The Battle at Frigidus in the Tradition of Antique and Medieval Authors

Abstract

The battle at Frigidus on September 5th and 6th, 394, has the significance of a key event in the civil war between the emperor Theodosius and his rival emperor Eugenius. It has been described or at least shortly mentioned by as much as 14 antique and 15 medieval authors (till the middle of the 14th century). The author analyses in detail the antique reports about the battle and summarily presents the medieval tradition about the event, dedicating special attention to the western Latin sources that haven't been taken into account up till now. In the final part the author gives on the basis of antique sources the reconstruction of the course of the battle and the circumstances of the civil war in 394.