A.madgearu-Military Operations Comanded by Constantine the Great North of the Danube

MILITARY OPERATIONS COMMANDED BY CONSTANTINE THE GREAT NORTH OF THE DANUBE

A lexandru M a d g e a r u

The future emperor started his military career in Egypt, taking part at the operations against the rebellion of 297. He also fought in the Persian war in 297-298, under the command of Galerius1. For Galerius, who had his ow n plans for the future, Constantine was a danger, and he made everything to control and deter the young man w ho was considered the next caesar. For instance, he sent Constantine in a dangerous mission: to fight in one o f the w ars engaged on the Danube frontier after 301, against the Sarmats and the Carpi. Galerius started these w ars in 301 w ith an offensive against the Carpi, and other conflicts are attested in 302, 306 and 3072. In 302 he received for the third time the title Sarmaticus Maximus.

* Prezentul material reprezint varianta adugat i completat a studiului: Operaiuni militare la nord de Dunre comandate de Constantin cel Mare", n: Cruce i misiune. Sfinii mprai Constantin i Elena - promotori ai libertii religioase i aprtori ai Bisericii, I, studii culese i publicate de Emilian P o p e s c u i Mihai Ovidiu C t o i, Ed. BASILICA a Patriarhiei Romne, Bucureti, 2013, pp. 303-317.

1 A.H.M. Io n e s , J. R. M a r t in d a l e , J. M o r r is , The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. I: (A.D. 260-395), Cambridge, 1971, p. 223; Timothy D. Ba r n e s , The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine, Cambridge, 1982, pp. 39-42; Ion Ba r n e a , Octavian Il ie s c u , Constantin cel Mare, Bucureti, 1982, p. 27; Charles M a t s o n O d a h l , Constantine md the Christian Empire, London-New York, 2004, pp. 13, 62, 273.

2 M. Bizzari, G. Forni, Diploma militare del 306 D.C. rilasciato a un pretoriano di origine italiana", in: Athenaeum. Studi periodici di letteratura e storia dell'Antichit, Pavia,38 (1960), 1-2, pp. 7, 17; Adelina A r n a l d i, La successione dei cognomina devictarum gentium e le loro iterazioni nella titolatura dei primi tetrarchi", in: Rendiconti dell'Istituto Lombardo di Scienze e Lettere, Classe di letttere, 106 (1972), 1, p. 49; Nicolae G o s ta r , Les titres impriaux Dacicus Maximus et Carpicus Maximus", in: Actes de la XIIe Confrence Internationale d'tudes classiques Eirene, Bucarest, 1975, p. 647; T.D. Ba rn e s , Imperial Campaigns A.D. 285-311", in: Phoenix, 30 (1976), 2, pp. 188-193; Peter Br e n n a n , Combined legionary detachments as artillery units in Late-Roman Danubian bridgehead disposition", in: Chiron, 10 (1980), p. 564; Wolfgang K u h o f f , Diokletian und die Epoche der Tetrarchie. Das rmische Reich zwischen Krisenbewltigung und Neuafbau (284-313 n. Chr.), Frankfurt am Main, 2001, p. 225; Bill L e a d b e tte r , Galerius and the Will of Diocletian, London, New York, 2008, pp. 99, 101; Constantin C. P e to le s c u , Dacia. Un mileniu de istorie, Bucureti, 2010, p. 304.

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Alexandru Madgearu

This w as also the campaign w here Constantine fought, as it was recorded

in Origo Constantini imperatoris. The young Constantine w as involved in

mounted close combat against the Sarmats, and he w as even sent by the

emperor to open the w ay through the marshes for other soldiers:

Nam et in Sarmatas iuvenis equestris militans ferocem barbarum ca-

pillis tentis raptum ante pedes Galerii imperatoris adduxerat deinde

Galerio mittente per paludem equo ingressus suo, viam ceteris fecit

ad Sarmatas, ex quibus plurimis stratis Galerio victoriam reportavit3".

According to the history of Ioannes Zonaras, based on a lost source,

Galerius gave to Constantine the order to duel w ith the Sarmat chief (he cap

tured him)4. It is clear that Galerius wished Constantine to die. Constantine

was aware of this, and by this reason he sought refuge to his father in Bri

tannia5. In 302, Constantine was a tribune in a legio comitatensis (Lactantius

recorded that he was appointed tribune some years before 305)6. There is an

3 Excerpta Valesiana, II. 3. Recensuit Jacques M oreau. Editionem correctiorem curavit

Velizar Velkow, Leip z ig , 1968, pp . 1-2, Fontes Historiae Daco-Romanae (FHDR) II, pp . 46-

47; Eng lish trannslatio n b y J. Stev en so n , in Sam uel N. C. Lieu , D o m inic M o n tse rrat,

From Constantine to Julian: Pagan and Byzantine Views. A Source History, Lo nd o n, New

York, 2003, p. 43; M aurice Besn ier, L'empire romain de l'avnement des Svres au Concile

de Nice, Paris, 1937, pp . 337-338; P. Bren n an , Combined..., p. 565; T. D. Barnes, The Nrur

Empire..., p. 41; I. Barn e a, O. Ilie sc u , Constantin..., p p . 27-28; W. K u ho ff , Diokletian..., p.

791; C. M atso n O d ah l, Constantine..., pp . 63,273.

4 Io annes Z o naras, XII. 33 (The History of Zonaras: from Alexander Severus to the death of

Theodosius the Great, translation by Th. M. Banchich , E. N. Lane; introduction and commen

tary by Th. M. Banchich , New York, 2009, p. 69). A bout the source o f Zonaras, see Brunc

Bleckm ann, Die Chronik der Johannes Zonaras und eine Pagane Quelle zur Geschichte

Konstantins", in Historia. Zeitschrift fr Alte Geschichte, 40 (1991), 3, pp. 343-365.

5 L ac tan tiu s , De mortibus persecutorum, XXV, 1-3 (ed . J. M o reau , Paris, 1954, p.

106; L ac tan tiu s , Despre moartea persecutorilor. Trad ucere d e C. Bejan . Stud iu intro d uc

tiv , tabel cro no lo g ic , no te exp licativ e i anexe d e D. M ran u , Iai, 2011, pp . 98-99;:

Panegyricus Constantino Augusto d ictus, V II (V I), 2-4, in Pangyriques Latins, texte

tabli et trad u it p ar Ed o uard G a lle tie r , vo l. II, Paris, 1952, p p . 55-58 (In Praise of Later

Roman Emperors: The Panegyrici Latini" , intro d u ctio n, translatio n, and histo rical co m

m entary by C.E.V . N ixo n and B. Say lo r Ro d g ers, Berkeley , Lo s A ng eles, 1995, pp . 219-

223, 573-574); W. Kuho ff,, Diokletian..., pp . 796-802; C. M atso n O d ah l, Constantine...

p p . 67-69; C laire So tin e l, Info rm atio n and Po litical Po w er", in: A Companion to Late

Antiquity, ed . by Ph. Ro usseau , O xfo rd , 2009, p. 129.

6 L ac tan tiu s , XVIII, 9 (ed. J. M oreau, pp. 98, 313-314; ed. C. Bejan, pp. 82-83):

A .H.M. Jo nes, The Later Roman Empire, 284-602. A Social, Economic and Administrativ

Survey, Baltimore, 1986, vo l. I, pp. 333-334, 640.

582

indirect testimony about the area where the fights took place in Sarmatia, revealed by Peter Brennan, who remarked that the names Augustoflavianensia and Constantia given to the camp near Kuvin are both related to Constantine7. This Roman stronghold in front of Margus (Dubravica) is now destroyed8. Augustoflavianensia was recorded in Notitia Dignitatum9, while Constantia was mentioned by Priscus Partes in the relation about the peace closed with the Huns at Margus in 44010. The first name reflects the title of augustus recognized to Constantine, but this did not happen in 306, as Brennan thought. In the spring of 310, Galerius, trying to improve the relations with Constantine, recognized him as augustus, and so it was bestowed that name for the new fortress, to honor his deeds11. Therefore, the name given to the bridgehead built in front of Margus testifies that the offensive against the Sarmats was fulfilled by that crossing point. The area is indeed hill o f marshes.

A fter he had became an emperor, Constantine the Great commanded another campaign against the Sarmats in the same region, in June-July 322. The Roman army launched a counteroffensive to punish the Sarmats who attacked the camp of Campona (Ttny, south of Budapest). On 12 June 322, Constantine was at Sirmium, but at 6 July he was attested at Bononia12, w hich is not Vid in13, but the fort w ith the same name from

Military operations commanded by Constantine the Great...

7 P. Br e n n a n , Combined...", p . 565.8 Nicolae G u d ea, Despre grania de nord a provinciei Moesia I i sectorul vestic

al frontierei de nord a provinciei Dacia Ripensis de la 275 la 378 e.n.", in: Drobeta, 5, 1982, p. 106, nr. 11; Maja D o rd e v ic , Contributions to the Study of the Roman Limes in South Banat", in: Roman Limes on the Middle and Lower Danube (Cahiers des Portes de Fer, Monographies 2), P. P e tro v ic (ed.), Belgrade, 1996, pp. 128-129,132; Dorel Bo n d o c , The Roman Rule to the North of the Lower Danube during the Late Roman and Early Byzantine Period, Cluj-Napoca, 2009, pp. 37-39.

9 N o t it ia D ig n it a t u m , Pars Orientis, XLI, 2; 33, in Notitia Dignitatum accedunt notitia urbis Constantinopolitanae et laterculi provinciarum, edidit O. Seeck, Berlin, 1876, (pp. 92,93).

10 P r is c u s , frg. 2 (R. C. B l o c k l e y , The Fragmentary Classicising Historians of the Later Roman Empire: Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Priscus and Malchus, vol. II, Liverpool, 1983, p. 226/ 227; FHDR II, pp. 248-249).^

11 Alexandru M a d g e a r u , mpratul Galerius, Trgovite, 2012, pp. 78-81.12 The data were recorded in C o d e x T h e o d o s ia n u s l ib r i x v i c u m c o n s t it u t io n ib u s

SIRMONDIANIS ET LEGES NOVELLAE AD Th EODOSIANUM PERTINENTES, ediderunt Th. MOMMSENet P. M . M e y e r , Berlin, 1905, (IV. 8. 4 - Sirmium, p. 180) i O. Seeck , Regesten der Kaiser und Ppste fr die Jahre 311 bis 476 n. Chr. Vorarbeit zu einer Prosopographie der christlichen Kaiserzeit, Stuttgart, 1919, p. 172 (Bononia).

13 As considered M. Be s n ie r , L'empire romain..., p. 294; I. Ba r n e a , O. Il ie s c u , Constantin..., p. 106; Hugh E l t o n , Warfare and the military", in: The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine, N. L e n s k i (ed.), Cambridge, 2006, p. 342.

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Pannonia Secunda, now Banostor in Voivodina, the headquarters of Legic V Ioviau. That w as the crossing point, because it is know n that a bridgehead existed on the opposed bank, at Begec (Castellum Onagrinumi Commanded by the emperor, the army follow ed the enemy beyond the Danube and came back by Margus. On 26 July 322, Constantine was already at Savaria15. The existence of the new bridgehead near Kuvin in front of Margus explains w hy the army crossed back the Danube by that point. Margus as returning crossing point was mentioned by Publius Optatianus Porphyrius, a poet w ho accompanied the emperor in the campaign. The same poem recorded that a foedns w as closed with the Sarmats. They received help against the Goths, w ho w ere enemies otf Constantine because supported Licinius16. The w ar of 322 w as commemorated w ith coins w ith the legend Sarmatia devicta, issued in 323-324- -

14 Andrs M c s y , Pannonia and Upper Moesia. A History of the Middle Danube Pn vinces of the Roman Empire, London, 1974, pp. 269-270; T.D. Ba r n e s , Imperial Campaigns...", pp. 175-178, 186-188; Sndor So p r o n i , Der sptrmische Limes zwischm Esztergom und Szentendre: das Verteidigungssystem der Provinz Valeria im 4. Jahrhundert, Budapest, 1978, p. 128; P. B r e n n a n , Combined...", pp. 558, 562; Laszl Ba r k c z ; gnes Sa l a m o n , Tendenzen der strukturellen und organisatorischen nderung pannonischer Siedlungen im 5. Jahrhundert", in: Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis, Szkesfehrvar, 21,1984, p. 152; Pat So u t h e r n , Karen D ix o n , The Late Roman Arr,, London, 1996, pp. 25-27; G. Be r t k , Ripa Sarmatica: Late Roman Counterfortificatiocs on the Left Bank of the Danube", in: Roman Frontier Studies 1995. Proceedings of the X11 International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies, ed. W. Groenmann van Waaterins. Oxford, 1997, pp. 165-167; H. E l t o n , Warfare...", p. 342.

15 C o d e x Th e o d o s ia n u s , 1.1. 1 (p. 27).16 P o r p h y r iu s , Panegyricus Constantini, V I. 15-22; V II, 21 (Pu b l iu s O p t a t ia x z t -

P o r p h y r iu s , Carmina, R ec en su it e t p rae fatu s e st L. M u e l l e r , L eip z ig , 1877, p p . 9, l j T.D . Ba r n e s , Pu b liliu s O p tatian u s P o rfy riu s" , in : American Journal of Philology, 96,19~5 2, p p . 173-186; Ern e st St e in , Histoire du Bas-Empire, to m e I: De l'tat romain l'tat byzzz- tin (284-476), d itio n fran aise p ar J.-R . Pa l a n q u e , I, Paris, 1959, p . 104; A . M c s y , P rt nonia..., p p . 277-278; A . A r n a l d i , La su c cessio n e d ei c o g n o m in a d ev ic taru m g e n fc z r e le lo ro iteraz io n i n e lla tito latu ra d i C o stan tin o il G ran d e ", in : Contributi di Storia ar^cz in onore di Albino Garzetti (Pu b b lic az io n i d e ll'Istitu to d i sto ria an tica e sc ien z e ausiliaraf d e ll'U n iv e rsit d i G en o v a, 14), G en o v a, 1977, p p . 197-198; Ped ro Ba r c e l , Roms auszo^- tige Beziehungen unter der constantinischen Dynastie, R eg en sb u rg , 1981, p . 51; I. Ba r n z .O . Ilie sc u , Constantin..., p . 106; Ev an g elo s C h ry so s, V o n d er R u m u n g d er D ac ia Tr2- ian a z u r En tsteh u n g d er G o th ia" , in : Bonner Jahrbcher, 192, 1992, p . 188; N o el L en sk l The R e ig n o f C o n stan tin e " , in : The Cambridge Companion..., p . 75; M ich ae l Kuliko w sss.. Rome's Gothic Wars. From the Third Century to Alaric, C am b rid g e , 2007, p p . 81-82.

17 Patrick B r u u n , Constantine and Licinius, A. D. 313-337 (The Roman Impcrm. Coinage, VU), London, 1966, pp. 115,135, 201, 262, 466, 475.

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The eastern Sarmats and the Goths attacked the empire in 323, taking chance of the few soldiers on the limes: Gothi per neglectos limites eruperunt (the armies commanded by Licinius w ere removed from there)18. Based on a lost source, Ioannes Z onaras w rote that Constantine marched against the Sarmats and the Goths w ho were plundering Thrace19. The invaders w ere ruled by Rausimodus, called by Zosimos the king of the barbarians". He knew that the Sarmats came from Maeotis, the A zov Sea, therefore from the Bosporan kingdom. A lthough sometimes Rausimo dus is considered to be a Goth20, he was, as I already demonstrated in a paper published in 1996, the same w ith Rhadamsadios, the Sarmat king of the Bosporan kingdom, w ho ruled betw een 309 and 323, together w ith the local king Rhescuporis VI21. The same conclusion was reached independently by Vitalj M. Z ubar and Oleg Dsigovskiy22. Because it is clear that the Bosporan Sarmats were involved and that the Sarmats from Pan- nonia were then allied w ith Constantine, it results that this invasion must not be identified w ith that presented above (some historians thought that Rausiumodus led the Sarmats w ho attacked Campona)23. It is true that


18 Ex c e r p t a Va l e s ia n a , VI, 21: Gothi per neglectos limites eruperunt (ed. J. M o re au , p. 6; FHDR II, p. 46-47; trad. J. Ste v e n so n , p. 46).

19 Io a n n e s Z o n a r a s , X III. 2. 42 (transi. Th. M. Ba n c h ic h , E. N. L a n e , p. 153).20 Otto Se e c k , Rausimodus", in: Real-Encyclopdie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft,

Zweite Reihe, I (1914), col. 296; Ludwig Sc h m id t , Die Ostgermanen (Geschichte der deutschen Stmme bis zum Ausgang der Vlkenvanderung, I), Mnchen, 1969, p. 225; A.H. M . Jo n e s , J. M a r - u n d a l e , J. M o r r is , The Prosopography..., p. 762; T.D. Ba r n e s , The Victories of Constantine", in: Zeitschrift fr Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 20 (1976), p. 152; Herwig W o l f r a m , History of the Goths, Berkeley, 1988, p. 60; Everett W h e e l e r , Constantine's Gothic Treaty of 332: A Reconsideration of Eusebius VC 4.5-6", in: The Roman Frontier at the Lower Danube, 4lh-6lh Centuries. The Second International Symposium (Murighiol/Halmyris, 18-24 August 1996) (Studia Danubiana. Pars Romaniae. Series Symposia, I), Bucharest, 1998, p. 81.

21 A. M a d g e a r u , O revolt mpotriva lui Constantin cel Mare n provincia Scythia", in: Peuce, 12 (1996), p. 140; For Rhadamsadios, see Ellis H. M in n s , Scythians and Greeks. A Survey of Ancient History and Archaeology on the North Coast of the Euxinefrom the Danube to the Caucasus, Cambridge, 1913, pp. 527,609; Viktor F. G a jd u k e v ic , Das Bosporanische Reich, Berlin-Amsterdam, 1971, pp. 480-481.

22 O. D s ig o v s k iy , Constantine the Great and Rausimodus, Sarmatarum Rex", n: Analele Universitii Dunrea de Jos" Galai, Seria 19, Istorie, 6, 2007, pp. 27-31.

23 A. M c s y , Pannonia..., p. 277-278; Giovanni B r iz z i, La Vittoria Sarmatica di Constantino e la propaganda liciniana", in: Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis, 17 (1979), pp. 61-62; P. B r e n n a n , Combined...", p. 565; Emilienne D e m o u g e o t , Constantin et la D ad e " , in: E. Fr z o u l s

Alexandru Madgearu

Zosimos said that the provinces ruled by Constantine were affected by

this invasion, but he made perhaps a confusion with the previous cam

paign, not mentioned by him. On 8 June 323, the emperor was still at

Thessaloniki24, and from there he started the march to the limes, where

the barbarians were already attacking the forts. One such fortress was

besieged by Rausimodus. While the people inside defended themselves with throwing stones, the Roman army led by Constantine approaches

from the rear and encircled the enemy. Most of the invaders crossed back

the Danube, and the Roman army followed them. A battle was fought in

a place described as a hill covered with woods, where Rausimodus was

finally killed. Some of his men were colonized in the empire. Constar-

tine returned to Thessaloniki25. Unfortunately, this relation recorded by

Zosimos does not provide indications for the area where the battles were

fought, but it is clear that a wooded hill did not exist east of Campona, in

the Great Hungarian Plain between Danube and Tisza. This fact point-

instead to the northern part of Scythia Minor for the location of the be

sieged fortress, because we can guess that the wooded hill was not toe

far from the Danube. For instance Dinogetia is at around 100 km from the

nearest hill area, Vrancea.

After the victories against Rausimodus and Licinius, Constantine

the Great had enough forces to cope with an inherited problem, the secu

rity of the Danubian frontier. He continued the building activity started

by Diocletian on the northern bank of the river, west and east of the Iror.

Gates. Besides the camp of Kuvin, there are other forts erected during

Constantine the Great. A quadriburgium was built in the island Sapaja

(Zajecar, Serbia), in front of the mouths of the rivers Cara and Nera~.

p. 51; E. C h r y s o s , Von der Rumung...", pp. 189-190; Doina B e n e a , Dacia sud-vestic tr.

secolele 111-lV, Timioara, 1996, p. 57; Andrea V a d a y , Military System of the Sarmatians

in: E. I s t v n o v i t s (ed.), International Connections o f the Barbarians o f the Carpathian Basin in

the l st-5lh Centuries AD. Proceedings o f the International Conference held in 1999 in Aszd ard

Nyiregyhza, Nyiregyhza, 2001, p. 180; M. K u l i k o w s k i , Rome's Gothic Wars..., p. 81-82.

24 C o d e x I u s t i n i a n i , VII. 18. 3; VIII. 46.10 (Corpus Iuris Civilis editio stereotypa quinta.

recognovit Paulus K r u e g e r , Theodorus M o m m s e n , Rudolfus S c h o e l l , vol. II, Berlin,

1888, pp. 303, 358).

25 Z o s im o s , Historia Nova, II, 21 (Histoire nouvelle, edition et traduction par F. P a s -

c h o u d , tome I, Paris, 1971, pp. 92-93); E. S t e i n , Histoire..., p. 104; I. B a r n e a , O. I l i e s c u .

Constantin..., p. 106.

26 D. B e n e a , Dacia..., p. 73; N. G u d e a , Despre grania...", p. 107, nr. 13; M. D o r d e -

v i c , Contributions...", p. 130; D . B o n d o c , The Roman Rule..., pp. 40-42; Constantin

That was the bridgehead for the camp of Lederata. Perhaps in the same time w ith Kuvin w as built another camp at Vre. Its precise place remains unknow n, but its existence is indicated by the bricks w ith the stamps of legio VII Claudia and by many coins issued during the reign of Constantine27. The tw o cjuadriburgia built during the reign of Diocletian at Orova (Dierna)28 and Hinova were developed during the reign of Constantine29. The best know n quadriburgium from region w est of the Iron Gates w as entirely researched at Gornea. It was an outpost of the camp of Cezava (Novae). Nicolae Gudea thought that the technical constructive features are able to ascribe this camp to the age of Diocletian, but, as Doina Benea has remarked, the most ancient coins recovered from the camp are issued by Constantius II, w hich points to a later date, during the period of Constantine the Great.30 Because the camp o f Cezava-Novae was entirely restored after 31731, it was normal that its outpost was built after a short time. The fifth period o f the camp Praetorium (Mehadia) is dated during the reign of Constantine the Great. The range o f the coins found inside the camp is interrupted betw een 257 and 324, w hich means that the restoration was made after the w ar against the Sarmats in 32232. The


B je n a r u , Minor Fortifications in the Balkan-Danubian Area from Diocletian to Justinian, Cluj-Napoca, 2010, pp. 94-95.

27 M. D o r b e v ic , Contributions...", p. 132; D . B o n d o c , The Roman Rule..., pp. 43-44.28 N. G u d e a , Despre grania...", p. 107, nr. 33; D. Be n e a , Dacia..., pp. 83-89; D. B o n

d o c , The Roman Rule..., pp. 53-56; C. B je n a r u , Minor..., pp. 109-110.29 Dumitru T u d o r , Oltenia roman, Bucureti, 41978, pp. 277, 279; Miu D a v id e s c u ,

Cetatea roman de la Hinova, Bucureti, 1989; D. B e n e a , Dacia..., pp. 107-111; Ion St in g , Sur les estampilles tegulaires dcouvertes dans la fortification romaine tardive de Hinova (dp. de Mehedini)", in: Die Archologie und Geschichte der Region des Eisernen Tores zwischen 275-602 n.Chr. Kolloquium in Drobeta-Turnu Severin (2-5 November 2001), Bucureti, 2003, pp. 81-86; D. B o n d o c , The Roman Rule..., pp. 68-70; C. B je n a r u , Minor..., pp. 114-115.

30 N. G u d e a , Gornea. Aezri de epoc roman i roman trzie; Un castellum din epoca roman trzie la Cunia de Jos" . Contribuii la cercetarea limesului bnean al Dunrii n secolul al IV-lea, Reia, 1977, pp. 38-76; D. Be n e a , Dacia..., pp. 76-78; D. Bo n d o c , The Roman Rule..., pp. 47-49.

31 Miloje V a s ic , Cezava = Castrum Novae. La stratigraphie, la chronologie et les phases architectoniques", in: Akten des 14. Internationalen Limeskongresses 1986 in Carnuntum, Wien, 1990, vol. 2, p. 904.

32 Mihail M a c r e a , N. G u d e a , I. M o u , Praetorium. Castrul i aezarea roman de la Mehadia, Bucureti, 1993, pp. 30, 52, 53,115; D. Be n e a , Dacia..., pp. 97-98; D. Be n e a , Das Lager von Praetorium (Mehadia) in sptrmischer Zeit", in: Pontica, 40 (2007), pp. 339-350.

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new occupation of this camp indicates that the Roman army needed to control the Cerna valley, a way that the Sarmats from the western Banat could use. Other new forts were erected in the Constantinian period near Drobeta, at Puinei33 and Desa (in front of another large camp, Ratiaria)34, and also at Bistre35.

The most important and also surprising achievement of this offensive strategy was the building of the stone bridge that connected Oescus (Gigen) with Sucidava, a fortress on the northern bank of the Danube, erected near a ford used since a long time, as its name it testifies (in the Getic language Sue- was the word for gorge", ford", and -dava meant fortress")36. The bridge was opened at 5 July 328, in the presence of the emperor37, being represented on the gold coins issued in the same year or during the next war against the Goths, in 33238. An admirer of Trajan, Constantine decided the building of this bridge, longer than that from Drobeta, according to his will of imitatio Traiant39. If Trajan had conquered

33 Octavian T o r o pu , Romanitatea trzie i strromnii n Dacia traian sud-carpatic (sec. III-XI), Craiova, 1976, pp. 23, 26; D. Tu d o r , Oltenia..., pp. 290, 292; M. D a v id e s c u . Drobeta n secolele l-VII e.n., Craiova, 1980, p. 184; N. G u d e a , Despre grania...", p. 110, nr. 40; D. Be n e a , Dacia..., pp. 106-107; D. Bo n d o c , The Roman Rule..., pp. 67-68.

34 O . T o ro p u , Romanitatea..., pp. 21-22; D. T u d o r, Oltenia..., p. 274; Petre G herghe, Florin R id ich e, Desa, com. Desa, jud. Do lj", in: Cronica cercetrilor arheologice din Romnia. Campania 2005, Constana, 2006, pp. 149-152; Petre G h erg h e, Florin R id ich e, Desa, com. Desa, jud. Dolj", in: Cronica cercetrilor arheologice din Romnia. Campania 2006, Tul- cea, 2007, p. 144; D. B o n d o c, The Roman Rule..., p. 74.

35 D. T u d o r, Oltenia..., p. 265; Christian V ld escu , Mihail Z ah ariad e , Fortificaia roman trzie de la Bistre, judeul Dolj", in: Oltenia. Studii i comunicri, 5-6,1986, pp. 29-40; Cornel A nd o nie, Romeo A v ram , Radu B jen aru , 65 de ani de arheologie militar, Muzeul Militar Naional, Bucureti, 1994, pp. 22-23; D. Bo n d o c, The Roman Rule..., pp. 75-76.

36 Dimiter D e t s c h ew , Die thrakischen Sprachreste (sterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Philosophisch-Historische Klasse, Denkschriften; Schriften der Balkankommission, Linguistische Abteilung, 14), Wien, 1957, p. 469.

37 D. Tu d o r , Oltenia..., pp. 416-422; Petre G h e r g h e , Lucian A m o n , Noi date n legtur cu podul lui Constantin cel Mare de la Sucidava", in: Pontica, 40 (2007), pp. 359-368.

38 P. Bruun, Constantine and Licinius..., pp. 283, 331 (nr. 298); E. Demougeot, Constantin..." , pp. 106-107; Peter H eather, Goths and Romans, 332-489, Oxford, 1991, pp. 107-108; B. Bleckmann, Constantin..." , p. 39-45; tefan V asili, Pons supra Danubium cum tribus figuris. Observaii privind medalionul lui Constantin cel M are i podul de la Sucidava" , in: Cruce i misiune. Sfinii mprai Constantin i Elena - promotori ai libertii religioase i aprtori ai Bisericii, vol. I. Studii culese i publicate de Emilian Popescu i Mihai Ovidiu Ctoi, Bucureti, 2013, pp. 332-336.

39 B. B leck m an n , Constantin..., p. 51; E. W h e e le r, Constantine's..., p. 81.

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Dacia, Constantine recovered a part o f the province abandoned by Aurelian, and a bridge was the best way to immortalize his glory and ambition. A miliarium found at Sucidava mentions that a road w as built on a distance of 1000 feet from there40, but the northern limit o f the territory controlled by the empire was the earthen dyke called Brazda lui Novac de Nord. This linear fortification w as built w hen the Roman army moved south of the Danube a large number of inhabitants, in 62 AD. The other opinion about the build ing of this dyke during the age of Constantine the Great is w rong, but it is true that after 332, the extant fortification was used again as a border line betw een the territory annexed to the empire, and the free Gothia41. The recovered area was small and w ith no economic value for the empire, contrary to w hat w as the former Trajanic Dacia. Therefore, the construction was an effort too big in comparison w ith the real importance of this bridge for the military and economic relations w ith this region. Even the crossing of the Danube in the Gothic war of 367 was made by other points, more close to the pow er center of the enemy, in the Buzu region.

The recovery of the region betw een Iron Gates and the mouth of Olt river was a starting point for the extension of the control in the territory occupied by the Goths three decades ago. The opportunity was provided by an attack launched by a coalition of Tervingi Goths and Vandals ruled by Vidigoia, against the new allies of Constantine, the Sarmats from the Tisza-Danube region. This happened sometimes at the beginning of 332. Overw helmed by the invaders, the Sarmats w ere compelled to give w eapons even to those w ho w ere a kind of slaves (doidoi, was the w ord used by Eusebius o f Caesarea)42. A ccording to the foedus o f 322, the Sarmats asked help from Constantine, and the emperor sent a pow erful army, commanded by the caesar Constantinus II. He remained at Marciano- polis. The Danube w as crossed on 20 A pril 332, and the decisive battle


40 Em. P o p e s c u , Inscripiile greceti i latine din secolele IV-XIII descoperite n Romnia, Bucureti, 1976, p. 295 (nr. 278); D. Tudor, Oltenia..., p. 422.

41 A. M a d g e a r u , Istoria militar a Daciei post-romane, 275-614, Trgovite, 2011, pp. 61-63.

42 Eu seb iu s, Vita Constantini, IV, 6.1 (Eu seb iu s, Werke, I: Uber das Leben Constantins, Constantins Rede an die heilige Versammlung. Tricennatsrede an Constantin, hrsg. von I. A . H e ik e l, Leipzig, 1902, p. 119; Eu seb iu d e C e z are e a , Scrieri. Partea a doua. Viaa lui Constantin cel Mare, studiu introductiv de Emilian Po p escu , traducere i note de Radu A le x an d re sc u , Bucureti, 1991, p. 162; FHDR II, p. 16-17).

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was fought on the 12th of May, in an unknow n place. If the war region was in Sarmatia, then it is possible that the river might be crossed by Marguf and Augustofla vianensia, like in 322. Actually, nothing is know n aboir the operations in this campaign, except that an offensive was also directei to the Gothic center in the Buzu region. This could be inferred from the name Daphne given to the fortress erected later at the mouth of the Arge river. The victory commemorated was that against the Goths, and the place indicates the advance toward the Buzu region. A fter this campaigr was restored the old Roman camp from Pietroasele, located in that Gothic pow er center43. The Goths were easily defeated, and the son of king A riar- cus was took hostage44. By this action, Constantine has violated thefoedus closed by Diocletian in 296, respected by the Tervingi.45 Overw helmed by the Roman army, the Goths had no other chance than to accept another foedus. The text of the treaty was not preserved, and by this reason Everer Wheeler denied its existence. How ever, its contents could be inferred fro~ the scattered data transmitted by various sources. The Tervingi accepted to surrender (deditio), but the emperor recognized their domination over the regions settled by them in Moldavia and Walachia (Gothia), w ith the condition of respecting peace. They preserved their ow n rulership and they were obliged to provide w arriors for the Roman army, for w hom they w il receive money. The trade was free along the entire Danubian frontier4*.

43 For the location of Daphne and the recovery of the Pietroasele camp, ~ee A. M a d g e a r u , Istoria militar..., p p . 51-55, 58, 60, 64, 73.

44 CoNsuLARiA Constantinopolitana, a. 332 (ed Theodor M o m m s e n , Monumat Germaniae Historica, Auctores Antiquissimi, tomus IX/ 1, Berlin, 1892, p. 234; R.W. B'ji- GESS, The Chronicle of Hydatius and the Consularia Constantinopolitana: Two Contemporan Accounts of the Final Years of the Roman Empire, Oxford, 1993, p. 236): Victi Gothi ab ex erce Romano in terris Sarmatarum die XII k. Mai; Ex c e r p t a V a l e s ia n a , V I, 31,34 (ed. J. M o r e a e p. 9; FHDR II, p. 48/ 49; trad. J. St e v e n s o n , p. 48); E. St e in , Histoire..., p. 129; L. Sc h m id x Die Ostgermanen...., p. 227; H. W o l f r a m , History..., p. 61; E. W h e e l e r , Constantine's ' pp. 82-83; A. V a d a y , Military...", p. 180; M . K u l ik o w s k i, Rome's Gothic Wars..., p. 84.

45 P. B r e n n a n , Diocletian and the Goths", in: Phoenix, 38 (1984), 2, p. 146.46 L. Sch m id t, Die Ostgermanen...., p p . 227-228; E. C h ry so s, G o th ia R o m an a. Zzr

R ec h tslag e d es F d eraten lan d es d er W estg o ten im 4 Jh.", in : Dacoromania, 1 (1973), rr 52-58; I. B a rn e a , O. Ilie sc u , Constantin..., p p . 118-119; B. Bro c k m e ie r, Der G ro e Friere 332 n .C h r. Z u r A u en p o litik K o n stan tin s d es G ro e n ", in : Bonner Jahrbcher, 187 (195- p p . 79-100; H. W o lfra m , History..., p p . 60-62; P. H e a th e r, Goths..., p p . 99, 108-115 A lek san d er Bu rsc h e , Later Roman - Barbarian Contacts in Central Europe. Numismatic Evidence, Berlin 1996, p p . 118-119; E. W h e e le r, C o n stan tin e 's ..." , p . 84-91; M. K u lik o v t^ e l Rome's Gothic Wars..., p . 86.

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It is not true that the Roman army fought a previous w ar against the Goths in 326 or 328, therefore in the period w hen the bridge was in construction47. This opinion resulted from a superficial interpretation of the data transmitted by Theophanes Confessor and Georgios Kedrenos48. Both sources mention the w ar o f against the Goths (called w ith their name but also Skythai) that fo llow ed the construction o f the bridge, but the years are w rong. The same event appears in the history of Socrates w ith a confused chrono logy49. Chronicon Paschale, a text from 628, has recorded the build ing o f the bridge in 328 w ithout any w ord about the defeat o f the Skythians50. This add ition w as made by Theophanes and accepted by Kedrenos. On the other hand, the fragment from Theophanes is based on the same lost source used by Z onaras, but w ith a w rong chronology.

The Gothic w ar o f 332 had the same purpose like the Dacian wars of Domitian and Trajan: to ensure the security of the Low er Danubian region. In the satyric w riting of emperor Julian, Constantine praised him self that he conquered again Dacia, but the other Caesars replied that this was an ephemeral achievement51. From this does not result that Julian considered indeed Constantine the equal of Trajan, as some historians are thinking52. On the contrary, Constantine was ridiculized here by the apostate w ho hated so much his ancestor w ho became the first Christian


47 V. M r c u l e t , Un problme de gopolitique de la politique danubienne du Constantin le Grand (324-337): la reconqute et la domination de la Dacie mridionale", in:

j Pontica, 41 (2008), pp. 299-301.48 The C hronicle o f T heo p han es C o n fesso r . By zantine and N ear Eastern History, AD

284-813, translated with introduction and commentary by Cyril M a n g o and Roger Sc o t t , Oxford, 1997, p. 44; G eorg iu s C edren u s Io an n is Sc y lit z ae ope ab Im manuele Bek- '

Alexandru Madgearu

emperor. Indeed, Constantine did not recover the entire former province of Dacia, but the extension of the Roman control and influence over a part of Gothia gave to the Romanization a new impetus and a chance to evolve outside the former province, not only among the free Dacians but also among the Goths. This could be called a kind of second Romanization. The defeat of the Goths and the beginning of their Christianization started their integration in the Roman w orld, reflected by the large number of imports discovered in the settlements and cemeteries of the Sntana de Mure-Cerneahov culture.

The last north-Danubian campaign commanded or at least ordered by Constantine the Great could be dated short time before his death (21 May 337). A fter the peace w ith the Tervingi, the empire continued the offensive strategy, in the new circumstances of the internal fights in Sarmatia. In this w ay could be explained the title Dacicus Maximus received by Constantine in 335 or 336, mentioned in the inscription recording all his victories, displayed in Rome in February 33753. Timothy Barnes anc A leksander Bursche supposed that the title concerned a campaign tha: led to the partial recovery of Dacia54, w hile Peter Heather and Everen W heeler considered that the title reflected the pacification of the entire Danubian region55. Both points of view are unproven. We can only guess that the internal fights among the Sarmats in the territory that belongec to Dacia w ere the opportunity for an extension of the area under Roman domination. Constantine w as present at Viminacium on 4 Augu-c 335. Other edicts w ere signed by him in Constantinople in the days oc 17 A pril and 22 October 335, w hich means that he started the campaigr. at the beginning of the summer and came back by the middle October^. Therefore, the offensive that reached south-w estern Dacia by Viminaciur-. could be dated in the summer of 335. The gold medallions issued in 3?~ or 338 for a victory o f Constans (the son of Constantine) discovered in the areas peopled by Vandals and Goths (the Wielbark culture in Poland w ere gifts for these allies w ho jo ined the Roman army in this campaign

53 T.D. Ba r n e s , The Victories...", pp. 151-152; A . A r n a l d i, La successione o e cognomina...", pp. 201-202; C. M a t s o n O d a h l , Constantine..., p. 233.

54 T.D. Ba r n e s , The New Empire..., p. 80; A . B u r s c h e , Later Roman..., p. 132, footnoae206.

55 P. H e a t h e r , Goths..., p. 108; E. W h e e l e r , Constantine's...", p. 91.56 C o d e x T h e o d o s ia n u s , VIII, 9,1; XII, 1, 21; XVI, 8,5 (pp. 404, 668, 888); A. A rnaltc

La successione dei cognomina...", p. 202.

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against the Sarmats. Constans received the title Sarmaticus, recorded in the inscription dated 337-340 discovered at Carcaliu (previously it was believed that the findspot was Troesmis)57.

In conclusion, different parts of the north-Danubian area were reached several times by Constantine the Great during his military actions, commanded by himself or by his representatives.

Operaiuni militare la nord de Dunre comandate de Constantin cel M are

Constantin cel Mare a participat la rzbo iul contra sarmailo r condus de Galerius n 302, pe cnd el era tribun, comandant al unei legiuni in armata comitatensis. Z ona unde s-a petrecut o fensiva a fost stabilit pe baza numelor Augustoflavianensia i Constantia, pe care le-a avut fortificaia de lng Kuvin, situat n faa celei de la Margus. A mbele co memorau participarea lui Constantin. n 310, Galerius a ncercat s m bunteasc relaiile cu Constantin, recunoscndu-1 ca augustus. Numele no ii fortificaii construite aco lo unde a luptat Constantin i cinstea faptele de arme. Dup ce a devenit mprat, Constantin a condus alt campanie contra sarmailo r n aceeai regiune dintre Dunre i Tisa, n iunie-iulie 322. A rmata a avansat pe la Bononia (Banostor) i s-a ntors pe la Augustoflavianensia. A fost ncheiat un foedus cu sarmaii. n 323, mpratul a luptat contra celeilalte ramuri a sarmailor, cei rsriteni, care au atacat limes-ul dunrean m preun cu goii. A rmata roman co mandat de Constantin a desfurat o o fensiv la nord de Dunre. Conductorul sarmailo r Rausimodus a fost ucis, iar muli d intre oamenii ' si au fost capturai. A cest conductor era de fapt Rhadamsadios, regele Regatului Bosporan. Dup aceast v ictorie a nceput un amplu pro gram de fortificare pe malul de nord al limes-ului dunrean. n afar

57 Em. P o p e s c u , Inscripiile..., p. 251 (nr. 238); T.D. Ba r n e s , Imperial Campaigns..., p. 154; T. D. Ba r n e s , The Victories..., p. 154; J. A r c e , The Inscription of Troesmis (ILS 724) and the First Victories of Constantius II as Caesar", in Zeitschrift fr Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 48 (1982), pp. 245-249; A . Bu r s c h e , The Victoria Sarmatica of AD 340 and three gold medallions from Barbaricum, in Kontakt, Kooperation, Konflikt. Germanen und Sarmaten zwischen dem 1. und 4. Jahrhundert nach Christus. Internationales Kolloquium des Vorgeschichtlichen Seminars der Philipps-Universitt, Marburg, 12-16 Februar 1998, Neumnster, 2003, pp. 409-413.


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de Kuvin, s-au mai construit sau refcut alte fortificaii la Sapaja, Vr- e, Gornea, Orova, Mehadia, Hinova, Puinei, Desa, Bistre. Cea mare realizare a fost podul dintre Oescus i Sucidava (328), mai important pentru propaganda imperial dect pentru necesitile economice i militare. Limita de nord a teritoriului recuperate era valul de pmr* Brazda lui Novac de Nord. n 332, cnd goii i-au atacat pe sarman; care erau aliai cu Imperiul Roman, Constantin a ordonat o campanie contra acestora, comandat de Constantinus II. Ea a fost ndreptat ce. mai probabil contra centrului de putere gotic din nord -estul MuntenieL Numele noii fortificaii Daphne din faa castrului Transmarisca amir- tete de aceast victorie. Goii au fost silii s capituleze. Ultima campanie nord -dunrean comandat sau cel puin planificat de Co nstanzr este atestat de titlul Dacicus Maximus primit n 335, pentru o o fensiv i nceput la Viminacium, n aceeai regiune a sarmailor.

Moned de bronz cu chrismon deasupra labarum-ului, care strpunge un arpe; emisiune Siscia, tipul spes publica.

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A.madgearu-Military Operations Comanded by Constantine the Great North of the Danube