Battle of Carthage (238)

Battle of Carthage
	; Portrait of Gordian II on a denarius.
Date	12 April 238[citation needed]
Location	Near Carthage
Result	Maximinus victory
Belligerents
Numidian forces loyal to Roman Emperor Maximinus Thrax	Forces of Gordian I and Gordian II
Commanders and leaders
Capelianus	Gordian II †
Strength
one legion; other veteran units	larger army of untrained militia

The Battle of Carthage was fought in 238 AD between a Roman army loyal to Emperor Maximinus Thrax and the forces of Emperors Gordian I and Gordian II.

Background[]

Gordian I and II were father and son, both supported by the Roman Senate and based in Africa Province. The battle was part of a rebellion against Emperor Maximinus Thrax started by landowners who felt they had been overly and unfairly taxed. These landowners assassinated the procurator in Thysdrus and called on Gordian I and his son Gordian II to be their emperors.^[1]

Capelianus was the governor of Numidia who had a previous grudge against Gordian I according to Herodian. Herodian says this grudge was developed after a lawsuit involving the two. Soon after being elected emperor, Gordian I sent a replacement to Numidia to replace his old enemy Capelianus. This action would eventually lead to his untimely demise.^[2]

The battle[]

Gordian I marched from Thysdrus to Carthage, where news of the rebellion was welcomed.^[3] Capelianus led the only legion in Africa, Legio III Augusta, in battle against the two emperors.^[4]

The two armies met near Carthage. Gordian II personally led his army, consisting of militiamen without military training: he was defeated and killed. Upon learning of his son's death, Gordian I committed suicide.^[3] The father and son's reign lasted a total of 28 days.^[5]

Lasting effects[]

With the death of the two Gordians the Roman senate elected two new emperors that were not popular with the public. The senate then decided to turn to the 13-year-old Gordian III to become the new Caesar.^[2]^[3]

References[]

^ Townsend, Prescott (1955). The revolution of A.D. 238: the leaders and their aims. Yale Classical Studies. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Wasson, Donald. "Gordian Emperors". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Meckler, Michael A. (26 June 2001). "Gordian I (238 A.D.)". Die Imperatoribus Romanis. Salve Regina University. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
^ Brent, Allen (2010). Cyprian and Roman Carthage. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 118. ISBN 9780521515474.
^ Levit-Tawil, Dalia (July 1992). "The Sasanian Rock Relief at Darabgird-A Re-Evaluation". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 51 (3): 161–180. doi:10.1086/373549. JSTOR 545542.

[The_Revolution_of_A.D_238-1] Townsend, Prescott (1955). The revolution of A.D. 238: the leaders and their aims. Yale Classical Studies. Retrieved 9 October 2014.

[Gordian_Emperors-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Wasson, Donald. "Gordian Emperors". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 October 2014.

[Meckler-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Meckler, Michael A. (26 June 2001). "Gordian I (238 A.D.)". Die Imperatoribus Romanis. Salve Regina University. Retrieved 1 August 2012.

[4] Brent, Allen (2010). Cyprian and Roman Carthage. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 118. ISBN 9780521515474.

[Sasanian_Rock_Relief-5] Levit-Tawil, Dalia (July 1992). "The Sasanian Rock Relief at Darabgird-A Re-Evaluation". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 51 (3): 161–180. doi:10.1086/373549. JSTOR 545542.

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