Battle of Issus (194)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Issus was the third major battle, following the Battle of Nicaea
, in 194
between the forces of Emperor Septimus Severus and his rival, Pescennius Niger
, part of the Year of the Five Emperors
. Pescennius Niger was the Roman governor of Syria who had been acclaimed Emperor by his troops, like Severus, following the death of Pertinax
. Severus won decisively and Niger fled back to Antioch
and was later killed while attempting to flee to Parthia. The victory was attributed by historians Herodian
(Book 3) and Cassius Dio (Book 74) to the numerical advantage enjoyed by Severus (12 legion
s) compared to six or nine for Niger, even though the latter had created a large supporting force of auxiliaries from amongst the client kingdoms and allies of the East. While this concluded hostilities on the field between the two rivals for control of the East, the city of Byzantium withstood a siege by Severan troops until 196, possibly on the hope that a third rival to the principate, the governor of Britain
Clodius Albinus
, nominally allied with Niger, would defeat Severus in the West. The opposite occurred at the Battle of Lugdunum
.
The battle was fought near Issus
in Asia Minor
.
Battle of Nicaea
The Battle of Nicaea was fought in 193 between the forces of Septimus Severus and his eastern rival, Pescennius Niger. It took place at Nicaea in Asia Minor...
, in 194
194
Year 194 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Septimius and Septimius...
between the forces of Emperor Septimus Severus and his rival, Pescennius Niger
Pescennius Niger
Pescennius Niger was a Roman usurper from 193 to 194 during the Year of the Five Emperors. He claimed the imperial throne in response to the murder of Pertinax and the elevation of Didius Julianus, but was defeated by a rival claimant, Septimius Severus and killed while attempting to flee from...
, part of the Year of the Five Emperors
Year of the Five Emperors
The Year of the Five Emperors refers to the year 193 AD, in which there were five claimants for the title of Roman Emperor. The five were Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus....
. Pescennius Niger was the Roman governor of Syria who had been acclaimed Emperor by his troops, like Severus, following the death of Pertinax
Pertinax
Pertinax , was Roman Emperor for three months in 193. He is known as the first emperor of the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. A high ranking military and Senatorial figure, he tried to restore discipline in the Praetorian Guards, whereupon they rebelled and killed him...
. Severus won decisively and Niger fled back to Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
and was later killed while attempting to flee to Parthia. The victory was attributed by historians Herodian
Herodian
Herodian or Herodianus of Syria was a minor Roman civil servant who wrote a colourful history in Greek titled History of the Empire from the Death of Marcus in eight books covering the years 180 to 238. His work is not entirely reliable although his relatively unbiased account of Elagabalus is...
(Book 3) and Cassius Dio (Book 74) to the numerical advantage enjoyed by Severus (12 legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
s) compared to six or nine for Niger, even though the latter had created a large supporting force of auxiliaries from amongst the client kingdoms and allies of the East. While this concluded hostilities on the field between the two rivals for control of the East, the city of Byzantium withstood a siege by Severan troops until 196, possibly on the hope that a third rival to the principate, the governor of Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
Clodius Albinus
Clodius Albinus
Clodius Albinus was a Roman usurper proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain and Hispania upon the murder of Pertinax in 193.-Life:...
, nominally allied with Niger, would defeat Severus in the West. The opposite occurred at the Battle of Lugdunum
Battle of Lugdunum
The Battle of Lugdunum, also called the Battle of Lyon, was fought on 19 February 197 at Lugdunum , between the armies of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and of the Roman usurper Clodius Albinus...
.
The battle was fought near Issus
Issus (town)
Issus is an ancient settlement on the strategic coastal plain straddling the small Pinarus river below the navigationally difficult inland mountains towering above to the east in the Turkish Province of Hatay, near the border with Syria...
in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
.