ORDER OF BATTLE // January 1, 0376
Battle of Marcianople
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 12,000–13,000 estimated
Goths
7,000–8,000
Medium-confidence figure
Eastern Roman Empire
5,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Marcianople was the opening armed engagement of the Gothic War of 376–382, occurring shortly after Gothic groups crossed the Danube into Roman territory. The confrontation pitted Gothic forces under Fritigern against a Roman force under Lupicinus, with the Goths holding a numerical advantage of roughly seven to eight thousand against approximately five thousand Roman troops. As the first notable battle of the war, it marked the point at which the Gothic migration transformed from a managed resettlement into open armed conflict with Roman imperial authority.
‹ Full battle dossier