
SINGIDUNUM, c. February 489 - v1.1
By Chris Jackson

SYMBOL SET REQUIRED: Master 1

Dec 10/98: changes from v1.0 - used revised symbol set to fix unit facings.


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Emperor Zeno's (c426-491) reign over the Byzantine Empire from 474-491 was a troubled one.
He was forced to flee early in his reign after a coup. He returned in August 476; 
soon after, the Western Roman Empire fell. There was religious quarreling between orthodox
Christians and Monophysites. A publication in 482, the Henotikon, tried to appease the 
Monophysites - In 484 these efforts wound up causing a schism between the churches of 
Constantinople and Pope Felix III (r.483-492) in Rome, lasting 34 years. There was rebellion
in Asia Minor, and barbarian insurgency in the West. In Italy, Odoacer was becoming dangerously
strong. In the Balkans, the Ostrogoths were ravaging the provinces. A beleagured Zeno decided
he had to play two powerful forces against each other - he enticed Theodoric with full rule over 
the land of Italy if he would go and overthrow Odoacer there, and set up his own kingdom. 

Theodoric (454-526), king of the Ostrogoths since the death of his father Theodemir in 471,
led his people through a chaotic time in Lower Moesia (modern Bulgaria), but was unable to
settle them permanently in such a hostile land. He initially co-operated with Zeno, even 
being appointed consul by him in 484, but by 488 he was attacking Thrace, and Zeno feared 
he would threaten Constantinople itself. But Zeno was able to make the deal, and Theodoric
accepted the offer for rulership of Italy. He packed up his entire kingdom, along with his
mother Erelievack and sister Amalfrida, and moved it from the Ostrogoth home in Sistova towards
Italy in the autumn of 488. It is estimated that as many as 200,000 may have been in the kingdom
before this trek began, 75,000 of them warriors.

Odoacer (c433-493) was a Germanic warrior who led his troops into Italy and ended the Roman
Empire in September 476. Since then he had reigned as barbarian king of Italy. He conquered
Dalmatia in 480, and recovered territory in Sicily from Vandals. He had also attacked western
provinces belonging to Zeno, and defeated the Rugi tribe that Zeno had incited to stop him in
487-88. Odoacer had lost territory in northwest Italy to Euric's Visigoths, but Zeno still saw 
Odoacer as a growing threat that had to be dealt with.

Theodoric's kingdom began the long trek along the Danubian highway, which ran along the Danube
river, and then between the rivers Drava and Sava in modern Croatia. The harsh winter months are
said to have brought icicles to their beards and clothing to freeze on their backs. By about
February 489 they were approaching Singidunum, modern-day Belgrade. Theodoric was familiar with
that city - as a youthful prince around 470 he had led the Ostrogoths to victory there over
Babai's Sarmatians. 
It was near here they met an old enemy, a Germanic tribe called the Gepids. Originating from 
Sweden, the Gepids migrated to the Baltic coast in the 1st century and by the 3rd century had
moved into the Balkans. On this day their king Trapstila held the opposite bank of the Ulca
(an unknown river that may have been the Vulca, now the Velika Morova, near modern Smederovo).
The Ostrogoths far outnumbered the Gepids, but were heavily weighed down by fatigue, wagons, 
animals, and the non-warrior population of the kingdom. Trapstila refused  the Ostrogoths' 
request for passage - Theodoric would have to do battle. 

Initially the Ostrogoths fared very badly, easy prey for the Gepid archers as they struggled 
across the strong, swampy waters of the river in their wicker armour and shields. It looked
like the battle was lost when Theodoric is said to have drank to victory, then ralled his men and 
led a charge over the river to win the day. Perhaps he had merely discovered a crossing 
point, but the Ostrogoths were victorious. Many Gepids escaped in the night, but Trapstila
was killed. Most importantly, Gepid storewagons fell into Ostrogoth hands. The Ostrogoths' 
trek resumed, and although they certainly must have met other hostile tribes during their 
journey, Sigidunum is the only battle noted. As Theodoric crossed the Julian Alps in August 489,
his campaign for Italy began.


SOURCES

Hodgkin, Thomas. "Italy and Her Invaders, Volume 3". London: Russell & 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

The Ostrogoths have an overwhelming advantage in numbers, but have the task of crossing the 
river to take the objective. For a few turns early in the game they're expected to take big 
losses trying to cross the river through the mud and marsh, suffering movement and defensive
penalties. The Gepid player needs to close the gap between army sizes at this point to have 
any chance at victory. 
The PO as the Gepids will not make much effort to move troops forward to drive the Ostrogoths
back into the mud and water; it usually just stands its ground. The PO as the Ostrogoths will
only cross the river here and there most of the time, instead of making one big charge across.
As for climate conditions, the ground was described as frozen, though the river was described as 
being swift-moving, with nothing about being frozen.
 

Comments and questions are always welcome.      

- Chris Jackson, October 3, 1998
  jackson@nornet.on.ca

