The Battle of Mursa Major was fought in 351 between the Eastern Roman army led by Constantius II and the western forces supporting the usurper Magnentius.
The action took place along the valley of the Drava River, a Danube tributary in present day Croatia.
Before the battle, Constantius sent Flavius Philippus, his Praetorian prefect, to negotiate with Magnentius, requiring that the usurper withdraw back to Gaul. After this inconclusive mission, o...
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The Battle of Mursa Major was fought in 351 between the Eastern Roman army led by Constantius II and the western forces supporting the usurper Magnentius.
The action took place along the valley of the Drava River, a Danube tributary in present day Croatia.
Before the battle, Constantius sent Flavius Philippus, his Praetorian prefect, to negotiate with Magnentius, requiring that the usurper withdraw back to Gaul. After this inconclusive mission, one of Magnentius commanders, Silvanus, and most of his men deserted to Constantius, thus helping seal the outcome.
The battle was one of the bloodiest in Roman military history. According to Zonaras (xiii 8.17), Magnentius lost two-thirds of his troops, and Constantius more than half of his army, for a total of over 50,000 casualties, in an age in which the Empire was under severe external pressure from Goths and Persians, as well as internal dissension and rebellions.
There was also a religious meaning to the conflict. Magnentius had restored...
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