Battle of Sacriporto

A rendition of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix.

Date	April, 82 BC
Location	Sacriporto, Italia
Result	Decisive Optimate Victory

Belligerents

Optimates

Populares

Commanders and leaders

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix

Gaius Marius the Younger

Strength

40,000 Legionaries

45,000 Legionaries

Casualties and losses

Low

~15,000 Killed

Roman Republican Civil Wars

1st Servile 2nd Servile Social Sulla's 1st Sertorian Sulla's 2nd 3rd Servile Catilinarian conspiracy Caesar's Post-Caesarian Liberators' Sicilian Fulvia's Final

First Civil War of the Roman Republic

Mount Tifata Asio River Sacriporto Sena Gálica Saturnia Glanis River Espolecio 1 Clusium 1 Espolecio 2 Faventia Fidentia Clusium 2 Colline Gate Praeneste Neápolis Utica Norba Caesarina Nola Volterras

The Battle of Sacriporto was a battle that took place in April of 82 BC during the context of Sulla's Second Civil War. The battle pitted the Optimates under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix against the Populares forces commanded by Gaius Marius the Younger. The battle resulted in a decisive Optimate victory.

Context

Main article: Sulla's Second Civil War

After signing the peace treaty at Dardanos, Sulla returned to Rome with the intention of confronting his other political opponents, the Populares. They were led by Gaius Marius the Younger and by Gnaeus Papirius Carbo. Sulla therefore invaded Italia in 83 BC, routing various Populares armies. Encamping for the winter, both sides made preparations to continue the fighting with the start of the Spring war season when the war became intensified and bloody.

The Battle

According to historical accounts, one night in April, Sulla had a dream that Gaius Marius told his son, Gaius Marius the Younger, that he should not give battle to Sulla's forces the following day. Encouraged by this premonition, Sulla decided to immediately give combat and called on Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella who was encamped nearby. Dolabella's army was exhausted from marching in an intense rainstorm and the military tribunes had ordered that the army make camp rather than give battle. Emboldened by the enemy's lack of offensive action, Gaius Marius decided to attack thinking he would be able to surprise the Optimates and win the day. The Optimates instead rallied to their units and gave battle against troops of Marius. Their defense was so fierce that Marius was eventually obliged to retire from the fray.^[1]

Consequences

The surviving Populares forces, including Marius, took refuge at Preneste to escape the pursuing Sullan forces. Sulla arrived shortly thereafter and besieged the city. The city fell on 4 November, holding out surprisingly until all of Italy was under Sulla's direct control.^[2]

References

↑ Appian, The Civil Wars, 1, 87.
↑ Appian, The Civil Wars, 1, 88.

Bibliography

Classic Sources

Appian, The Civil Wars.
Plutarch, Sulla.

Modern Sources

Gabba, Emilio (1958). Appiani bellorum civile liber primus (in Italian). Florence: La Nouva Italia, 1958.
Keaveney, Arthur (1982). Sulla: The Last Republican (2nd Revised ed.). London: Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0203022513.
Lovano, Michael (2002). The Age of Cinna: Crucible of Late Republican Rome. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Veralg. ISBN 351507948-3.
Angelo Luttazzi, Sacriporto. Luogo della battaglia combattuta tra Silla ed il figlio di Mario nell’82 a.C., “Studi e Rcerche sull’Ager Signinus”, 3, Colleferro 2004.

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