07-12-2004, 03:51 PM
Rome faced massive losses in battles such as Cannae, Aurasio or Teutoburger Wald, but in each of these, Rome was able to recover.<br>
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I look at a defeat more in terms of its impact then in losses of shear numbers. Its hard for me to call Cannae its greatest defeat, when in the end, Rome persevered and won the Second Punic War. (Despite the fact that things could have been much different, depending on several factors).<br>
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I think a battle such as Adrianople in 378 AD is more significant. This was the beginning of a long series of 'barbaric' incursions with concessions or losses by a weakened Roman state. Valens, after years of civil war had re-established some sort of stablity, but mismanagement of his new Gothic 'allies' led to his own defeat and death. While some credible Roman strength was re-established after, such as Stilicho, the victory by Fritigern at Adrianople stands out to me as a huge event. <p>Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris<br>
--If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.</p><i></i>
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I look at a defeat more in terms of its impact then in losses of shear numbers. Its hard for me to call Cannae its greatest defeat, when in the end, Rome persevered and won the Second Punic War. (Despite the fact that things could have been much different, depending on several factors).<br>
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I think a battle such as Adrianople in 378 AD is more significant. This was the beginning of a long series of 'barbaric' incursions with concessions or losses by a weakened Roman state. Valens, after years of civil war had re-established some sort of stablity, but mismanagement of his new Gothic 'allies' led to his own defeat and death. While some credible Roman strength was re-established after, such as Stilicho, the victory by Fritigern at Adrianople stands out to me as a huge event. <p>Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris<br>
--If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.</p><i></i>
