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The Alamanni, or Allemanni or Alemanni, are a Germanic tribe, first mentioned by Dio Cassius, under the year 213. They apparently dwelt in the basin of the Main River, to the south of the Chatti. According to Asinius Quadratus their name -- "all men" -- indicates that they were a conglomeration of various tribes. There can be little doubt, however, that the ancient Hermunduri formed the bulk of the nation. Other groups included the Juthungi , Bucinobantes , Lentienses , and perhaps the Armalausi . From the 4th century onwards we hear also of the Suebi, Suevi or Suabi. The Hermunduri had apparently belonged to the Suebi, but it is likely enough that reinforcements from new Suebic tribes had now moved westward. In later times the names Alamanni and Suebi seem to be synonymous, although some of the Suebi later migrated to Hispania and established an independent kingdom there that endured well into the sixth century.
The tribe was continually engaged in conflicts with the Roman Empire. They launched a major invasion of northern Italy in 268, when the Romans were forced to denude much of their German frontier of troops in response to a massive invasion of the Goths. In the early summer, the Emperor Gallienus halted their advance in Italy, but then had to deal with the Goths. When the Gothic campaign ended in Roman victory at the Battle of NaissusThe Battle of Naissus took place in September of 268 between the armies of the Goths and forces of the Roman Empire, led by Gallienus as emperor and the future Emperor Aurelian as cavalry commander. The battle came about as a result of a massive invasion in September, Gallienus' successor Claudius II GothicusMarcus Aurelius Claudius Gothicus more often referred to as Claudius II ruled the Roman Empire for less than two years ( 268 270), but during that brief time, he was so successful and beloved by the people of Rome that he attained divine status. Claudius turned north to deal with the Alamanni, who were swarming over all Italy north of the Po RiverPo redirects here, for alternate uses see Po (disambiguation). Po River flows 652 kilometers from west to east across northern Italy, from Mount Monviso (in the Cottian Alps) to the Adriatic Sea near Venice. It has a drainage area of 71,000 square kilomet.
After efforts to secure a peaceful withdrawal failed, Claudius forced the Alamanni to battle at the Battle of Lake BenacusThe Battle of Lake Benacus was one of the decisive battles that marked the beginning of the Roman Empire's emergence from the Crisis of the Third Century. The battle was fought along the banks of Lake Garda in northern Italy, which was known to the Romans in November. The Alamanni were routed, forced back into Germany, and did not threaten Roman territory for many years afterwards.
Their most famous battle against Rome took place in StrasbourgStrasbourg ( German Strassburg "castle of roads", Alsatian Strossburi is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region of northeastern France. It is the prefecture (capital) of the Bas-Rhin departement''. Population: 250,000. Population of the metro, in 357Events Battle of Strasbourg: Julian leads the Roman forces to victory against the Alamanni at Strasbourg Births Deaths 357.. They were defeated by JulianFlavius Claudius Julianus ( 331/ 332 June 26, 363), known to Christians as Julian the Apostate was a Roman emperor who ruled from 361 to 363, as well as the son of a half-brother of Constantine I. As a child he witnessed the murder of his family by his un, later Emperor of Rome, and their king Chonodomarius was taken prisoner. On January 2January 2 is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 363 days remaining (364 in leap years). Events 366 Alamanni cross frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading Roman Empire. 1492 Reconquista: Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spa, 366 the Alamanni crossed the frozen Rhine in large numbers, to invade the Roman Empire.
Early in the 5th century the Alamanni appear to have crossed the Rhine river, conquered and then settled what is today Alsace and a large part of Switzerland. Their kingdom (or duchy of Alamannia) lasted until 496, when they were conquered by Clovis I at the Battle of Tolbiac, from which time they formed part of the Frankish dominions. In a strange twist of fate, the word "Frankish" eventually gave its name to the Romance language French, while the Alamanni gave their name to the French word for "German" (Allemand).
Today the Alamanni settle in the southern two thirds of Baden-Württemberg (German State), in western Bavaria (German State), in Vorarlberg (Austrian State), in Switzerland and Alsace (France).
