THE BATTLE OF MURSA MAJOR

THEME

Left-handed warriors?
Yes, the image has been
mirrored. These charg-
ing Late Romans come
from the cover of
Rome vs Rome
The Roman Empire in the middle of the fourth
Ancient Warfare VI-5.
century found itself in crisis. It had been split

V
by Constantine the Great between his three
surviving sons, Constantine II, Constantius II
and Constans. However, soon the brothers were
at each other’s throats vying for power.

By David Davies

C
onstantine II
was defeated
by the forces
of Constans in
AD 340, leav-
ing him in control of
the western half of the
Roman Empire. Howev-
er in AD 350, he in turn
was usurped by one of
his own generals, Mag-
nentius, who took the
title Emperor of the West-
ern Empire. Constans
fled but was ambushed
and killed by a troop of
light cavalry while his party at-
tempted to cross the Pyrenees.

Magnentius quickly wooed support from

the provinces in Britannia, Gaul, and
Hispania with his lax approach to pagan-
ism. Other provinces remained hesitant
and many remained loyal to the Constan-
tinian dynasty. The new Western Roman
Emperor tried to exert his control directly
by appointing his own men to command
provinces and legions, ex-
ecuting commanders loyal
to the old regime, and by
moving his forces into poten-
tial rebel territories.

When Nepotianus (a nephew

of Constantine the Great)
stormed Rome with a band
of gladiators and pro-
claimed himself em-
peror, the revolt was
swiftly dealt with.
It became clear to

1 Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 95

 Cataphracts from the Eastern and Western Roman Empires square off.

Magnentius that he would need to be gleaned from the oration of Julian battle that followed was bitter for both
defeat the loyalists and Constantius the Apostate and from the writing of sides, with heavy casualties. At first
II to secure his position as emperor Byzantine historian Zonaras. Magnentius’ levies broke but the rest
of the Western Empire. of the army reformed and stood firm,
In order to avoid unnecessary blood- fighting very well. It took repeated as-
Another province soon rebelled, this shed, Constantius II sent his Prae- saults from Constantius’ cataphracts
time the Pannonian army led by Ve- torian prefect, Flavius Philippus, to and mounted archers on the left wing
tranio, their commander. This revolt negotiate. The offer was simple. If to turn that entire flank and break the
was recognized by Constantius II who Magnentius would simply withdraw enemy army. As the Western Empire
sent him the imperial diadem. The to the province of Gaul, then bat- began to flee, part of it was forced into
Eastern Roman Empire was at war tle could be avoided. This plea was the river. Some detachments, includ-
in Syria against Persia. Gathering his rejected; Magnentius had gone too ing Magnentius himself, escaped and
forces and allying with the rebel Pan- far with so many men just to turn were only saved by the cover of night.
back now. The negotiations were not However, one of the Western Empire’s
nonians, Constantius II marched to
most talented commanders, magister
meet Magnentius’ forces, who were without reward, however, as one of
officiorum Marcellinus, was killed.
marching to crush the rebellion. Magnentius' commanders, a Frank
known as Claudius Silvanus, with his
A vanguard of scouting troops sent heavy cavalry detachment, deserted THE FORCES
by the Eastern Imperial forces were to the Eastern Imperial forces. At his command Magnentius probably
ambushed and cut to pieces by the had the best troops from the West-
Western Empire forces at Atrans The Western army began to draw up in ern Empire that he could muster. It is
(modern day Trojane), spurring Mag- the traditional manner, infantry at the said that every available garrison and
nentius to advance with full haste. centre and cavalry at each flank. How- soldier from the Limes had been mo-
bilized, leaving the border
ever, Constantius II deployed with
defenceless against bar-
Both sides met in a narrow valley pass the River Drava on his right, denying
somewhere near the Drava River in that flank and moving all of
Croatia. The Eastern Imperial forces his cavalry forces to the left
withdrew to a better fighting position flank. As the majority of his
in open country at Mursa (modern forces were already in battle
day Osijek), which the Western forc- formation, he immediately
es took as a retreat, spurring them on attacked before the
to attack. Little is known about the Western forces were
battle itself but some information can fully deployed. The

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 95

2
 FIGHTING THE BATTLE played a large part in this battle, so
Both sides were pretty even and we can indulge ourselves here.
would have contained very similar
barian incursions. Part troops. The Western Empire’s forces CONCLUSION
of his army contained would have had some barbarian It is said by Zonaras that this battle
a number of reluctant allies (in all likelihood foederati was one of the bloodiest in Roman
levies but some, such as equipped with Roman gear), but history. He states that Magnentius
the Franks and Saxons, that’s no reason to not field some lost upwards of two-thirds of his
had a reputation as barbaric-looking Franks. army while Constantius lost half.
fierce warriors. This was a devastating loss to both
The battlefield should consist of an sides, at a time when the empire
The forces avail- open cultivated plain with perhaps a faced internal rebellion and several
able to the Eastern Roman Emperor few woods. The major feature is the invading barbarian armies.
would have been limited by time River Drava, which should be on the
and distance. He had sailed from right of the Eastern Empire’s forces and Magnentius survived Mursa Major
Syria, so in all likelihood the forces on the left of the Western Empire’s. but found his support in Italy evapo-
mustered were the local loyalist rating. He retreated to Aquileia and
forces with a strong contingent of The following list of forces for each tried to rally support. Constantius
Constantius’ cavalry. side is a suggestion, based on what was in no hurry and used his time
I feel each side would have con- to rally support of his own in Rome,
It is said the Eastern Emperor left the sisted of but also what I have avail- sending forces to secure Africa and
battle to pray at the shrine of a Christian able locally to recreate the battle. Spain. Isolated and without allies,
martyr, but I doubt this version as it is As there is little known on the forces Magnentius retreated to Mons Se-
not mentioned by Julian the Apostate. involved, it is an opportunity to get leucus where the Imperial forces
In this version written soon after the out whatever Late Roman models surrounded him in AD 353 and he
events, it is Constantius who trained you have in your collection and put chose to take his own life rather
and commanded his forces personally. them on the table. Cavalry certainly than be captured. WS&S

THE FORCES
Western Roman Empire • 2x units of Equites (with spear, heavy throwing spears) com-
Magnentius (Counts as light amour and shield). bined formation with archers.
a Warlord for Swordpoint) • 2x units of Limitanei infantry
• 2x units of Equites (with spear, Eastern Roman Empire (large shield, darts and spears)
light amour and shield). Constantius (Counts as an • 2x units of Auxilia infantry (throw-
• 2x units of Frank Noble Cav- Emperor for the Swordpoint lists) ing spear, large shield and darts).
alry (with spear, light amour • 3x units of Cataphract cavalry
The forces we give here are a guide-
and shield). with kontos and bow
line, to be adapted easily to your
• 2x units of Frank Light Cavalry • 2x units of Illyrians with javelin, gaming system of choice. I assume
(with javelin and shield). light amour and shield.
that each standard unit is 24 infan-
• 2x units of Sagittarii mounted try or twelve cavalry. For Sword-
Marcellinus (Legate Commander) archers with bow. point use the Late Imperial Roman
• 2x units of Legion Infantry (light
Vetranio (Legate Commander) lists from page 10 of the Dark Age
Armour, large shield, darts and
• 3x units of Legion infantry (Light Armies book. Players wishing to use
heavy throwing spears) com-
Armour, large shield, darts and Hail Caesar should use the Late Ro-
bined formation with archers.
man lists from page 16 of the Late
• 2x units of Limitanei infantry heavy throwing spears) com-
Antiquity to Early Medieval army
(large shield, darts and spears) bined formation with archers.
lists book. The Western Roman Em-
• 3x units of Frank infantry (spear, • 3x units of Limitanei infantry
pire may take up to 25% from the
shield and javelins) (large shield, darts and spears)
Frank lists, which must include one
• 2x units of Auxilia infantry (throw- unit of Frank Noble Cavalry. The
Western Roman Legate ing spear, large shield and darts).
(Legate Commander) Eastern Roman Empire uses the
• 2x units of Legion infantry (light Flavius Philippus (Legate Commander) standard lists but take a free unit
armour, large shield, darts and • 2x units of Frank noble cavalry of Frank Noble Cavalry from his
heavy throwing spears) com- (with spear, light amour and opponent’s list (and points) to use
bined formation with archers. shield). (Silvanus’ men). for this battle! This represents Sil-
• 2x units of Limitanei Infantry • 2x units of Legion infantry (light vanus’ defecting troops.
(large shield, darts and spears) armour, large shield, darts and

3 Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 95