Battle of Constantinople (378) explained

Conflict:Battle of Constantinople
Date:378
Place:Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire
(modern-day Istanbul, Turkey)
Result:Roman victory
Combatant1: Eastern Roman Empire
Tanukhids
Combatant2:Goths
Commander1:Albia Dominica
Commander2:Fritigern

The Battle of Constantinople was a Gothic attack on Constantinople in 378 following the Gothic victory at the Battle of Adrianople. The emperor Valens's widow prepared the defence, and also reinforced the city with Arab warriors, who performed excellently in combat.[1] [2] [3] It is said that the Goths were impressed when one of the Arab warriors stormed out of the city naked, slaughtered enemies, and drank blood from the neck of a decapitated Goth.[2] [3] Other sources maintain that the Goths actually abandoned the attack because they were greatly outnumbered.[4] [5]

In the end, Goths did not enter the city and retreated to Thrace and Moesia.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jan Retso. The Arabs in Antiquity: Their History from the Assyrians to the Umayyads. 19 August 2013. 4 July 2013. Routledge. 978-1-136-87282-2. 518–.
  2. Book: Alexander Van Millingen. Constantinople Painted by Warwick Goble. 1906 . 19 August 2013. Library of Alexandria. 978-1-4655-2780-6. 15–.
  3. Book: John Marincola. A Companion to Greek and Roman Historiography. 19 August 2013. 9 February 2009. John Wiley & Sons. 978-0-470-76628-6. 548–.
  4. Book: Alexander Van Millingen. Byzantine Constantinople: The Walls of the City and Adjoining Historical Sites. 19 August 2013. 31 October 2010. Cambridge University Press. 978-1-108-01456-4. 40–.
  5. Book: Stephen Turnbull. The Walls of Constantinople AD 324-1453. 19 August 2013. 21 August 2012. Osprey Publishing. 978-1-78200-224-6. 5–.
  6. Book: Jane Penrose. Rome and Her Enemies: An Empire Created and Destroyed by War. 19 August 2013. 2005. Osprey Publishing. 978-1-84176-932-5. 269–.