Battle of Fano

The Battle of Fano, also known as the Battle of Fanum Fortunae,[1] was fought in 271 between the Roman Empire and the Juthungi. The Romans were led by Emperor Aurelian, and they were victorious.

Battle of Fano
Part of the Roman-Germanic wars
Fano Battle of Fano (Italy)
Date 271 CE Location Metaurus River, Fano, Italy Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Empire	Juthungi
Commanders and leaders
Emperor Aurelian	Unknown

Background

Aurelian had been defeated by the Juthungi at the Battle of Placentia in 271, but he had rallied his men, and started pursuing the Juthungi, who were quickly moving towards a defenceless Rome.

The battle

Finally, the Roman Army caught and forced a fight with the Juthungi on the Metaurus River, just inland of Fano. The crucial moment of the battle was when the Juthungi were pinned against the river, so that, when the Germanic line was forced to give way, many Juthungi fell into the river and drowned.

References

1. Michael Grant, The History of Rome, p. 285

Bibliography

• Watson, Alaric (1999). Aurelian and the Third Century. Routledge. p. 50. ISBN 0-415-07248-4.