Joined Feb 2012
287 Posts | 0+
South Carolina, USA
One of the Goth's greatest leaders was a man by the name of Cniva. His name is synonymous with the name Austagudas or Ostrogotha that is praised in the Anglo Saxon poem Widsith. He was a man of legendary abilities.
He led Gothic raiding parties into Roman Thrace province in the 240's. These raids peaked around 250. In 249, Goths under the leadership of Argaith and Guntheric sacked the east Balkan city of Marcianople. The raids escalated after that. In the spring of 250, Cniva's Goths broke through the Roman frontier and crossed the Danube at the fortress of Oescus. He then marched into the heart of the Balkans, capturing the city of Philippopolis. He over-wintered here. In 251, the Roman army attempted to intercept the Goths at Abrittus. Cniva's Goths destroyed the Roman army and killed the Emperor Decius. This was the 1st time an emperor had been killed in a battle with a foreign force.
In the early 250's, Cniva led the attack on the Scythian's capitol city of Neapolis. There was some kind of falling out between them and the Goths destroyed the city.
Cniva was probably the leader that led the sea raids of 255 to 257. After that there is a lull for 10 years and Cniva's name dosen't appear in the record anymore.
Why his name is in the Anglo Saxon poem Widsith and not one of the more famous Gothic leaders is unknown, possibly they may have known more about him in that time period than we know today. But the defeat of the Roman army may have had something to do with giving him this legendary status.
He led Gothic raiding parties into Roman Thrace province in the 240's. These raids peaked around 250. In 249, Goths under the leadership of Argaith and Guntheric sacked the east Balkan city of Marcianople. The raids escalated after that. In the spring of 250, Cniva's Goths broke through the Roman frontier and crossed the Danube at the fortress of Oescus. He then marched into the heart of the Balkans, capturing the city of Philippopolis. He over-wintered here. In 251, the Roman army attempted to intercept the Goths at Abrittus. Cniva's Goths destroyed the Roman army and killed the Emperor Decius. This was the 1st time an emperor had been killed in a battle with a foreign force.
In the early 250's, Cniva led the attack on the Scythian's capitol city of Neapolis. There was some kind of falling out between them and the Goths destroyed the city.
Cniva was probably the leader that led the sea raids of 255 to 257. After that there is a lull for 10 years and Cniva's name dosen't appear in the record anymore.
Why his name is in the Anglo Saxon poem Widsith and not one of the more famous Gothic leaders is unknown, possibly they may have known more about him in that time period than we know today. But the defeat of the Roman army may have had something to do with giving him this legendary status.
