Editing Battle of Naissus (section)

==Background==
[[Image:GothicInvasions 267-269-en.svg|thumb|right|300px|Map of the Gothic invasions of 267&ndash;269 AD (according to the two invasions theory)]]The battle of Naissus came about as a result of two massive invasions of "[[Scythians|Scythian]]" tribes (as our sources<ref>Zosimus, see also George Syncellus, p.716</ref> anachronistically call them) into Roman territory between 267 and 269. The first wave came during the reign of Gallienus in 267 and started when the [[Heruli]], raiding on 500 ships,<ref name = Syncellus/> ravaged the southern Black Sea coast and unsuccessfully attacked [[Byzantium]] and [[Cyzicus]]. They were defeated by the [[Roman navy]] but managed to escape into the [[Aegean Sea]], where they ravaged the islands of [[Lemnos]] and [[Skyros]] and sacked several cities of the southern Greek [[Achaea (Roman province)|province of Achaea]], including [[Athens]], [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]], [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]], and [[Sparta]]. Then an Athenian militia, led by the historian [[Dexippus]], pushed the invaders to the north where they were intercepted by the Roman army under Gallienus.<ref>''Scriptores Historiae Augustae'', ''Vita Gallienii'', 13.8</ref> He won an important victory near the [[Nestos River]], on the boundary between [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] and [[Thrace]], with the aid of the Dalmatian cavalry. Reported barbarian casualties were 3,000 men.<ref name = Zosimus/> Subsequently, the Heruli leader [[Naulobatus]] came to terms with the Romans.<ref name=Syncellus>G. Syncellus, p.717</ref>

In the past, the battle on the Nessos was identified as the Battle of Naissus, but modern scholarship has rejected this view. On the contrary, there is a theory that the victory at Nessos was so decisive that Claudius' efforts against the Goths (including the battle of Naissus) were no more than a mopping-up operation.<ref>T. Forgiarini, ''A propos de Claude II: Les invasion gothiques de 269&ndash;270 et le role de l' empereur'', in ''Les empereurs illyriens'', Frezouls et Jouffroy, p.81&ndash;86. (as cited in D. Potter, p.642). This view is in agreement with A. Alfoldi</ref> After his victory, Gallienus left [[Lucius Aurelius Marcianus]] in place and hastily left for Italy, intending to suppress the revolt of his cavalry officer [[Aureolus]].<ref>Zosimus, 1.40</ref> After Gallienus was assassinated outside [[Milan]] in the summer of 268 in a plot led by high officers in his army, Claudius was proclaimed emperor and headed to Rome to establish his rule. Claudius' immediate concerns were with the [[Alemanni]], who had invaded [[Raetia]] and Italy. After he defeated them in the [[Battle of Lake Benacus]], he was finally able to take care of the invasions in the Balkan provinces.<ref>John Bray, p.290</ref>

In the meantime, the second and larger sea-borne invasion had started. An enormous coalition of "Scythians"—actually consisting of Goths ([[Greuthungi]] and [[Thervingi]]), [[Gepids]], and [[Peuce Island|Peucini]], led again by the [[Heruli]]—assembled at the mouth of river Tyras ([[Dniester]]).<ref>The ''Historia Augusta'' mentions Scythians, Greuthungi, Tervingi, Gepids, Peucini, Celts and Heruli. Zosimus names Scythians, Heruli, Peucini and Goths.</ref> The ''Augustan History'' and [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]] claim a total number of 2,000&ndash;6,000 ships and 325,000 men.<ref>''Scriptores Historiae Augustae'', ''Vita Divi Claudii'', 6.4</ref> This is probably a gross exaggeration but remains indicative of the scale of the invasion. After failing to storm some towns on the coasts of the western [[Black Sea]] and the [[Danube]] ([[Constanța|Tomis]], [[Marcianopolis]]), the invaders attacked [[Byzantium]] and [[Üsküdar#Chrysopolis|Chrysopolis]]. Part of their fleet was wrecked, either because of Gothic inexperience in sailing through the violent currents of the [[Propontis]]<ref>Zosimus, 1.42</ref> or because it was defeated by the Roman navy. They then entered the [[Aegean Sea]] and a detachment ravaged the Aegean islands as far as [[Crete]] and [[Rhodes]]. While their main force had constructed siege works and was close to taking the cities of [[Thessalonica]] and [[Cassandreia]], it retreated to the Balkan interior at the news that the emperor was advancing. On their way, they plundered Doberus ([[Paeonia (kingdom)|Paionia]]?) and [[Pelagonia]].