ORDER OF BATTLE // January 1, 0377
Battle of the Willows
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 15,000–16,000 estimated
Goths
10,000
Medium-confidence figure
Western Roman Empire
5,000–6,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of the Willows at Ad Salices was fought during the early phase of the Gothic War of 376–382, in the context of a Gothic rebellion under Fritigern that was ravaging the northern Balkans. The engagement represented a coordinated Roman effort to contain the uprising, drawing forces from both the Western Empire under Richomeres and the Eastern Empire under Traianus and Profuturus, who converged on the Gothic position. The Romans were significantly outnumbered, fielding an estimated 5,000–6,000 troops against a Gothic force of around 10,000. No decisive outcome is recorded, and the battle did not suppress the rebellion; Gothic raiding of the Balkans continued, setting the stage for further escalation that would culminate in the catastrophic Roman defeat at Adrianople in 378. The engagement illustrates the difficulty the Roman Empire faced in mounting an effective combined response to the Gothic incursion in the years immediately following the crossing of the Danube.
‹ Full battle dossier