Battle of Narbonne (436)

The Battle of Narbonne, fought in 436 AD, was a significant engagement between the Visigoths and the Roman Empire during a period of increasing Visigothic power and expansion in Gaul. The Visigoths, under their king Theodoric I, had been granted foederati status, meaning they were nominally allies of Rome who were provided land and resources in exchange for military service. However, the relationship was often strained, marked by periods of conflict and negotiation.

In 436, the Visigoths besieged the city of Narbonne, a strategically important Roman stronghold in Gallia Narbonensis (modern-day southern France). The reasons for the siege are debated by historians, but likely involved a combination of factors including Visigothic desire for territorial expansion, disputes over land and resources, and a weakening of Roman authority in the region.

The Aetius, the powerful Roman general and magister militum, dispatched Litorius to relieve the besieged city. Litorius, commanding a mixed force of Roman soldiers and possibly Hunnic auxiliaries, successfully lifted the siege and drove back the Visigoths. He pursued them, engaging them in further battles and inflicting significant losses.

Despite initial successes, Litorius ultimately suffered a devastating defeat near Toulouse in 439. He was captured by the Visigoths, and the defeat weakened Roman control in the region, paving the way for further Visigothic consolidation of power and the eventual establishment of an independent Visigothic kingdom. The Battle of Narbonne, therefore, represents a key moment in the gradual decline of Roman authority in Gaul and the rise of the Visigothic presence.