570:
give the impression that he intended to build a bridge to cross there. On the wooded hillside, he secretly assembled 5,000 foot archers and a force of cavalry. He then led his cavalry over the river crossing at the narrows, and fell on the enemy unexpectedly. The surprise attack was a complete success, and the remainder of his army then crossed at the same point. With his position on the river outflanked, Licinius' withdrew his forces and took up a defensive position on higher ground. However, this gave
Constantine the initiative once more, and his attack was again successful. What followed, in the words of historian
487:
538:
585:, to move the standard to any part of the field where his troops seemed to be faltering. The appearance of this talisman emboldened his own troops and dismayed those of Licinius. Constantine, who had been slightly wounded in the thigh, halted his attack at sunset. Darkness allowed Licinius and the remains of his force to withdraw to
636:
Initially, yielding to the pleas of his sister, Constantine spared the life of his brother-in-law, but some months later he ordered his execution, thereby breaking his solemn oath. This occurred because
Licinius was suspected of treasonable actions, and the army command pressed for his execution. A
565:
in length, in a strong position between a height overlooking the town and the confluence of the Hebrus with a tributary. The two armies remained in position for a number of days before battle was finally joined, when
Constantine took the initiative by crossing the river against a well-prepared and
569:
Constantine used a ruse to get his troops across the Hebrus. Having noticed a suitable crossing point where the river narrowed and was overlooked by a wooded hillside, he ordered material and ropes to be conspicuously assembled at another place on the river, well away from his chosen crossing, to
592:
The battle was one of the largest of the 4th century. Zosimus describes
Constantine personally leading the cavalry charge which broke Licinus' defences and attributes the success of the Constantinian forces to the courage and martial prowess of Constantine himself. Other contemporary
524:
was created. The reaction of
Licinius to this incursion was overtly hostile, inducing Constantine to go on the offensive. Constantine invaded Thrace in force; his army was smaller than that of Licinius, but it contained many battle-hardened veterans and, as he had control of the
193:
474:. Licinius was soundly defeated and his army suffered heavy casualties. Constantine built up military momentum, winning further battles on land and sea, eventually leading to the final defeat of Licinius at
510:. A peace deal had been arranged, but the relationship between the two emperors remained uneasy. By 324 Constantine was ready to renew the conflict, and when his army, in pursuit of a raiding force of
186:
357:
179:
574:, was “a great massacre”. According to Zosimus, Licinius' army suffered losses of 34,000 dead, but this figure is considered an exaggeration by modern historians.
605:
Constantine's effort to start a civil conflict proved successful, as did his campaign against
Licinius. Following the battle at Adrianople, Constantine moved to
439:
1063:
350:
1073:
297:
1014:
999:
936:
886:
343:
20:
48:
1078:
1083:
985:
964:
950:
667:
280:
537:
404:
238:
379:
212:
39:
490:
The
Danubian Provinces of Rome. Adrianople (Hadrianoplis) and the Hebrus River are shown in the Province of Thrace
662:
618:
606:
562:
429:
424:
268:
263:
1058:
617:
commanded his navy in a struggle with the larger fleet of
Licinius. Following Crispus' naval victory in the
486:
394:
292:
228:
399:
319:
233:
878:
The
Breviarum Ab Urbe Condita of Eutropius: The Right Honourable Secretary of State for General Petitions
1068:
872:
626:
475:
434:
389:
368:
287:
273:
223:
133:
909:, English translation: R.T. Ridley, Zosimus: New History, Byzantina Australiensia 2, Canberra (1982).
120:
111:
561:, on which Adrianople stands, and set up his own camp. Licinius arranged his defensive line, of 200
902:
571:
243:
645:. Constantine became the first man to be master of the entire Roman world since the elevation of
314:
309:
995:
981:
960:
946:
932:
882:
876:
642:
495:
409:
248:
499:
414:
384:
253:
218:
641:, also fell victim to the emperor's anger or suspicions. He was executed in 326 and his
1047:
553:(Hadrianopolis), the major city of inland Thrace. Constantine advanced eastward from
467:
464:
609:. At this point in the campaign, control of the narrow waters separating Thrace and
593:
accounts—however, ascribe success to the discipline of the troops and
Constantine's
1053:
578:
554:
324:
171:
463:
on July 3, 324, during a Roman civil war, the second to be waged between the two
638:
520:
47:
912:
650:
610:
550:
511:
455:
74:
1029:
1016:
586:
515:
335:
646:
630:
622:
471:
138:
614:
582:
558:
542:
526:
494:
Constantine had, in a previous war (in 316), defeated Licinius at the
881:. Translated by Bird, H. W. Liverpool University Press. p. 155.
507:
503:
460:
82:
78:
613:
became of the utmost importance to both emperors. Constantine's son
536:
485:
52:
Constantine I crowned as a victorious general – 4th century cameo
339:
175:
969:
Pears, E. (1909) "The Campaign against Paganism A. D. 324",
577:
During the onslaught, Constantine directed the guard of his
625:. He met Licinius' army in the final battle of the war at
566:
positioned enemy that had a superior number of soldiers.
549:
Licinius encamped his army in a strong position near
769:
767:
765:
763:
761:
992:Constantine: Unconquered Emperor, Christian Victor
931:, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham MD.
518:, crossed into Licinius' territory, an opportune
32:
955:Lieu, S.N.C and Montserrat, D. (Ed.s) (1996),
637:year later, Constantine's nephew, the younger
973:, Vol. 24, No. 93 (Jan., 1909), pp. 1–17
751:
749:
747:
351:
187:
8:
643:name was expunged from official inscriptions
633:. Constantine won an overwhelming victory.
589:, the coast, and the safety of his fleet.
358:
344:
336:
194:
180:
172:
29:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
690:
688:
686:
684:
682:
621:, Constantine crossed with his army into
529:region, the finest-quality new recruits.
678:
545:standard, from an antique silver medal
1006:Military History of Late Rome 284–361
978:Constantine and the Christian Empire,
21:Battle of Adrianople (disambiguation)
16:Constantine I's victory over Licinius
7:
1064:Battles involving the Roman Empire
498:and conquered from him the entire
14:
1074:Battles of Constantine the Great
668:List of sieges of Constantinople
46:
19:For battles on other dates, see
203:Fourth-century Roman civil wars
1008:Pen and Sword, Barnsley Yorks.
629:, on the Asiatic shore of the
440:German and Sarmatian campaigns
1:
971:The English Historical Review
380:Civil wars of the Tetrarchy
213:Civil wars of the Tetrarchy
40:civil wars of the Tetrarchy
1100:
1079:Military history of Edirne
957:From Constantine to Julian
809:Lieu and Montserrat, p. 47
18:
376:
209:
157:
144:
127:
102:
56:
45:
37:
1084:320s in the Roman Empire
913:1814 English translation
663:Siege of Byzantium (324)
619:Battle of the Hellespont
502:, with the exception of
943:The Emperor Constantine
941:Grant, Michael (1993),
990:Stephenson, P. (2009)
597:, his 'good fortune'.
546:
491:
128:Commanders and leaders
1030:41.67000°N 26.52500°E
927:Dunstan, W.E. (2010)
557:until he came to the
540:
489:
158:Casualties and losses
134:Constantine the Great
108:Forces of Constantine
94:Constantinian victory
976:Odahl, C.M., (2004)
33:Battle of Adrianople
1026: /
1004:Syvanne, I. (2015)
994:, Quercus, London.
1035:41.67000; 26.52500
818:Odahl, pp. 179–180
773:Stephenson, p. 180
741:Zosimus, II.22.3–7
547:
492:
117:Forces of Licinius
1000:978-1-84916-002-5
937:978-0-7425-6834-1
922:Secondary sources
888:978-0-85323-208-7
703:Eutropius, p. 155
649:as co-emperor by
607:besiege Byzantium
496:Battle of Cibalae
447:
446:
333:
332:
170:
169:
98:
97:
1091:
1041:
1040:
1038:
1037:
1036:
1031:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1022:
1019:
980:Routledge 2004.
899:
897:
895:
855:
852:
846:
845:Grant, pp. 47–48
843:
837:
834:
828:
825:
819:
816:
810:
807:
801:
798:
792:
789:
783:
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771:
756:
753:
742:
739:
722:
719:
713:
710:
704:
701:
695:
692:
500:Balkan Peninsula
371:
360:
353:
346:
337:
204:
196:
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182:
173:
58:
57:
50:
30:
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1044:
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1028:
1025:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1013:
1012:
924:
893:
891:
889:
871:
868:
866:Primary sources
863:
858:
854:Dunstan, p. 436
853:
849:
844:
840:
835:
831:
826:
822:
817:
813:
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799:
795:
790:
786:
782:Syvanne, p. 270
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205:
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118:
109:
86:
51:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1097:
1095:
1087:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1059:320s conflicts
1056:
1046:
1045:
1010:
1009:
1002:
988:
974:
967:
953:
939:
923:
920:
919:
918:
917:
916:
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887:
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859:
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856:
847:
838:
829:
820:
811:
802:
793:
784:
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757:
743:
723:
714:
705:
696:
677:
675:
672:
671:
670:
665:
658:
655:
602:
599:
581:standard, the
541:Constantine's
534:
531:
514:, or possibly
483:
480:
459:was fought in
445:
444:
437:
432:
427:
422:
417:
412:
407:
405:Milvian Bridge
402:
397:
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387:
377:
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365:
363:
362:
355:
348:
340:
331:
330:
328:
327:
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301:
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295:
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277:
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271:
266:
261:
256:
251:
246:
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239:Milvian Bridge
236:
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210:
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184:
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155:
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151:
147:
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142:
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136:
130:
129:
125:
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121:Eastern Empire
115:
112:Western Empire
105:
104:
100:
99:
96:
95:
92:
88:
87:
72:
70:
66:
65:
64:July 3, 324 AD
62:
54:
53:
43:
42:
35:
34:
28:
27:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1096:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1042:
1039:
1007:
1003:
1001:
997:
993:
989:
987:
986:0-415-17485-6
983:
979:
975:
972:
968:
966:
965:0-415-09336-8
962:
958:
954:
952:
951:0-7538-0528-6
948:
944:
940:
938:
934:
930:
926:
925:
921:
915:at Wikisource
914:
911:
910:
908:
907:Historia nova
904:
901:
890:
884:
880:
879:
874:
870:
869:
865:
860:
851:
848:
842:
839:
836:Odahl, p. 160
833:
830:
827:Odahl, p. 180
824:
821:
815:
812:
806:
803:
800:Odahl, p. 178
797:
794:
788:
785:
779:
776:
770:
768:
766:
764:
762:
758:
752:
750:
748:
744:
738:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
724:
718:
715:
712:Odahl, p. 164
709:
706:
700:
697:
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
679:
673:
669:
666:
664:
661:
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588:
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560:
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552:
544:
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532:
530:
528:
523:
522:
517:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
488:
481:
479:
477:
473:
469:
468:Constantine I
466:
462:
458:
457:
442:
441:
436:
433:
431:
428:
426:
423:
421:
418:
416:
413:
411:
408:
406:
403:
401:
398:
396:
393:
391:
388:
386:
383:
382:
381:
375:
370:
369:Constantine I
361:
356:
354:
349:
347:
342:
341:
338:
326:
323:
321:
318:
316:
313:
311:
308:
307:
306:
305:
299:
298:Jewish revolt
296:
294:
293:Mons Seleucus
291:
289:
286:
285:
284:
283:
282:
275:
272:
270:
267:
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222:
220:
217:
216:
215:
214:
208:
197:
192:
190:
185:
183:
178:
177:
174:
166:34,000 killed
165:
162:
161:
156:
152:
149:
148:
143:
140:
137:
135:
132:
131:
126:
122:
116:
113:
107:
106:
101:
93:
90:
89:
84:
80:
76:
71:
68:
67:
63:
60:
59:
55:
49:
44:
41:
36:
31:
26:
22:
1069:Roman Thrace
1011:
1005:
991:
977:
970:
956:
942:
928:
906:
892:. Retrieved
877:
850:
841:
832:
823:
814:
805:
796:
787:
778:
721:Grant, p. 45
717:
708:
699:
694:Grant, p. 46
635:
604:
594:
591:
576:
568:
559:Hebrus River
555:Thessalonica
548:
519:
493:
453:
451:
438:
419:
378:
325:Gildonic War
303:
302:
279:
278:
258:
211:
103:Belligerents
38:Part of the
25:
1033: /
791:Pears, p. 6
755:Pears, p. 5
639:Licinius II
627:Chrysopolis
521:casus belli
476:Chrysopolis
435:Chrysopolis
367:Battles of
304:Late period
288:Mursa Major
274:Chrysopolis
1048:Categories
1021:26°31′30″E
1018:41°40′12″N
959:, London.
945:, London.
861:References
651:Diocletian
611:Asia Minor
551:Adrianople
516:Sarmatians
506:and Lower
482:Background
456:Adrianople
454:Battle of
425:Hellespont
420:Adrianople
264:Hellespont
259:Adrianople
75:Adrianople
873:Eutropius
601:Aftermath
595:felicitas
587:Byzantium
579:Christian
512:Visigoths
430:Byzantium
269:Byzantium
244:Tzirallum
875:(1993).
657:See also
653:in 286.
647:Maximian
631:Bosporus
623:Bithynia
527:Illyrian
472:Licinius
465:emperors
320:Frigidus
315:Poetovio
310:Thyatira
145:Strength
139:Licinius
77:(modern
69:Location
903:Zosimus
615:Crispus
583:labarum
572:Zosimus
543:labarum
410:Cibalae
395:Brescia
385:Segusio
281:350–353
249:Cibalae
229:Brescia
219:Segusio
163:Unknown
153:165,000
150:130,000
998:
984:
963:
949:
935:
894:1 July
885:
563:stades
533:Battle
508:Moesia
504:Thrace
461:Thrace
415:Mardia
400:Verona
254:Mardia
234:Verona
91:Result
83:Turkey
79:Edirne
674:Notes
390:Turin
224:Turin
73:Near
996:ISBN
982:ISBN
961:ISBN
947:ISBN
933:ISBN
929:Rome
896:2018
883:ISBN
470:and
452:The
61:Date
1054:324
1050::
905:,
760:^
746:^
726:^
681:^
478:.
81:,
898:.
359:e
352:t
345:v
195:e
188:t
181:v
123:)
119:(
114:)
110:(
85:)
23:.
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