Osprey Men-at-Arms 158 : Rome's Enemies (2) : Gallic and British Celts

In 390 BC a meeting between a Roman emissary of three patrician delegates and the Senones took place at the Etruscan town of Clusium, the Romans were invited by the anxious burghers of the town to mediate with the barbarians. During an ensuing dispute one of the Gallic leaders received a fatal wound, and the Roman party made an immediate and hurried departure. There followed a demand from the Gauls for all three patricians to be returned for retribution. The Roman authorities refused, and awaited barbarian reaction, confident in their ability to deal with it. The Gauls promptly wrenched their standards from the ground and marched south. The Roman army of about 15,000 men sent to bar the way to Rome was destroyed, 11 miles north of the city. Three days after the battle the Gauls entered Rome, much of which they burnt. Senators were slaughtered in the Senate House, many citizens were saved only by the cackling geese which gave the alarm during the night. The barbarians demanded a huge bounty of gold to leave the city, and during the weighing procedure, Brennus, the Gallic leader, is said to have thrown his sword on to the scales with the words 'Vae victis' - 'Woe to the defeated'. A sentiment the Gauls were soon to experience first hand. Peter Wilcox explores the history, dress and equipment of Rome's Celtic enemies, including eight full page colour plates by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Chronology
• Introduction
• The Warrior
• Arms and Armour
• Warfare
• The Plates