This article is about Roman external civil wars, revolts and rebellions. For wars and battles ancient Rome fought against external enemies, seeList of Roman external wars and battles.
From the establishment of theRoman Republic in 509 BC until the 1st century BC, there were a sparse number of civil wars. But with theCrisis of the Roman Republic (134–44 BC), a period of considerable political instability began. The cause of the late Roman Republican civil wars is contested, as is whether the wars were the cause of, or caused by, the end of the Roman Republic.[1]: 2–3 Regardless, a nearly constant stream of civil wars marked the end of the Roman Republic and heralded the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 BC. The first century of Empire was marked by widespread revolt through territoryRome had captured in the preceding centuries. The second century AD was relatively peaceful, with a limited number of revolts. Political instability returned to the Empire with theCrisis of the Third Century (235–284 AD), which saw at least 26 civil wars in just 50 years asusurpers sought the imperial throne. The fourth and fifth centuries AD were characterized by a regular rising of usurpers. The overthrow of the last Western Roman emperor in AD 476 by theGermanic kingOdoacer marked the final civil war or revolt, as well as the end of the WesternRoman Empire.
Because the study of Roman civil war has been deeply influenced by historic Roman views on civil war, not all entries on this list may be considered civil wars by modern historians. Implicit in most Roman power struggles was a propaganda battle, which impacted how the struggle would be chronicled and referred to. For example, historians Lange & Vervaet suggest that the crisis afterCaesar's assassination might be better understood as an internal emergency. Conversely, some revolts on this list may be properly considered to be civil wars, but were not referred to as such by Roman chroniclers. As Lange & Vervaet note, "civil war often refuses to speak its name."[1]: 3–5
Sulla's civil war (83–81 BC), fought between Sulla and Cinna's supporters – Sullan victory.[citation needed] Some regard the entire 88–82 BC period as one of Roman civil war.[5]
Sertorian War (80–72 BC) between Rome and the provinces ofHispania under the leadership ofQuintus Sertorius, a former supporter of Marius and Cinna – Sullan victory.
Battle of Sucro – Sertorius and Pompey clash near the banks of theSucro River. Both armies lose a wing and the battle ends in a draw.
Battle of Saguntum – Sertorius, Perperna and Hirtuleius battle with Metellus and Pompey. The battle ends in a draw, with heavy losses on both sides:Gaius Memmius and Hirtuleius die.
Siege of Clunia – Sertorius lay sieged inClunia with Metellus and Pompey outside. He eventually extricates himself, rejoins with his army, and resumes the war.
74 BC –Siege of Calgurris – Sertorius defeats a besieging Roman army at the fortress town of Calgurris.
73/72 BC –Battle of Osca – Perperna leads the Sertorians in battle against Pompey after assassinating Sertorius, nearOsca. Pompey defeats him, ending the Sertorian War.
49 BC, February –Siege of Corfinium – The siege lasted only a week, the defenders surrendered themselves to Caesar.
49 BC, 9 March – 18 March –Siege of Brundisium – Caesar tried to blockade the harbour, Pompey abandoned the city.
49 BC, June –Battle of Ilerda – Caesar's army surround Pompeian forces and cause them to surrender.
49 BC, 24 August –Battle of the Bagradas River – Caesar's general Gaius Curio is defeated in North Africa by the Pompeians under Attius Varus and KingJuba I of Numidia. Curio is killed in battle.[8]
48 BC, 10 July –Battle of Dyrrhachium – Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat by Pompey in Macedonia
48 BC, 29 July –Siege of Gomphi – The city fell in a few hours and Caesar's men were allowed to sack Gomphi.
46 BC, 6 February –Battle of Thapsus – Caesar defeats the Pompeian army of Metellus Scipio in North Africa.
45 BC, 17 March –Battle of Munda – In his last victory, Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Gnaeus Pompey the Younger in Hispania. Labienus is killed in the battle and the Younger Pompey captured and executed.
46 BC: Revolt of theBellovaci in North-Eastern Gaul – revolt suppressed
44 BC: Revolt of theAllobroges in Gaul – revolt suppressed
43 BC, 14 April –Battle of Forum Gallorum – Antony, besieging Caesar's assassin Decimus Brutus inMutina, defeats the forces of the consul Pansa, who is killed, but is then immediately defeated by the army of the other consul, Hirtius.
43 BC, 21 April:Battle of Mutina – Senatorial victory over Mark Antony.
43 BC, 21 April –Battle of Mutina – Antony is again defeated in battle by Hirtius, who is killed. Although Antony fails to capture Mutina, Decimus Brutus is murdered shortly thereafter.
42 BC, 23 October –Second Battle of Philippi – Brutus's army is decisively defeated by Antony and Octavian. Brutus escapes, but commits suicide soon after.
Perusine War (41–40 BC) between the forces of Octavian againstLucius Antonius andFulvia (the younger brother and wife of Mark Antony) – Octavian victory.
41 BC –Battle of Perugia – Mark Antony's brother Lucius Antonius and his wife Fulvia are defeated by Octavian.
6: Revolt ofJudas of Galilee against Roman taxation – revolt suppressed
Bellum Batonianum (6–9) – An alliance of tribes numbering more than 200,000 people inIllyricum rose in rebellion against Rome, but were suppressed by Roman legions led byTiberius andGermanicus.
218, 8 June:Battle of Antioch, fought between the Emperor Macrinus and his rivalElagabalus (Varius Avitus) and resulting in Macrinus' downfall and his replacement by Elagabalus.
235–284:Crisis of the Third Century – at least 26 claimants fought with each other to become emperor and emperors fought against usurpers, resulting in frequent civil war and breakawayGallic Roman (260–274) andPalmyrene Empires (270–273).
238:Year of the Six Emperors between various generals against Maximinus Thrax and after his murder.
238 –Battle of Carthage – Troops loyal to the Roman EmperorMaximinus Thrax defeat and kill his successorGordian II. AfterGordian I andGordian II are defeated by a pro-Maximinus Army following an attempt to overthrow the emperor, Maximinus is assassinated.Pupienus,Balbinus, andGordian III replace him, but the former two are assassinated within months and only Gordian III survives.
253: Usurpations ofAemilianus andValerian: EmperorsTrebonianus Gallus andVolusianus murdered by their soldiers and replaced by Aemilianus. Valerian raises the Rhine legions in revolt, while Aemilianus is killed by his own soldiers.
The Roman Empire under the Tetrarchy, with the territory of Constantius (yellow), Maximian (green), Galerius (pink), and Diocletian (purple)
The 4th century begins with civil war resulting in the ascendancy ofConstantine I, then, after his death, the progressiveChristianization of the empire, and wars withSassanid Persia and Germanic tribes, punctuated frequently with more civil wars.
432:Roman civil war of 432 when theMagister militumFlavius Aetius was defeated by the rivalMagister militum Bonifacius, who died of wounds sustained in battle soon afterwards, giving Aetius full control over the Western Empire.
461:Roman civil war of 461 –Majorian assassinated and overthrown byRicimer, civil war of the general Ricimer against the generals Aegidius, Marcellinus an Nepotianus
Jones, Jim (2013)."Roman History Timeline"(PDF). West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 2 April 2023. Retrieved2 April 2023.
Kohn, George Childs, 'Dictionary of Wars, Revised Edition' (Checkmark Books, New York, 1999)
