HERENNIUS ETRUSCUS (249-251)

"Battle of Abrittus" Herennius was the elder son of Emperor Decius and the brother of Hostilian. In 250 CE, he received the title of Caesar alongside his brother and shortly thereafter, before June 9 of that year, was elevated to the title of Augustus. He perished alongside his father in a battle against the Goths at Abrittus in Moesia in 251 CE. The battle, also known as the Battle of Forum Terebronii, took place near the modern city of Razgrad in Bulgaria. The Roman legions, commanded by Emperor Decius, were defeated by the Gothic army led by King Cniva. Herennius was struck down by an arrow, prompting Decius, who witnessed his son’s death, to remark: “Nothing has happened; we have only lost one soldier.”

Trajan Decius was the first Roman emperor to die in combat against barbarian forces.