After signing the peace treaty at Dardanos, Sulla returned to Italy at the head of his battle-hardened army with the intention of confronting his political opponents, the Populares. They were led by Gaius Marius the Younger and by Gnaeus Papirius Carbo. Sulla therefore invaded Italia in 83 BC, routing various Populares armies. Encamping for the winter, both sides made preparations to continue the fighting with the start of the Spring war season when the war became intensified and bloody.
The battleedit
According to historical accounts, one night in April, Sulla had a dream that Gaius Marius told his son, Gaius Marius the Younger, that he should not give battle to Sulla's forces the following day. Encouraged by this premonition, Sulla decided to immediately give combat and called on Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella, who was encamped nearby. Dolabella's army was exhausted from marching in an intense rainstorm and the military tribunes had ordered that the army make camp rather than give battle. Emboldened by the enemy's lack of offensive action, Gaius Marius decided to attack thinking he would be able to surprise the Optimates and win the day. Sulla's veterans simply stuck their pila into the ground to create a makeshift barricade, drew their swords, formed battle lines and counter-attacked. The Sullans' counter-attack put the Marians on the defensive, eventually, their left began to waver and either slowly or speedily (the accounts differ) they were driven back. In the end five cohorts of foot and two of horse deserted to Sulla causing a general collapse and Marius' army scattered in rout. Marius lost 28,000 men (killed, captured, turned coat or fled) while Sulla claimed to have only lost 23 men.[1]
Consequencesedit
The surviving Populares forces, including Marius, took refuge at Preneste to escape the pursuing Sullan forces. Sulla arrived shortly thereafter and besieged the city. The city fell on 4 November, holding out surprisingly until all of Italy was under Sulla's direct control.[2]
Lovano, Michael (2002). The Age of Cinna: Crucible of Late Republican Rome. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Veralg. ISBN351507948-3.
Angelo Luttazzi, Sacriporto. Luogo della battaglia combattuta tra Silla ed il figlio di Mario nell’82 a.C., “Studi e Rcerche sull’Ager Signinus”, 3, Colleferro 2004.
battle, sacriportus, also, called, battle, sacriporto, took, place, april, during, sulla, second, civil, battle, pitted, optimates, under, command, lucius, cornelius, sulla, felix, against, populares, forces, commanded, gaius, marius, younger, battle, resulted. The Battle of Sacriportus also called the Battle of Sacriporto took place in April of 82 BC during Sulla s Second Civil War The battle pitted the Optimates under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix against the Populares forces commanded by Gaius Marius the Younger The battle resulted in a decisive Optimate victory Battle of SacriportusPart of Sulla s Second Civil WarMarius the Younger fleeing from PrenesteDateApril 82 BCLocationSacriporto ItaliaResultOptimate VictoryBelligerentsOptimates Sullan Faction Populares Cinna Marius Faction Commanders and leadersLucius Cornelius Sulla FelixGaius Marius the YoungerStrength40 000 Legionaries45 000 LegionariesCasualties and lossesLow 15 000 Killed Contents 1 Context 2 The battle 3 Consequences 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 5 1 1 Classic sources 5 1 2 Modern sourcesContext editMain article Sulla s Second Civil War After signing the peace treaty at Dardanos Sulla returned to Italy at the head of his battle hardened army with the intention of confronting his political opponents the Populares They were led by Gaius Marius the Younger and by Gnaeus Papirius Carbo Sulla therefore invaded Italia in 83 BC routing various Populares armies Encamping for the winter both sides made preparations to continue the fighting with the start of the Spring war season when the war became intensified and bloody The battle editAccording to historical accounts one night in April Sulla had a dream that Gaius Marius told his son Gaius Marius the Younger that he should not give battle to Sulla s forces the following day Encouraged by this premonition Sulla decided to immediately give combat and called on Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella who was encamped nearby Dolabella s army was exhausted from marching in an intense rainstorm and the military tribunes had ordered that the army make camp rather than give battle Emboldened by the enemy s lack of offensive action Gaius Marius decided to attack thinking he would be able to surprise the Optimates and win the day Sulla s veterans simply stuck their pila into the ground to create a makeshift barricade drew their swords formed battle lines and counter attacked The Sullans counter attack put the Marians on the defensive eventually their left began to waver and either slowly or speedily the accounts differ they were driven back In the end five cohorts of foot and two of horse deserted to Sulla causing a general collapse and Marius army scattered in rout Marius lost 28 000 men killed captured turned coat or fled while Sulla claimed to have only lost 23 men 1 Consequences editThe surviving Populares forces including Marius took refuge at Preneste to escape the pursuing Sullan forces Sulla arrived shortly thereafter and besieged the city The city fell on 4 November holding out surprisingly until all of Italy was under Sulla s direct control 2 See also editList of Roman wars and battlesReferences edit Lynda Telford Sulla A Dictator Reconsidered pp 170 172 Philip Matyszak Cataclysm 90 BC pp 138 139 Appian The Civil Wars 1 87 Appian The Civil Wars 1 88 Bibliography edit Classic sources edit Appian The Civil Wars Plutarch Sulla Modern sources edit Gabba Emilio 1958 Appiani bellorum civile liber primus in Italian Florence La Nouva Italia 1958 Keaveney Arthur 1982 Sulla The Last Republican 2nd Revised ed London Routledge 2005 ISBN 0203022513 Lovano Michael 2002 The Age of Cinna Crucible of Late Republican Rome Stuttgart Franz Steiner Veralg ISBN 351507948 3 Angelo Luttazzi Sacriporto Luogo della battaglia combattuta tra Silla ed il figlio di Mario nell 82 a C Studi e Rcerche sull Ager Signinus 3 Colleferro 2004 Lynda Telford 2014 Sulla A Dictator Reconsidered Pen amp Sword Military ISBN 9781783030484 Philip Matyszak 2014 Cataclysm 90 BC Pen amp Sword Military ISBN 9781848847897 nbsp This article about a battle or war of Ancient Roman history is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Sacriportus amp oldid 1192668898, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
