Atlas of Battles

battle, major, medieval

Battle of Mons Lactarius

Battle of Mons Lactarius was a battle fought in September AD 552 at Monti Lattari, in what is now Italy. It was part of the Gothic War of 535–554, which ran from AD 535 to AD 554. The recorded result: Byzantine victory. Recorded strength: Unknown against Unknown; (Smaller force).

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Titel: „Die Gotenschlacht am Vesuv“ Urheber: Alexander Zick (1845-1907) (Original text: Das Bild zeigt die de:Schlacht am Mons Lactarius. Der Schwarzhaarige in der Mitte des Bildes ist de:Teja.)
Titel: „Die Gotenschlacht am Vesuv“ Urheber: Alexander Zick (1845-1907) (Original text: Das Bild zeigt die de:Schlacht am Mons Lactarius. Der Schwarzhaarige in der Mitte des Bildes ist de:Teja.). The original uploader was Captain Blood at German Wikipedia., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtSeptember AD 552
WhereMonti Lattari, Italy40.650N, 14.500E
OutcomeByzantine victory
BelligerentsByzantine EmpireagainstOstrogothic Kingdom
Part ofGothic War of 535–554AD 535 to AD 554

Where it sits in the Gothic War of 535–554

Battle of Scardon, AD 535Siege of Panormus, AD 535Siege of Naples, AD 536Siege of Rome, AD 537Siege of Urbinus, AD 538Battle of Pavia, AD 538Siege of Ariminum, AD 538Siege of Milan, AD 538Siege of Ravenna, AD 539Siege of Auximus, AD 539Siege of Verona, AD 541Battle of Treviso, AD 541Battle of Faventia, AD 542Battle of Mucellium, AD 542Siege of Naples, AD 542Sack of Rome, AD 546Siege of Rossano, AD 548Siege of Rome, AD 549Battle of Sena Gallica, AD 551Battle of Taginae, AD 552Siege of Cumae, AD 552Battle of Mons Lactarius, AD 552Siege of Urviventus, AD 553Battle of the Volturnus, AD 554AD 535AD 554Battle of Mons Lactarius, AD 552
25 placed engagements of the Gothic War of 535–554 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateSeptember AD 552 (month precision)
PlaceMonti Lattari, Italy
40.650N, 14.500E
KindBattle, medieval
StrengthUnknownUnknown; (Smaller force)
Commanders
  • Teia
Battle of Mons LactariusBattle of Mons LactariusBattle of the Gulf of NaplesSiege of AmalfiBattle of Capo d'OrsoSiege of Nuceria AlfaternaBattle of NoceraSiege of AmalfiSiege of Nuceria AlfaternaFoggiaBeneventoCasertaBarlettaCampobasso100 km40.650N, 14.500E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Battle of Mons Lactarius
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 50 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Battle of Mons Lactarius today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2023-10-09. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2023.

The recorded site stands at about 1,305 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from -3 to 1,393 m, 1,395 m of relief, mountainous country and today it is 78% tree cover, 14% grassland, 4% shrubland.

tree cover: 78%grassland: 14%shrubland: 4%built-up: 3%tree cover 78%grassland 14%shrubland 4%built-up 3%
west to east, 10.0 km222 to 1,319 mnorth to south, 10.0 km0 to 1,358 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 552

Battle of Mons Lactarius is one of 120 engagements of the 6th century in the atlas and one of 942 in present-day Italy.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1137764, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Mons Lactarius, revision 1370252747, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.