Battle of Sirmium (489)

Battle of Sirmium
DateAugust 489
Location
Result Ostrogothic victory
Belligerents
Ostrogoths Gepids
Commanders and leaders
Theodoric the Great Thraustila
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Battle of Sirmium was fought at Sirmium, Kingdom of the Gepids in August 489 between the Gepids and the Ostrogoths under Theodoric the Great. King Theodoric had recently been proclaimed King of Italy by Emperor Zeno, and in 489 began marching his men on route to invade Italy. While on his way to Italy King Thraustila of the Gepids opposed his plan of conquest and met in battle just outside of Sirmium.[1] It is unknown how the exact battle played out, but it is certain that Theodoric defeated the Gepids. Thraustila was most likely killed in the battle or soon after. Theodoric in the same year invaded Italy and successfully overthrew Odoacer in 493. Tension continued to grow between the Gepids and the Ostrogoths, which would spark another war between Theodoric and Thrasaric from 504 to 505.[2]

  1. ^ Goffart, Walter (25 November 2010). Barbarian Tides: The Migration Age and the Later Roman Empire. ISBN 978-0812200287.
  2. ^ Hodgkin, Thomas. Theodoric the Goth: The Barbarian Champion of Civilization. ISBN 9780598453068.