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The 'Battle of Placentia' was fought in January 271 between a Roman army led by Emperor Aurelian and the Alamanni (actually the Juthungi tribe), near modern Piacenza.
The Alamanni had invaded Italia, counting on the absence of the Roman Army, and sacked the city of Placentia. Emperor Aurelian, who was in Pannonia with an army to control the withdrawal of the Vandals, quickly moved into Italia. Despite the Roman's superior technology, the Alamanni surprised their Army with an ambush, and the Emperor was defeated.
The news of this defeat produced great fear in Rome, and the Alamanni continued to move towards the capital, which had grown far beyond its old walls. The Sybilline Books were consulted, and religious ceremonies performed to call for the gods' help. The Romans escaped disaster when Emperor Aurelian soundly defeated the Alamanni at the Battle of Fano, leading to great celebration throughout the city.

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★ Aurelian and the Third Century, , Alaric, Watson, Routledge, 1999, ISBN 0-415-07248-4