Battle of Vesuvius
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[edit] The Battle of Vesuvius
The Battle of Vesuvius (also known as the battle of Veseris) was fought near Mount Vesuvius in 340 BC. The battle was fought between the Romans (led by Manlius Torquatus and Publius Decius Mus) and the Latin army. This Latin War was made famous due to the execution of Titus Manlius Torquatus (at the hand of his father, consul Manlius Torquatus) and the self-sacrifice of Decius Mus. [1]
After Decius Mus charged into enemy lines and was slain, consul Manlius Torquatus led his veteran reserve against Latin lines and killed or captured nearly three fourths of the Latin army. The remaining soldiers of the Latin army fled but because the Roman loss was so great, they could not pursue their enemies. [2]
[edit] Leading up to the Battle
The Latin and Campanian armies were stationed in Capua. Since the Romans saw this as a legitimate threat, they sent in both consuls to Campania to work together. [3]
[edit] During the Battle
According to Livy, both armies arrived in the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius near the Veseris river. The consuls had ordered that no man was to leave his post to fight the enemy unless ordered to do so. However, after this order was put into motion Titus Manlius Torquatus, consul Manlius Torquatus' son, led a patrol into Latin territory and was challenged to a single combat against Geminus Maecius (a well known Tusculan warrior). T. Manlius accepted the challenge against his father's wishes and won the battle. On T. Manlius' return to camp he was arrested and then beheaded as an example of maintaining discipline. [4]
Decius Mus and Manlius Torquatus both had a dream before the final battle that the Romans would only be victorious if one of the consuls died. Decius and Manlius made a pact that which ever side of the battle opened up, then that leader would sacrifice himself in the battle. [5]
Manlius commanded that his soldiers be stationed on the right and Decius' forces on the left. Decius' wing opened and he charged into battle, immediately being killed on the front lines of the Latin army. Manlius then led his forces into battle to victory against the Latin army. [6]
[edit] References
- ^ Rikard, J. "Battle of Veseris, 340 BC". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_veseris.html. Retrieved 11/14/11.
- ^ "Heritage History: Samnite Wars". http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php?Dir=characters&FileName=decius1.php. Retrieved 11/14/11.
- ^ Rikard, J. "Battle of Veseris, 340 BC". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_veseris.html. Retrieved 11/14/11.
- ^ Rikard, J. "Battle of Veseris, 340 BC". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_veseris.html. Retrieved 11/14/11.
- ^ "Heritage History: Samnite Wars". http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php?Dir=characters&FileName=decius1.php. Retrieved 11/14/11.
- ^ Rikard, J. "Battle of Veseris, 340 BC". http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_veseris.html. Retrieved 11/14/11.
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[[ca:Batalla deln] Vesuvi]]
