Battle of Tzirallum

Part of the Civil wars of the Tetrarchy

Date	30 April 313
Location	near Heraclea Perinthus 41°09′N 27°48′E / 41.150°N 27.800°E / 41.150; 27.800Coordinates: 41°09′N 27°48′E / 41.150°N 27.800°E / 41.150; 27.800
Result	Licinius is victorious

Belligerents

forces of Licinius

forces of Maximinus

Commanders and leaders

Licinius

Maximinus

Strength

30,000

70,000

The Battle of Tzirallum was one of the civil wars of the Tetrarchy fought on 30 April 313 between the Roman armies of emperors Licinius and Maximinus. The battle location was on the "Campus Serenus" at Tzirallum, identified as the modern-day town of Çorlu, in Tekirdağ Province, in the Turkish region of Eastern Thrace. Sources put the battle between 18 and 36 Roman miles from Heraclea Perinthus, the modern-day town of Marmara Ereğlisi.

The emperors Licinius and Maximinus were locked in a struggle for supremacy for the Eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Maximinus had crossed the Bosphorus in 313, and taken Byzantium. Possessing an army of around 70,000, he proceeded to lay siege to the town of Heraclea Perinthus, which he captured after a siege of eight days. Maximinus moved ahead to the "first station", 18 miles beyond Heraclea. On arriving there, news reached him that Licinius, coming from Adrianople had already pitched camp with his force at the second station, 18 miles further ahead. After a period of fruitless negotiations, in which both emperors attempted to win over the loyalty of the other's armies, the emperors met in battle on 30 April. The battle location, Tzirallum, is identified with the contemporary town of Tzouroulon, which is the modern Turkish city of Çorlu.

Maximinus had brought over with him a highly disciplined and veteran army from the Asiatic provinces. Licinius on the other hand had collected an army of 30,000 from the province of Illyria. As the battle commenced, Licinius initially found himself overwhelmed by Maximinus' numerical superiority. However, his superior military skill and the firmness of his troops soon turned the odds to his favour. By the end of the day had completely routed the forces of Maximinus, thereby obtaining a decisive victory.

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