Battle of Taenum

41.25°N 14.066667°E / 41.25; 14.066667

Battle of Taenum
Part of Social War
Date 90 BC Location Teanum Sidicinum, modern Teano, Italy Result Rebel victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Italian rebels
Commanders and leaders
Lucius Julius Caesar	Marius Egnatius
Strength
35,000
Casualties and losses
8,000	Unknown

The Battle of Taenum (also spelled Teanum) was fought in 90 BC during the Social War. In the battle, Roman forces under the command of Lucius Julius Caesar were defeated by Italian rebel forces commanded by Marius Egnatius.^[1]

As Lucius Caesar moved his army composed of 30,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry through a defile, he was ambushed and attacked by the rebels.^[1] Although many of his men were killed during the initial ambush, the Romans were able to fight their way through a frantic retreat to the town of Teanum where they took up a defensive position. It has been reported that Lucius Caesar lost 8,000 of his 35,000.^[1][2][3]

This rebel victory offset their previous defeat at Acerrae.^[1][4] During the battle, Lucius Caesar himself was sick. During the retreat, he had to be evacuated on a litter.^[1]

References

1. Sampson, Gareth C. (2013-09-09). The collapse of Rome : Marius, Sulla and the first Civil War, 91-70 BC. Barnsley, South Yorkshire. ISBN 9781473826854. OCLC 893910287.
2. Matyszak, Philip Cataclysm 90 BC, p. 96
3. Telford, Lynda, Sulla, p. 89.
4. Beesley, A. H. (2017). The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla. Pinnacle Press. ISBN 978-1374894761.