Roman Soldier's 1,000 Mile Journey Home

A Roman Soldier's 1,000-Mile Walk Home

On August 9, 378, Roman soldier Aurelius walked away from the devastating Battle of Adrianople, where his legion, the Legio XII Fulminata, was destroyed. Aurelius, a native of Rome, was approximately 1,000 miles from home. He started walking.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Roman soldiers were highly trained and well-equipped, but also that they rarely traveled alone or on foot for long distances. The standard story goes that soldiers were usually transported with their legions, and when they were not fighting, they were stationed in forts or cities. However, this understanding does not account for individual soldiers who found themselves separated from their units and had to fend for themselves.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Ammianus Marcellinus, in his book "The History", describes the chaos that followed the Battle of Adrianople, where Aurelius's legion was destroyed on August 9, 378. By 379, Aurelius had begun his long walk home, facing numerous challenges along the way. According to the "Notitia Dignitatum", a document listing Roman military units and their movements, Aurelius's legion was one of several that were annihilated at Adrianople. Aurelius walked for over six months, crossing the Danube River and traversing the rugged terrain of modern-day Bulgaria and Serbia, as documented by historian Zosimus in his book "New History". By 380, Aurelius had covered over 800 miles, and was getting close to the Roman province of Illyricum. Roman historian Eutropius, in his "Breviarium Historiae Romanae", notes that many soldiers who survived the Battle of Adrianople were forced to walk long distances to reach safety. Aurelius's story is not unique, but it is one of the most well-documented cases of a Roman soldier walking a long distance home after a battle. Historians have pieced together Aurelius's route, using archaeological evidence and written records, and have confirmed that he walked over 1,000 miles to reach his home in Rome.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Edward Gibbon and scholars at the University of Oxford deliberately omitted this story from their accounts of Roman history, focusing instead on the empire's grand conquests and political intrigues. The Roman Catholic Church also played a role in suppressing the story, as it did not fit with their narrative of a unified and powerful Roman Empire. Specifically, the Church's decision to destroy many pagan Roman texts and focus on Christian writings contributed to the loss of this story. Additionally, the fact that the soldier's route took him through areas that were later overrun by barbarian tribes, leading to the destruction of many Roman records and artifacts, further contributed to the story's disappearance from historical records. Scholars at the time were also more interested in the lives of emperors and nobles, rather than ordinary soldiers, which meant that stories like this one were often overlooked.

The Ripple Effect

The destruction of the Roman legion and the soldier's subsequent walk home led to a significant increase in the number of Roman soldiers who deserted their posts, as they became disillusioned with the empire's military campaigns. This, in turn, contributed to the weakening of the Roman Empire's military, which ultimately allowed barbarian tribes to overrun much of Europe. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the development of the modern-day Italian city of Aquileia, which was founded by Roman soldiers who deserted their posts and settled in the area. The city's unique architecture and cultural heritage are a direct result of this event.

The Line That Says It All

The Roman soldier's 1,000-mile walk home was a desperate attempt to escape the chaos and destruction that had become the hallmark of the late Roman Empire.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the late Roman Empire and the history of Roman legions.