Battle of the Asio River (82 BC)

Battle of the Asio River

A bust of the younger Pompei Magnus

Date	March 82 BC
Location	Rome, Italy
Result	Decisive Optimate victory

Belligerents

Optimates

Populares

Commanders and leaders

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

Gaius Carrinas

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Relatively Low

High

Roman Republican Civil Wars

1st Servile 2nd Servile Social Sulla's 1st Sertorian Sulla's 2nd 3rd Servile Catilinarian conspiracy Caesar's Post-Caesarian Liberators' Sicilian Fulvia's Final

First Civil War of the Roman Republic

Mount Tifata Asio River Sacriporto Sena Gálica Saturnia Glanis River Espolecio 1 Clusium 1 Espolecio 2 Faventia Fidentia Clusium 2 Colline Gate Praeneste Neápolis Utica Norba Caesarina Nola Volterras

The Battle of the Asio River took place in March of 82 BC during the context of Sulla's Second Civil War. The battle pitted the Optimates under the command of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus against the Populares forces commanded by Gaius Carrinas. This battle marked the start of this phase in the civil war and resulted in an Optimate victory.

The Battle

After a brutal winter, fighting commenced between the two opposing forces in the spring fighting season. The Battle for the Asio River was the first battle, taking place on the banks of the river. Fighting was bloody with the Optimate infantry advancing and successfully breaking the Popular infantry who were obliged to fall back. At that moment, the Optimate cavalry commanded by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus attacked the retreating Populares inflicting high casualties.^[1]^[2]

References

↑ Appian, The Civil Wars, 1, 87.
↑ Plutarch, Pompei, 7, 6.

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 6/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.