Rome, Nervan-Antonine Dynasty (96-193): First Marcomannic War

17 *MARCUS AURELIUS (58; r.161-180)

First Marcomannic (Germanic) War (166-175) 

Around the middle of the second century AD migrating peoples pushing down from the north began putting pressure on the Germanic and Sarmatian tribes, who then in order to survive had to cross the Danube and break into Roman territory.

In 162 the Chatti and Chauci (Germania Magna) invaded the provinces of Germania Superior and Raetia and were only finally repulsed three years later in 165. In 166/7 a large force of Langobardi and Ubii crossed the Danube to attack Pannonia province, but this invasion was apparently thrown back with relative ease. In the same year the Vandals (Asdingi and Lacringi) and the Sarmatian Iazyges invaded Dacia. To counter this incursion, Legio V Macedonica was moved from Moesia Inferior to Dacia Porolissensis, closer to the enemy.

In 168 Marcus announced that both he and Lucius were to undertake a campaign in the north. In the spring they departed, accompanied by the praetorian prefect, ⁰⁹Furius Victorinus (who probably died of the plague this year), and established their headquarters at Aquileia. 

The two emperors reorganised the defences of Italy and Illyricum, raised two new legions, II and III Italica, and then crossed the Alps into Pannonia. The approach of the imperial army to Carnuntum (Noricum province) was apparently sufficient to persuade the Marcomanni, Victuali (Vandal) and the Quadi, having crossed the Danube into the province, to withdraw. The emperors returned to Aquileia for the winter but on the way, in January 169, Lucius died, probably of the plague, and Marcus went to Rome instead to oversee the funeral.

In the autumn Marcus set out from Rome, this time with his brother-in-law ³⁵Claudius Pompeianus (68+; fl.161-193+). To the west, Ballomar (30+; fl.167-170+), the leader of the Marcomanni, had formed a coalition of Germanic tribes. He crossed the Danube and defeated a force of twenty thousand Roman soldiers near Carnuntum. Then, leaving part of his army to ravage Noricum, he led the Marcomanni and the Quadi into Italy where they razed Opitergium (=Oderzo) and besieged Aquileia. Macrinius Vindex, probably ⁰⁹Furius Victorinus’ successor, was slain during the fighting.

In 170 the Iazyges and Costoboci crossed the Danube, ravaged Thracia and descended into Achaea, where they damaged the temple of Eleusis and sacked Elateia. ³⁴Claudius Fronto, governor of Moesia Superior (166-168) and then of Dacia Apulensis (169-170), died during the fighting.

A new military command, the praetentura Italiae et Alpium, led by ⁰⁴Antistius Adventus (55+; c.120-176+), was established to safeguard the eastern Alpine passes into Italy; Pompeianus with the future emperor Helvius Pertinax (66; fl.161-193) as one of his lieutenants, was sent to drive the Marcomanni and Quadi out of Italy and Pannonia; ²⁰Valerius Maximianus (fl.170-185) to bring marines and supplies down the Danube from Noricum to reinforce the armies in Pannonia; and ³⁰Julius Vehilius Gratus Julianus (fl.170-188) to remove the Costoboci from Macedonia and Achaea.

Aquileia was relieved and by the end of 171 all the invaders had been evicted from Roman territory. A peace treaty was signed with the Quadi and the Iazyges, while the Vandal Asdingi and Lacringi tribes eventually became Roman allies.

In 172 the Romans crossed the Danube into Marcomannic territory, subjugating the Marcomanni and their allies, the Naristi (or Varistae) and the Cotini. During this campaign, the chief of the Naristi was killed by Valerius (20) Maximianus.

In 173 the Romans campaigned against the Quadi, who had broken their treaty, and subdued them. During this campaign, the so-called ‘Rain Miracle’, a storm that supposedly rescued the Roman troops, took place in enemy territory. In the same year the future emperor, ⁰⁵Didius Julianus (58/60; fl.153-193), the commander of the Rhine frontier, repelled another invasion of the Chatti and the Hermunduri, while the Chauci raided the shoreline of Gallia Belgica.

By late 174 the subjugation of the Quadi was complete, and 175, after a few victories, a treaty was signed with Zanticus, the king of the Iazyges. After this, any further plans that Marcus may have had were cut short by a rebellion in the East.In 171 while battles were being fought on the Danube, Mauri rebels in Mauretania crossed the Gibraltar Strait and raided Baetica. Marcus sent Aufidius Victorinus (fl.155-185) with troops to govern both Tarraconensis and Baetica. The designated governor of Baetica, the future emperor ⁰¹Septimius Severus (65; fl.171-211), was diverted to Sardinia. After a protracted struggle the invaders were repulsed.