Battle of Strasbourg (Argentoratum)
Near Strasbourg (Roman Argentoratum), Alsace, France
What happened
A Roman army under Julian, the Caesar (junior emperor) in Gaul, fought a large Alamanni army led by King Chnodomar. The Alamanni, a Germanic people, had crossed the Rhine and gathered a large force near Strasbourg, demanding that the Romans leave Alsace. Julian attacked with a smaller but well-trained army. The Roman cavalry was pushed back at first, but the infantry held, pressed in from the sides and broke the Alamanni line; Chnodomar was captured trying to escape by boat.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended years in which raiders controlled much of Roman Gaul. Julian could go on the attack and restore the Rhine frontier.
What came next
Julian crossed the Rhine and forced Alamanni kings to submit, then rebuilt forts along the river. His troops proclaimed him emperor in 360, and he became sole emperor in 361.
Did you know?
Chnodomar hid soldiers in the fields of standing wheat to ambush the Roman horsemen, a trick that nearly worked.
Timeline
- 6 November 355Julian is made Caesar in the West.
- 357Julian wins at Strasbourg.
- 359Julian restores forts on the Rhine, including Bonn and Bingen.
- 361Julian becomes sole emperor.
- 26 June 363Julian dies on campaign in Mesopotamia.