Roman Defeats - Major Roman Defeats in Battle
Alaric - Study Guide for Alaric
Alaric (c. 370-410), a Gothic chieftain, Arian Christian, and eventually, pillager of Rome, led the Goths under him out of the Balkans and into the Roman Empire where he sought land for their settlement.
Allia - Battle of the Allia
Gallic invasion of Rome in about 390 B.C. was known as the Battle of the Allia.
Marcus Licinius Crassus at Carrhae
The son of Crassus committed suicide when he faced the Parthians. Crassus (of the first triumvirate with Pompey and Caesar) was killed in fighting at Carrhae that took the lives of 20,000 Romans. Another 10,000 were captured.
Plutarch Texts: Life of Camillus
The Gallic Brennus took possession of Rome.
Publius Quinctilius Varus and the Battle in the Teutoburg Forest
One of the all-time greatest Roman losses occurred under the Emperor Augustus when Varus lost to the Germans in or around Teutoberg Forest.
Punic Wars - Battle of Cannae 216 B.C.
Hannibal's great victory at Cannae was also Rome's great defeat during the Punic Wars.
The Battle That Stopped Rome
If you're trying to understand what we know of the Teutoberg Forest disaster in A.D. 9, when three Roman legions were annihilated by German tribes, or you are looking for background on the opening scene of the movie Gladiator, Peter S. Wells' very clearly written The Battle That Stopped Rome - Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the...
Valens and the Battle of Adrianople (Hadrianopolis)
Bad intelligence gathering and the unwarranted confidence of Emperor Valens (A.D. c. 328 - A.D. 378) led to the worst Roman defeat since Hannibal's victory at the Battle of Cannae. On August 9, A.D. 378, Valens was killed and his army lost to an army of Goths led by Fritigern, whom Valens had given permission only two years earlier to settle in...
Worst Defeats in Ancient Roman History
Which were the worst defeats in Roman history? This is subjective, but here are the opinions of forum members on the worst defeats suffered by the ancient Romans in battle listed chronologically.
Decay
Why and how decay is a reason for the fall of Rome.