Siege of Asemus

The siege of Asemus was an unsuccessful attempt by the Huns of Attila to capture the fortified hill town of Asemus from the Eastern Roman Empire in 447. After the siege, the Asemuntians attacked the withdrawing Huns and even captured some Hunnic prisoners.[1][2][3][4] This was one of the few Eastern Roman victories over the Huns in the 440s.

Background

In 447 Attila's Huns crossed the Danube and defeated the Eastern Roman army at the Battle of the Utus.[5] From here they marched south to ravage Thrace and threaten Constantinople.[5]

Siege

As the Huns returned north after plundering Thrace, some of them besieged the fortified town of Asemus, which was situated on a hill near the Danube. They were repelled by the Roman garrison and eventually decided to withdraw. The defenders then pursued the fleeing Huns, capturing a number of them and seizing their booty as well as rescuing many Roman prisoners.[6][7][8]

Aftermath

Following this conflict, Attila demanded the return of the captured Huns and that a ransom be paid for the freed Romans. The people of Asemus refused, claiming that the prisoners had already gone.[9]

References

1. Heather, Peter (2006). The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians. Oxford University Press. pp. 311–312.
2. Given, John (2014). The Fragmentary History of Priscus. Evolution Publishing. pp. 76–78.
3. Nikonorov, Valerii P. (January 2010). ""Like a Certain Tornado of Peoples": Warfare of the European Huns in the Light of Graeco-Latin Literary Tradition". Anabasis: Studia Classica et Orientalia: 279.
4. Bury, J. M. (1923). History of the Later Roman Empire. Macmillan & Co., Ltd. p. 274. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
5. Heather 2006, p. 309.
6. Heather 2006, p. 311.
7. Nikonorov 2010, p. 279.
8. Bury 1923, p. 274.
9. Hughes, Ian (2019). Attila the Hun: Arch-Enemy of Rome (Kindle ed.). Pen & Sword Military. p. 165.

Further reading

• Lindner, Rudi Paul (1981). "Nomadism, Horses and Huns". Past & Present (92): 3–19. ISSN 0031-2746.