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View Full Version : Battle of Ennium - Sources?



Companion
06-04-2008, 04:42
Googling for why Pontus and Seleukids kept outdated Scythe Chariots, I came across this "Battle of Ennium" which occured in 61BC with defeat for Romans.

Well, I cannot get any info about this battle from web apart from this:

http://fanaticus.org/DBA/armies/dba58.html

The article claims that Pliny has "conveniently forgotten" the battle but still does not talk about any historical/modern source for the battle.

Is this battle real or fictional?
Somebody, please enlighten me.

Thanks :)

Gaius Scribonius Curio
06-04-2008, 10:53
Reviewing what I know about Pharnaces reign, I must say it seems unlikely. Pharnaces made peace with Pompey and was given Mithradates overseas possessions, which later became the Bosphoran Kingdom.

Also, when Pharnaces invaded Pontus in 49BC, it came as a surprise to the Romans. He did win a convincing victory at Nicopolis. Soon after however, Caesar returned from the Alexandrine War and crushed him at Zela (Veni, Vidi, Vici), upon which he was deposed.

Pretty much I can't believe that no contemporary historian mentions it. Its a no from me, but there are people here that know much more than I ever could.