Myonessus Another Seleucid fleet is defeated by the Romans
**
Battle of Magnesia (December) (near Smyrna) Romans under
Lucius Cornelius Scipio and his brother
Scipio Africanus Major defeat
Antiochus III the Great in the decisive victory of the war.
*
171 BC Battle of Callicinus Perseus of Macedon defeats a Roman army under Publius Licinius Crassus.
*
168 BC Battle of Pydna June 22 - Romans under
Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus defeat and capture Macedonian King Perseus, ending the
Third Macedonian War*
166 BC -
**
Battle of Beth Horon The Jewish rebel leader
Judas Maccabaeus defeats the Seleucids.
**
Battle of Emmaus Judas Maccabeus again defeats the Seleucids
*
165 BC Battle of Beth Zur Another victory of Judas Maccabaeus over the Seleucids, leading to the recapture of
Jerusalem by the rebels
*
164 BC Battle of Beth Zachariah The Seleucid regent Lysias defeats the Jewish rebels
*
161 BC -
**
Battle of Adasa In his last victory, Judas Maccabaeus defeats the Seleucid general Nicanor.
**
Battle of Elasa Jewish leader
Judas Maccabaeus is defeated and killed by the Selucid army of Bacchides
*
148 BC Battle of Pydna - The forces of the Macedonian pretender
Andriscus are defeated by the Romans under
Quintus Caecilius Metellus in the decisive engagement of the
Fourth Macedonian War*
146 BC -
**
Battle of Carthage (c.149 BC) ends -
Scipio Africanus Minor captures and destroys Carthage, ending the
Third Punic War**
Battle of Corinth - The Romans under
Lucius Mummius defeat the Achaean League forces of
Critolaus, who is killed. Greece comes under direct Roman rule.
*
145 BC Battle of Antioch Ptolemy VI Philometor defeats the Seleucid usurper
Alexander Balas, but is killed in the fighting
*
129 BC Battle of Ecbatana The
Seleucid King
Antiochus VII Sidetes is defeated and killed by the Parthians under
Phraates II, ending any pretense of Seleucid control over Media or Mesopotamia.
*
112 BC Battle of Noreia Cimbrian victory during
Cimbrian War.
*
108 BC Battle of the Muthul Roman forces under Caecilius Metellus defeat the forces of
Jugurtha of
Numidia*
105 BC Battle of Arausio October 6 -
Cimbri inflict a major defeat on the Roman army of
Gnaeus Mallius Maximus*
102 BC Battle of Aquae Sextae The Romans under Gaius
Marius defeat
Teutons*
101 BC Battle of Vercellae The Romans under Marius defeat the
Cimbri, who are entirely annihilated.
*
89 BC -
**
Battle of Fucine Lake Roman forces under Lucius Porcius Cato are defeated by the Italian rebels in the
Social War**
Battle of Asculum The Roman army of C. Pompeius Strabo decisively defeats the rebels in the Social War.
*
88 BC -
**
Battle of the River Amnias Mithridatic forces defeat
Nicomedes IV of Bithynia.
**
Battle of Mount Scorobas Mithridatic forces under
Archelaus defeat the Romans under
Manius Aquilius.
*
86 BC -
**
Battle of Tenedos Naval victory for
Lucius Licinius Lucullus during the First Mithridatic War.
**
Battle of Chaeronea The Roman forces of
Lucius Cornelius Sulla defeat the Pontic forces of Archelaus in the
First Mithridatic War*
85 BC Battle of Orchomenus Sulla again defeats Archelaus in the decisive battle of the First Mithridatic War.
*
83 BC Battle of Mount Tifata Sulla defeats the popular forces of Caius Norbanus in the First Roman Civil War.
*
82 BC Battle of the Colline Gate (November) -
Sulla defeats
Samnites allied to the popular party in Rome in the decisive battle of the Civil War.
*
80 BC Battle of the Baetis River Rebel forces under Quintus
Sertorius defeat the legal Roman forces of Lucius Fulfidias in Spain.
*
74 BC Battle of Cyzicus Roman forces under
Lucius Lucullus defeat the forces of
Mithridates VI of
Pontus*
72 BC Battle of Cabira Lucullus again defeats Mithridates, overrunning
Pontus*
69 BC Battle of Tigranocerta Lucullus defeats the army of
Tigranes II of Armenia, who was harboring his father-in-law Mithridates VI of Pontus
*
68 BC Battle of Artaxata Lucullus again defeats Tigranes.
*
66 BC Battle of the Lycus Pompey the Great decisively defeats Mithridates VI, effectively ending the
Third Mithridatic War*
62 BC Battle of Pistoria (January) - The forces of the conspirator
Catiline are defeated by the loyal Roman armies under Gaius Antonius.
*
58 BC -
**
Battle of the Arar (Saone) (June) -
Caesar defeats the migrating
Helvetii **
Battle of Bibracte (July) - Caesar again defeats the Helvetii, this time decisively.
**September Caesar decisively defeats the forces of the
Germanic chieftain Ariovistus near modern
Belfort*
57 BC -
**
Battle of the Axona (Aisne) Caesar defeats the forces of the
Belgae under King Galba of Suessiones.
**
Battle of the Sabis (Sambre) Caesar defeats the Nervii.
**
Battle of Octodurus*
53 BC Battle of Carrhae The Roman
Triumvir Crassus is defeated and killed by the
Parthians
*
52 BC **
Battle of Gergovia Caesar is defeated by
Vercingetorix**
Battle of Alesia Caesar defeats the Gallic rebel
Vercingetorix, completing the Roman conquest of Transalpine Gaul.
*
49 BC Battle of the Bagradas River August 24 - Caesar's general Gaius Curio is defeated in North Africa by the Pompeians under Attius Varus and King
Juba I of Numidia. Curio commits suicide.
*
48 BC -
**
Battle of Dyrrhachium July 10 Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia
**
Battle of Pharsalus August 9 Caesar decisively defeats
Pompey, who flees to Egypt
*
47 BC -
**February
Battle of the Nile Caesar defeats the forces of the Egyptian king
Ptolemy XIII**May
Battle of Zela Caesar defeats
Pharnaces II of
Pontus. This is the battle where he famously said
Veni, vidi, vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered.)
*
46 BC -
**
Battle of Ruspina January 4 - Caesar loses perhaps as much as a third of his army to
Titus Labienus.
**
Battle of Thapsus February 6 - Caesar defeats the Pompeian army of Metellus Scipio in North Africa.
*
45 BC Battle of Munda March 17 - In his last victory, Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Gnaeus Pompey the Younger in Spain. Labienus is killed in the battle and the Younger Pompey captured and executed.
*
43 BC -
**
Battle of Forum Gallorum April 14 - Antony, besieging Caesar's assassin Decimus Brutus in
Mutina, defeats the forces of the consul Pansa, who is killed, but is then immediately defeated by the army of the other consul, Hirtius
**
Battle of Mutina April 21 - Antony is again defeated in battle by Hirtius, who is killed. Although Antony fails to capture Mutina, Decimus Brutus is murdered shortly thereafter.
*
42 BC -
**
First Battle of Philippi October 3 - The
Triumvirs
Marc Antony and
Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's assassins
Marcus Brutus and
Cassius. Although Brutus defeats Octavian, Antony defeats Cassius, who commits suicide.
**
Second Battle of Philippi October 23 - Brutus's army is decisively defeated by Antony and Octavian. Brutus escapes, but commits suicide soon after.
*
40 BC Battle of Perugia Marc Antony's brother Lucius Antonius and his wife Fulvia are defeated by Octavian. Fulvian is exiled.
*
36 BC Battle of Naulochus Octavian's fleet, under the command of
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa defeats the forces of the rebel
Pompey.
*
31 BC Battle of Actium September 2 -
Octavian decisively defeats Antony and
Cleopatra in a naval battle near Greece
*
30 BC Battle of Alexandria July 31 -
Marc Antony achieves a minor victory over
Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserts, leading to his suicide.
*
11 BC Battle of the Lupia River Roman forces under
Augustus's stepson
Drusus win a victory in Germany.
*
9 September
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest The German leader
Arminius defeats the Roman legions of
Publius Quinctilius Varus*
16 Battle of the Weser River Legions under
Germanicus defeat German tribes of
Arminius*
24 June
Battle of Kunyang After being sieged for 2 months, 9000 insurgents under Liu Xiu defeat 450,000 of
Wang Mang's troops, ushering in the fall of Wang Mang and restoration of
Han Dynasty.
*
43 Battle of the Medway Claudius and general
Aulus Plautius defeat a confederation of British
Celtic tribes.
Roman invasion of Britain begins.
*
50 Battle of Caer Caradock The British chieftain
Caractacus is defeated and captured by the Romans under Ostorius Scapula.
*
61 Battle of Watling Street The uprising of the British queen
Boudica against the Romans is defeated by
Suetonius Paullinus*
62 Battle of Rhandeia Romans under Lucius Caesennius Paetus are defeated by a Parthian-Armenian army under King Tiridates of Parthia.
*
69 -
**
April 14 Battle of Bedriacum Vitellius, commander of the Rhine armies, defeats Emperor
Otho and seizes the throne.
**
October 24 Second Battle of Bedriacum Forces under Antonius Primus, the commander of the Danube armies, loyal to
Vespasian, defeat the forces of Emperor
Vitellius.
*
84 Battle of Mons Graupius. The Romans under
Agricola defeat the Caledonians.
*
101 -
Battle of Tapae -
Trajan defeats
Decebalus, ending the
Dacian Wars.
*
191 -
Battle of Jieqiao -
Yuan Shao's infantry repulses a cavalry charge by rival warlord
Gongsun Zan*
193 -
**
Battle of Cyzicus Septimius Severus, the new Emperor, defeats his eastern rival
Pescennius Niger**
Battle of Nicaea Severus again defeats Niger
*
194 Battle of Issus Severus finally defeats Niger.
*
195 Battle of Maigh Mucruimhe -
Art mac Cuinn, Irish High King, killed.
*
197 Battle of Lugdunum February 17 Emperor
Septimius Severus defeats and kills his rival
Clodius Albinus, securing full control over the Empire.
*
200 Battle of Guan Du -
Cao Cao defeats Yuan Shao's numerically superior army and secures domination of the North China plain.
*
208 -
**
Battle of Changban - Cao Cao's cavalry catch
Liu Bei's forces, disperse his army and capture most of his baggage train.
**
Battle of Red Cliffs -
War of Three Kingdoms*
218 Battle of Antioch (218) -
Varius Avitus defeats Emperor
Macrinus to claim the throne under the name Elagabalus.
*
222 Battle of Yiling - Liu Bei's invasion of Wu is repulsed by
Sun Quan's commander
Lu Xun.
*
228 Battle of Jieting - Part of the First Northern Expedition.
*
234 Battle of Wu Zhang Plains -
Sima Yi of Wei defeated.
*
238 Battle of Carthage - Troops loyal to the Roman Emperor
Maximinus Thrax defeat and kill the usurper
Gordian II.
*
243 Battle of Resaena Roman forces under
Gordian III defeat the Persians under
Shapur I. Gordian is murdered before he can exploit his victory.
*
250 Battle of Philippopolis - King Cuiva of the
Goths defeats a Roman army.
*
251 Battle of Abrittus The Goths defeat and kill the Roman Emperor
Trajan Decius*
260 Battle of Edessa King
Shapur I of
Persia defeats and captures the Roman Emperor
Valerian*
268 Battle of Lake Benacus The Romans under
Claudius II defeat the
Alamanni*
269 Battle of Naissus Claudius II decisively defeats the Goths, earning the surname
Gothicus.
*
271 -
**
Battle of Placentia. The Emperor
Aurelian is defeated by the
Alemanni forces invading Italy
**
Battle of Fano Aurelian defeats the Alemanni, who begin to retreat from Italy
**
Battle of Pavia Aurelian destroys the retreating Alemanni army.
**
Battle of Immae Aurelian defeats the army of
Zenobia of
Palmyra*
272 Battle of Emesa Aurelian decisively defeats Zenobia.
*
273 Battle of Chalons Aurelian defeats the Gallic usurper
Tetricus, reestablishing central control of the whole empire.
*
285 Battle of the Margus The usurper
Diocletian defeats the army of the Emperor
Carinus, who is killed.
*
296 Battle of Callinicum The Romans under the Caesar
Galerius are defeated by the Persians under
Narseh.
*
298 -
**
Battle of Lingones The
Caesar Constantius Chlorus defeats the Alemanni
**
Battle of Vindonissa Constantius again defeats the Alemanni
*
312 -
**
Battle of Turin Constantine defeats forces loyal to
Maxentius.
**
Battle of Verona Constantine again defeats Maxentius.
**
October 28 Battle of Milvian Bridge Constantine defeats Maxentius and takes control of Italy.
*
313 Battle of Tzirallum In the eastern part of the Empire, the forces of
Licinius defeat
Maximinus Daia.
*
314 -
October 8 Battle of Cibalae Constantine defeats Licinius
*
316 -
Battle of Mardia Constantine again defeats Licinius, who cedes
Illyricum to Constantine.
*
324 -
**
July 3 Battle of Adrianople Constantine defeats Licinius, who flees to
Byzantium**July
Battle of the Hellespont Flavius Julius
Crispus, son of Constantine defeats the naval forces of Licinius
**
September 18 Battle of Chrysopolis Constantine decisively defeats Licinius, establishing his sole control over the empire.
*
344 Battle of Singara Emperor
Constantius II fights an indecisive battle against the Persian King
Shapur II (approximate date)
*
351 Battle of Mursa Major Emperor Constantius II defeats the usurper
Magnentius*
353 Battle of Mons Seleucus Final defeat of Magnentius by Constantius II
*
356 Battle of Reims Caesar
Julian is defeated by the
Alemanni*
357 Battle of Strasbourg Julian expels the Alamanni from the
Rhineland*
359 Battle of Amida Sassanids capture
Amida from Romans
*
363 Battle of Ctesiphon Emperor Julian defeats
Shapur II outside the walls of the Persian capital, but is unable to take the city, leading to an ultimate disaster on the retreat back to Roman territory.
*
366 -
Battle of Thyatria - The army of the Roman Emperor
Valens defeats the usurper
Procopius.
*
367 Battle of Solicinium Romans under Emperor
Valentinian I defeat yet another Alemanni incursion.
*
373 Battle of the Tanais River The
Huns defeat the
Alans near the Don, beginning the great period of the Germanic migrations.
*
377 Battle of the Willows Roman troops fight an inconclusive battle against the
Visigoths under
Fritigern*
378 -
**May,
Battle of Argentovaria The Western Emperor
Gratianus is victorious over the Alamanni, yet again.
**
August 9 Battle of Adrianople The Visigoths under Fritigern defeat and kill the Eastern Emperor Valens
*
383 Battle of Feishui -
Fu Jiān is defeated by the Jin commander
Xie An. The kingdom of the
Former Qin collapses shortly thereafter.
*
388 Battle of the Save Emperor
Theodosius I defeats the usurper
Magnus Maximus.
*
394 Battle of the Frigidus September 6 The
Christian Roman Emperor
Theodosius I defeats and kills the
Pagan usurper
Eugenius and his Frankish general
Arbogast.
*
402 April 6 Battle of Pollentia Stilicho stymies the
Visigoths under
Alaric*
402 June
Battle of Verona Stilicho again defeats Alaric, who withdraws from Italy.
*
410 Sack of Rome August 24. The Visigoths under Alaric sack Rome.
*
425 The Roman general
Aëtius defeats the Visigoths under
Theodoric I.
*
432 Battle of Ravenna The Roman general
Aëtius defeats his rival
Count Boniface, who is killed.
*
436 Battle of Narbonne Aëtius again defeats the Visigoths under Theodoric I.
*
447 Battle of the Utus Attila the Hun is defeated by the East Romans in an indecisive battle
*
451 Battle of Vartanantz May - Forces of
Yazdegerd II annihilate the
Armenian army led by
Saint Vartan (hence the name of the battle)
*
451 Battle of Chalons June - Forces of the
Visigoth king
Theodoric I and Romans under
Aëtius repulse the attack of
Attila the Hun. Theodoric is killed in the battle.
*
452 Sack of Aquileia Aquileia is razed to the ground by the forces of
Attila the Hun.
*
454 Battle of Nedao A
Germanic alliance under the leadership of the
Ostrogoths and the
Gepids breaks
Hunnic power in Europe
*
486 Battle of Soissons -
Clovis I defeated
Syagrius and gained the
Domain of Soissons.
*
496 Battle of Tolbiac Franks under
Clovis I defeat
Alamanni*
500 Battle of Mons Badonicus or
Battle of Mynydd Baddon Later connected to
King Arthur*
507 Battle of Vouillé Franks under the lead of
Clovis I defeat the
Visigoths under
Alaric II*
524 -
Battle of Vézeronce June 25 Burgundians beat
Franks.
*
530 Battle of Dara Justinian's commander
Belisarius defeats
Persians in his first major battle of the campaign to regain Eastern empire
* c
530 Battle on the Ice? between
Eadgils and his uncle king
Onela of Sweden with the help of
Beowulf. This event appears in several
Norse sagas and in the Anglo-Saxon epic
Beowulf.
*
533 -
**
13 September Battle of Ad Decimum (or "Battle of Carthage (533)")
Belisarius defeats
Vandals near
Carthage**
15 December Battle of Ticameron Belisarius defeats again the Vandals near Carthage.
*
537 Battle of Camlann King Arthur killed, perhaps mythical
*
552 -
**
Battle of Taginae Narses replaces
Belisarius and defeats
Ostrogoths under
Totila**
Battle of Asfeld Longobards under king
Audoin defeat the
Gepids*
553 Battle of Mons Lactarius Narses defeats the
Ostrogoths under
Teia*
554 October,
Battle of the Volturnus Narses defeats the
Franks*
573 Battle of Arfderydd*
577 Battle of Deorham West Saxons vs
Celts in
Wiltshire,
England*
586 Battle of Solachon Byzantine Empire defeats Persia
