Tzirallum
Tzirallum was a Roman post station located in Thrace (present-day European Turkey), specifically north of the ancient city of Heraclea, near the Arzus River. This site was significant during the later Roman Empire and became part of the province of Europa. In AD 313, Tzirallum was the backdrop for a critical battle between two Roman leaders, Licinius and Maximinus II Daia, who were vying for control over the eastern provinces of the empire.
Maximinus, commanding a large army, made a swift advance through Asia Minor, leading to the capitulation of Byzantium. Licinius, determined to confront his rival, positioned his forces near Tzirallum and Drizipara. Despite being outnumbered, Licinius’ troops achieved victory due to the exhaustion of Maximinus' soldiers. The defeat forced Maximinus to flee and ultimately led to his demise later that year. This pivotal encounter set the stage for Licinius' eventual confrontation with Constantine, which would reshape the power dynamics within the Roman Empire.
Subject Terms
Tzirallum
(Sinekli, Çorlu)
A Roman post station in Thrace (European Turkey), north of Heraclea (the former Perinthus, now Marmaraereǧlisi), near the river Arzus (Çorlu); during the later empire the place formed part of the province of Europa. In AD 313 it gave its name to a major battle between Licinius and Maximinus II Daia, competing for the control of the eastern provinces (Constantine I the Great dominated the west). Licinius ruled in eastern Europe and Maximinus in Asia. Before the coming of spring, however, Maximinus advanced by forced marches through Asia Minor, leading an army 70,000 strong, and crossed the Thracian Bosphorus, compelling Byzantium (İstanbul) to capitulate.
Thereupon Licinius moved from Mediolanum (Milan) to confront him, and the two armies encamped three miles apart near Tzirallum and Drizipara. Maximinus offered a vow to Jupiter, and Licinius appealed to the `Highest God,’ in terms suggestive of a Christian interpretation. In the subsequent battle, which took place in a district known as Campus Serenus, the numerical superiority of Maximinus' force was cancelled by his soldiers' physical exhaustion, and they suffered a total defeat. He fled, disguised as a slave, and later in the year fell ill and died at Tarsus. The stage was now clear for the encounter between Constantine and Licinius which, eleven years later, placed the whole empire in the hands of the former.