Battle of Abrittus

Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius, known as Trajan Decius or simply Decius was Roman emperor from 249 to 251. Decius is remembered for instituting the first empire-wide persecution of Christians. A distinguished politician during the reign of Philip the Arab, Decius was proclaimed emperor by his troops after putting down a rebellion in Moesia. In 249, he defeated and killed Philip near Verona and was recognized as emperor by the Senate. Aureus was struck at the Rome mint, AD 249-250. EF, lustrous. Est $15k, sold for $30k.

The Battle of Abritus occurred near Abritus (modern Razgrad) in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior in the summer of 251. It was fought between the Romans and a federation of Gothic and Scythian tribesmen under the Gothic king Cniva. The Roman army was soundly defeated, and Roman emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus, his son, were both killed in battle. It was among the worst defeats suffered by the Roman Empire against the Germanic tribes. Decius' forces initially easily defeated their opponents in the front line, but made the fatal mistake of pursuing their fleeing enemy into the swamp, where they were ambushed by waiting warriors and completely annilated.

The immense slaughter that followed marked one of the most catastrophic defeats in the history of the Roman Empire. Upwards of 10,000 Roman soldiers died. (2 legions)Decius and Herennius died in the midst of the battle, buried under the mud.

The Goths captured Decius' treasury of tons of gold and many weapons which were discovered across Gothic territories. Gallus became emperor upon Decius' death. He negotiated a poor treaty with the Goths under duress, which allowed them to keep their booty and return to their homes.