Battle of Carnuntum
The Battle of Carnuntum happened in spring 170 AD during the Marcomannic Wars. Germanic tribes attacked Roman provinces along the Danube, with the Marcomanni led by Ballomar and their Quadi allies. Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his adviser Pompeianus crossed the Danube to stop the raiders. The fight took place near Carnuntum in Upper Pannonia (modern-day Austria). The Romans were defeated, and about 20,000 of their soldiers were killed. Afterward, the Germans besieged Aquileia and sacked Opitergium. The main ancient source is Lucian’s Alexander, and the 20,000 figure is debated; most scholars place these events in the spring of 170 AD.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:13 (CET).