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Ancient Rome, a state engaged in intense territorial expansion, fought countless wars over the centuries. Well-trained and equipped Roman troops, led by outstanding strategists, were capable of defeating even much larger opposing armies. However, there were also painful defeats, such as the defeat at Cannae and the catastrophe in the Teutoburg Forest.
Rome confirmed its military might as early as the beginning of the 2nd century BCE, defeating the Macedonian army at Cynoscephalae in Thessaly in 197 BCE. Seven years later, at Magnesia in Asia Minor, Roman legions defeated the Seleucid forces – one of the greatest powers of the Hellenistic world – proving themselves to be the superior army in the region. The crisis of Roman military power began to become apparent in the 3rd century CE; As a consequence, the process of “Germanization” of the army and the decline in its combat value contributed to the decline of both the army and the Roman state itself.
(September 52 BCE)
Battle of Alesia (52 BCE) was further evidence that Julius Caesar was an outstanding commander. In Alesia, he had to face the simultaneous attacks of the besieged troops of Vercingetorix and the army of Gauls, coming to their rescue. The actions of the legions near Alesia constitute the largest siege operation in antiquity.
(June 53 BCE)
Battle of Carrhae (53 BCE) was one of the greatest defeats suffered by Roman legions in their history. Crassus himself died on the battlefield.
(6 October 69 BCE)
Battle of Tigranocerta (69 BCE) was a clash between the Roman army led by Lucullus and the Armenians led by Tigranes II.
(86 BCE)
Battle of Chaeronea and Orchomenos (86 BCE) were another clashes in Greece, in which Roman troops defeated the Pontic army and stopped the expansion of the growing, ambitious Mithridates VI.
(30 July 101 BCE)
Battle of Vercellae was an armed clash between the legions led by Gaius Marius and the forces of the Germanic Cimbri tribe.
(102 BCE)
Battle of Aquae Sextiae (102 BCE) was a great victory for Roman troops led by consul Gaius Marius over the tribe of Teutons.
(22 June 168 BCE)
Battle of Pydna (168 BCE) was a clash between the Roman army under Emilius Paulus and the Macedonians. It prejudged the fall of Greece.
(December or January 190 BCE)
Battle of Magnesia (190 BCE) was the decisive armed clash in the war between Rome and the Seleucid Empire of Antiochus III the Great.
(191 BCE)
Battle of Thermopylae (191 BCE) was the victory of the Romans over the army of the Selucid king Antioch III. The clash took place in the legendary Thermopylae Gorge, where the Spartans defended themselves three centuries earlier.
(197 BCE)
Battle of Cynoscephalae (197 BCE) was the decisive clash between Rome and Macedonia in the Second Macedonian War.
