Battle of Taenum
The Battle of Taenum (also spelled Teanum) was fought in 90 BC during the Social War. In the battle, Roman forces under the command of Lucius Julius Caesar were defeated by Italian rebel forces commanded by Marius Egnatius.[1]
Battle of Taenum | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Social War | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Republic | Italian rebels | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lucius Julius Caesar | Marius Egnatius | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
35,000 | |||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
8,000 | Unknown |
As Caesar moved his army composed of 30,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry through a defile, he was ambushed and attacked by the rebels.[1] Although many of Caesar's men were killed during the initial ambush, the Romans were able to fight their way through a frantic retreat to the town of Teanum where they took up a defensive position. It has been reported that Caesar lost 8,000 of his 35,000.[1][2][3]
This rebel victory offset their previous defeat at Acerrae.[1][4] During the battle, Caesar himself was sick. During the retreat, Caesar had to be evacuated on a litter.[1]
References
- Sampson, Gareth C. (2013-09-09). The collapse of Rome : Marius, Sulla and the first Civil War, 91-70 BC. Barnsley, South Yorkshire. ISBN 9781473826854. OCLC 893910287.
- Matyszak, Philip Cataclysm 90 BC, p. 96
- Telford, Lynda, Sulla, p. 89.
- Beesley, A. H. (2017). The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla. Pinnacle Press. ISBN 978-1374894761.