BattlefieldsAlbinus vs Septimius Severus — British Legions march to Gaul
Roman Period

Albinus vs Septimius Severus — British Legions march to Gaul

196–197
North Yorkshire, England
Also known as: Battle of Lugdunum 197 — British Element · Clodius Albinus Campaign
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
North Yorkshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Clodius Albinus (British legions)
Forces
Clodius Albinus c. 25,000–35,000 at Lugdunum.
VS
Victor
Septimius Severus (at Lugdunum, Gaul)
Forces
Septimius Severus c. 30,000–40,000
Outcome
Albinus defeated and killed in Gaul; stripped British frontier of troops; northern disaster in Britain followed
The Battle

History & Significance

The governor of Britain, Clodius Albinus, declared himself emperor and crossed to Gaul with most of the British garrison. His defeat and death at the Battle of Lugdunum (Lyon) in 197 AD left Britain almost defenceless. The Maeatae and Caledonians immediately exploited the gap, crossing Hadrian's Wall and devastating the lowlands. This crisis, and the subsequent renegotiation with the northern tribes (bribing them), was one of the worst disasters in Roman Britain's history.

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