battle battle june fought roman armies emperor contender troops commanded victory led downfall emperor replacement short reign years killed short period stability followed battle notable ancient scholars briefly consider battle historically notable ultimate action series events led army select emperor objections senate eroded official powers remaining senate background death rise predecessor murdered traveling visit temple soldier declined rank period war time involved assassination plotted fear life based story mentioned supported read dispatches sent dispatch delivered friend detailed prophecy fabricated suggesting plotting destined emperor immediate aftermath death selected serve emperor declined position old age army chose feelings love esteem competing position army proclaimed emperor days death named results applauded senate glad rid emperor tradition held emperor selected senate causing concern member equestrian class lower aristocratic classes led concern led senate severely action senate powerless military time concentrated force empire contest action new emperor deal major threat rome currently war battle cited reason opening peace negotiations negotiations favourable sides rome threatened armenia far home low supplies settlement viewed people unfavourable rome quotes million paid exchange peace sum called question scott sheer known unreliable discussing finances regardless general opinion negotiations contempt accused weak peace treaty concluded took measures control expenditures rome fiscal policies included reduction pay benefits popular army placed command policies apply new recruits enlisted soldiers saw setting precedent changes fiscal policies brought behaviour new recruits entered service committing greater labour payment discontent soldiers suggests small spark required rebellion rise following death allowed mother aunt settle home town time death attempted suicide eventually succeeded returned finances intact julia suspicions involvement death led case grandson rightful emperor time chief priest god soldiers stationed frequently visited temple chief priest enjoyed watching perform rituals ceremonies occasion took opportunity inform soldiers son simultaneously seen opportunity use family wealth prestige set motion plot night taken camp iii presented soldiers stationed accounts claim presented immediately hailed enhanced julia monetary contributions legion proclaimed emperor able stop rebellion early stage decide course action remained rebellion support entire legion prompted discontent pay moved join ranks response sent cavalry force led command regain control rebels instead cavalry killed joined following events traveled ensure loyalty setting march appointed son position promised soldiers paid spot hosted dinner residents honour dinner presented head killed soldiers forced leave according retreat asserts left order launch attack troops met near border syria syria efforts vain legion defected challenger forcing retire allowed offensive march response reign position senate considerably weakened balance power transferred senate army emperor rome decided soldier senate existed solely state affairs real authority later attempt secure favour military generally opinion senate dire circumstances choice turn senate attempt securing support time rome combination distrust senate approach insufficient funds meant face approaching time available rome able muster troops send reinforcements despite senate declare war family regardless relative battle battle took place june outside village believed approximately miles road challenges assertion suggesting battle took place closer border syria possibly near sources agree battle took place near source suggesting battles occurred separately claim battle occurred armies led determined commander met narrowly fought pitched battle prior battle set aside scaled armour shields favour lighter oval shields making lighter advantage light despite numerical superiority army faced able engagement begun favour soldiers led turning flee managed break enemy line point retreat mother joined rallying forces horseback charged enemy ending retreat assault point fearing defeat fled city remained battle plausible won battle secured position emperor aftermath having defeated battle sent son returned proclaiming victory battle news defeat broke civilians city roads slain favoured shaved beard hair disguise member military police fled city night horseback reached companions military successfully secured carriage subsequently drove near setting sail arrested revealing whereabouts making request money transported like criminal according injured escape attempt beheaded body remained chance inspect son faced similar fate captured concludes praised deeds ridiculed later slain shown passed title emperor somebody concludes master demise felt truly deserved interim period battle capture declared emperor support military return rome months news reaching rome met dismay senate roman people submitted necessity reputation improve reign worship performance religious rituals generate anger romans attempt prevent disaster cousin elevated position ruler romans time caused problems culminating death hands followed short period stability rome
Battle of Antioch (218)