Europe 456: Battle of Placentia

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Aug–Dec 456 Second Gothic War in Spain ▲

Following Ricimer’s defeat of the Vandals at Agrigentum in the spring of 456, the Western Roman emperor Avitus sent word to King Theodoric II of the Visigoths, authorizing him to make war on the Suebi in Spain. Already antagonized by the Suebian king Rechiar’s insults and aggression, Theodoric gladly crossed the Pyrenees at the head of a combined Visigothic–Burgundian army that summer, making rapid progress across northern Spain. After decisively defeating the Suebi in battle at the Urbicus river in October, Theodoric overran the Suebian heartland of Gallaecia. There, in December, he executed Rechiar, reducing the once-powerful Suebian kingdom to a Visigothic dependency. in wikipedia

17 Sep 456 Death of Remistus ▲

In September 456 Remistus, probably both a Goth and the magister utriusque militiae of the Western Roman emperor Avitus, was killed in obscure circumstances in the palace at Classis, near Ravenna. Modern historians generally consider that this act was orchestrated by either Ricimer or the Senate as part of the beginning of a rebellion against Avitus, who was by now facing unrest in Rome. On learning of Remistus’ death, Avitus appointed Messianus as his new magister militum and dispatched Agrippinus to Gaul as the new magister militum per Gallias. At about the same time, he also pulled Gothic troops out of Rome in an attempt to placate the populous, but instead further enraged the people by taking bronze from Roman statues and friezes to pay the departing soldiers. in wikipedia

456? Battle of Aylesford ▲

After plundering much of southern Britain in the mid 450s, the Anglo-Saxons withdrew back to their settlements in the east. As they did so, the Britons, who had rallied under the Roman-descended Ambrosius Aurelianus, attacked and defeated them. According to some, Britons led by either King Vortigern or his son Vortimer then fought the Anglo-Saxons under Hengist and Horsa at Aylesford, Kent, in what became known as “the slaughter of the Saxons”. This battle saw the death of Horsa, as well as Vortigern’s brother Catigern. in wikipedia

5 Oct 456 Battle of the Urbicus ▲

In early October 456 Theodoric II and his Visigothic–Burgundian army, advancing across northern Spain, reached the Urbicus (Órbigo) river—some 22km from Asturica (Astorga)—where they were opposed for the first time by the Suebian king Rechiar and his army. The Visigoths swiftly defeated their opponents, slaughtering the Suebian rank and file, capturing others, and putting the rest to flight. Wounded in the battle, Rechiar himself narrowly escaped the field and fled west across Gallaecia. in wikipedia

17 Oct 456 Battle of Placentia ▲

Avitus’ reign as Western Roman Emperor, dependent as it was on Gallo-Roman and Visigothic troops, proved unpopular among the Senate and the Roman populace and, in around September 456, the emperor withdrew from Rome with his forces in an attempt to placate the people. Emboldened by this move, and by the departure of the Visigoths to invade Spain, the magister equitum Ricimer and the general Majorian led their armies in open revolt, almost certainly with the support of the Roman Senate. Fleeing north along the road to Gaul with his remaining loyalists, Avitus was intercepted near Placentia (Piacenza) in mid-October and deposed. Despite agreeing to become a bishop to save his own life, Avitus was nonetheless executed shortly afterwards when he was caught attempting another escape to Gaul. in wikipedia