Clades Lolliana

Clades Lolliana
Part of the Germanic Wars
Date16 BCE
Location
Rhine shores
Result Germanic victory
Belligerents
Sicambri
Usipetes
Tencteri
Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Marcus Lollius
Units involved
Unknown Unknown
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown 1 legionary eagle

The clades Lolliana or Lollian disaster was a battle in 16 BCE, when the consul Marcus Lollius was defeated by the Sicambri, Usipetes and Tencteri, Germanic tribes who had crossed the Rhine.[1] This defeat is coupled by the historian Suetonius with the disaster of Publius Quinctilius Varus in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.

After capturing and crucifying Romans in their own lands, the three Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine and plundered Roman territory. Roman cavalry were ambushed and routed. While pursuing the cavalry, the Germanics came across the Roman governor Lollius and defeated him as well.[2] They captured the eagle of the fifth legion.[3] When Lollius and Augustus began to assemble armies, the Germanics retreated back to their own lands, made peace and gave hostages.

  1. ^ Tacitus, The Annals 1.10
  2. ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History 54.20.4-5
  3. ^ Velleius Paterculus 2.97.1