Chnodomarius, also Chnodomar, cognate

Cognate

In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...

 to the Germanic Gundmar, was the king of an Alamanni

Alamanni

The Alamanni, Allemanni, or Alemanni were originally an alliance of Germanic tribes located around the upper Rhine river . One of the earliest references to them is the cognomen Alamannicus assumed by Roman Emperor Caracalla, who ruled the Roman Empire from 211 to 217 and claimed thereby to be...

c canton in what is now south-west Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, near the Rhine from sometime before 352 till 357. He seems to have had a recognized position among the other Alamanni.

During Magnentius

Magnentius

Flavius Magnus Magnentius was a usurper of the Roman Empire .-Early life and career:...

' rebellion Chnodomar engaged in a battle with Magnentius

Magnentius

Flavius Magnus Magnentius was a usurper of the Roman Empire .-Early life and career:...

' Caesar and brother, Decentius

Decentius

Magnus Decentius was a usurper of the Western Roman Empire against emperor Constantius II. American scholar Michael DiMaio speculates that Decentius possibly was the brother of Magnentius, who had revolted against Constantius on 18 January 350.Magnentius elevated Decentius as Caesar by him that...

, in 352, defeating him. Chnodomar may have been acting in concert with Constantius II

Constantius II

Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....

, against whom Magnentius had rebelled.

In 357 after the Alamanni had forced Barbatio

Barbatio

Barbatio was a Roman general of the infantry under the command of Constantius II. Previously he was a commander of the household troops under Gallus Caesar, but he arrested Gallus under the instruction of Constantius, thereby ensuring his promotion on the death of Claudius Silvanus...

 to retire from their territory, seven Alamanni kings united under the leadership of Chnodomar and brought a large force over the Rhine to engage Constantius' Caesar Julian

Julian the Apostate

Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....

. The armies met in the battle of Strasbourg

Battle of Strasbourg

The Battle of Strasbourg, also known as the Battle of Argentoratum, was fought in 357 between the Late Roman army under the Caesar Julian and the Alamanni tribal confederation led by the joint paramount king Chnodomar...

 (Argentoratum

Argentoratum

Argentoratum or Argentorate was the ancient name of the French city of Strasbourg.The Romans under Nero Claudius Drusus established a military outpost belonging to the Germania Superior Roman province close to a Gaulish village near the banks of the Rhine, at the current location of Strasbourg,...

), and although the Romans were well outnumbered, they soundly defeated the Alamanni. Chnodomar was captured at the end of the battle. Julian spared his life and sent him off to Constantius,. Eventually he died in exile in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

.