Under the leadership of three rulers, groups of Franks crossed the Rhine border and invaded northern Gaul to plunder.

The Roman response was not long in coming and resulted in a punitive expedition that was conducted deep into Frankish soil.

Emperor Maximus deployed a large part of his army, which led to the Rhine border being minimally taken with troops.

This situation made it easy for the Franks to cross the Rhine border to plunder Roman territory on the other side.

Civil war between imperial rivals was always the best reason for the communities on the Rhine border to venture on a robber's trail.

As a result, Nanninus withdrew to Mogontiacum (Mainz) while Quintinus led his men to Castellum Novaesium (Neuss) from where they crossed the Rhine.

Early in 390, he crossed the Rhine with his army and had his troops burn down the Frankish settlements, called Bructeri in the sources.