RAVENNA
July 10 or 15, 491 - V1.0
by Chris Jackson
Symbol Set required: Master 1

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Odoacer's severe defeat on the Addua River sent him back to the safety of Ravenna. For
the next three years most of the action would be confined to this area where Italy's 
fate would be decided.

In 402 when barbarian invasion threatened Italy, the Roman court moved to Ravenna for
strategic purposes. It was considered impregnable, defended by stout walls, a complex 
network of rivers and canals, and mosquito-infested marshes. Odoacer had made Ravenna 
his own capital when he became the ruler of Italy, and now it was all the territory 
left under his control. 

Theodoric knew he could not take Ravenna through a straight attack, so he prepared for
siege. But being a near-coastal city (the Adriatic coast and Ravenna were closer 
together in ancient times), supplies could be delivered by sea at the harbour of 
Classis. Theodoric made a fossatum at the famous Pineta pine-wood three miles from the
city. This position cut off Ravenna from the sea as much as possible.  The blockade was 
effective, and Ravenna was soon afflicted by famine and inflated corn prices.

Before 490 ended, Theodoric sent Faustus, a Roman noble, Senate chief and Consul, back
to Constantinople to meet the Byzantine Emperor Zeno who had sent Theodoric to Italy two
years before. Theodoric wanted to assume official rulership of Italy by recieving the 
imperial robes that Odoacer had sent there when he overthrew the Empire. Faustus probably
only arrived in time to see Zeno ranting and repenting on his deathbed. Zeno finally 
passed away on April 9, 491.

With only Caesena and Ariminium (Rimini) as the other two cities not under Theodoric's
control, Odoacer made one final desperation attack in 491. Somehow receiving a 
reinforcement of Herulians from the Carpathian area, Odoacer planned to strike at his
relaxed enemy. On the 10th or 15th of July, the sortie from Ravenna was made. After a 
long, bloody battle for both sides, the Ostrogoths defended their entrenchments. Odoacer
lost his Magister Militum, Libila, perhaps from drowning in the slow and slimy Utis (now
the Ronco). On August 18th or 22nd Theodoric returned to his temporary capital at Ticinum
though the siege continued.

492 was a slow year for the campaign, the only notable incident being an earthquake 
before dawn on May 26. Theodoric also took Ariminium, and took control of a fleet of
cutters (dremones, swift ships) that sailed out to complete the blockade of Ravenna.
    
Finally by early 493 Ravenna had reached its breaking point - people were resorting
to eating unclean animal hides and dying fast. On February 25, Odoacer handed over his
son Thelane as a hostage and began the bargaining process. The next day Theodoric entered 
Classis, the great naval seaport three miles from the city, where Odoacer probably kept
his headquarters, John the Archbishop of Ravenna acted as mediator, and on February 27 
peace was formally concluded.

The terms arranged for both men to rule jointly as equal kings of the Western Empire.
After the bitter war it is unlikely that either man really planned to uphold this 
arrangement. On March 5 Theodoric rode through the gates of Ravenna and was recieved by
John in a welcoming ceremony as the "new King from the East." After days of discussions,
Theodoric invited Odoacer to a banquet on March 15 at the Palace of the Laurel-Grove in 
the southeast corner of the city. It is said that Theodoric had already heard of plans by
Odoacer to assassinate him, and was determined to cut him down first. 

Odoacer was probably separated from his allies by assuming a seat of honour beside
Theodoric. Two men kneeled before him clasping his hands while making some pretended
request, and from two side alcoves rushed some soldiers with the task of slaying him. But
their nerves failed at the last minute and they failed to attack him, so Theodoric himself
had to stand up and do the job personally. "Where is God?" were the last words of Odoacer 
as Theodoric raised his sword. "Thus didst thou to my friends", cried Theodoric, as he 
cleaved Odoacer from shoulder to loin. With a brutal laugh as the body fell, he remarked 
that he thought he never had a bone in his body. Odoacer's allies probably died in that 
very banquet-hall that night as well.

Odoacer was buried in a stone coffin near the synagogue of the Jews. His brother
(possibly Onoulf) was felled by arrows trying to escape through the palace garden. His
son Thelane had been sent to Gaul, but when he escaped and returned he was put to death.
Odoacer's wife Sunigilda died of starvation in prison. Thus the entire family of Odoacer
perished in short order. With a treacherous and bloody beginning, Theodoric was now the
undisputed master of Italy.

* * * * *

A footnote to Theodoric's campaign for Italy in 489-493 is the story of Tufa and Frederic
 the Rugian. 

Frederic's defection was a highly unlikely prospect. His ruling parents captured by 
Odoacer's armies, personally defeated and banished twice by them himself, he had come to
Theodoric's court a fugitive. Now he had marched and fought by his side into Italy. But in
492, mere months from completing revenge, he suddenly deserted Theodoric and joined with
Tufa who was roaming the plains of Lombardy and Venetia with an army of his own. 
Perhaps Frederic was drawn by his Rugian nationality. Perhaps he was unsatisfied with his
position in the army. He probably just wanted to work for himself and make his own plunder.

The Rugians occupied Ticinum and set up headquarters there that year, creating a great deal 
of trouble for its local inhabitants. There is no record of conflict with the massive 
Ostrogoth population that had been staying there, so they seem to have evacuated in time.

But Frederic and Tufa entered into dispute, quarreling over the division of spoils.
They did battle in the Valley of the Adige between Trient and Verona. After thousands of deaths
on both sides, Tufa was slain.
The Rugians spent almost two years at Ticinum. But by the end of 494 the battle for Italy had
already been long concluded, so it appears that they were operating independently. The Rugians 
disappear from history at that date - it is conjectured that Theodoric retook Ticinum and 
Frederic either escaped and faded into obscurity or got his just desserts.


SOURCES

Hodgkin, Thomas. "Italy and Her Invaders, Volume 3". London: Russell and Russell,
     (1880-89), 1967.

Hodgkin, Thomas. "Theodoric the Goth". London: GP Putnam's Sons, 1891.

"Theodoric". Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 11, p. 688. Chicago University Press, 1995.


BATTLE NOTES

With the dense pine forest providing protection of the camp, the Ostrogoth player has 
the advantage. This is a tough scenario for the Rugo-Herulian player. The computer playing
the Ostrogoths usually just forms a protective circle around the camp. By forcing a main
thrust and detatching a few units to swing around the back and pick off demoralized and
reduced enemy units, the Rugo-Herulian player can actually make up the difference in
score without even taking the camp.

Chris Jackson
jackson@nornet.on.ca

January 31, 1999





