The Roman Battles
In
these pages I will relate the great battles of the Roman state. Foot by foot
the Romans conquered the world outside the gates of their city. Along that
journey many enemies tried to stop them. For nearly every time, Rome prevailed. And when
the Romans had none left to defeat, they turned on each other. Unable to defend
themselves from the outside influence of others, they succumbed to them. Like
an apple on a tree she grew, ripened and lived, only to be consumed by those
who lived around her.
The
Roman soldier was unique in history. Originaly he was among the most affluent
of the men of Rome.
Only if he owned the land in or around the city was he called up for service.
This caused a feeling of civic pride that no other city was able to equal. As Rome's conquests spread
out from the city the soldier spread his culture and traditions. As politicians
the Romans bound the conquered towns to their own city, forging over time a
state that was undefeatable. But while Rome
would have continuous victories over the Italians, the city would be captured
by barbarians 121 years after she became a republic.
Battle of the Allia River
July 18, 386 BC
In
the 121st year of the republic and in the 365th year of the city, Rome was led by Military Tribunes
with the power of the consuls, known as Consular Tribunes. This year there were
six. 3 of them belonged to the Fabii clan. These men had, the year before, been
envoys to the city of Clusium.
Clusium was an Etruscan city that was being pressured by a tribe of northmen to
cede territory. They asked the most powerfull city in the region, Rome, for help. The 3
Fabians were a hostile band, who did not show a talent for negotiations. When
the barbarians, called Gauls, said that if the territory that was unused by
Clusium was not ceded to them, they would fight for it. The Romans asked what
right they had to do so. The Gauls said that their right was the weapons they
carried. They believed that peace should be sought first, but courage and arms
be used to achieve what peace could not. The Roman envoys, met with an equal
force of will as to their own, soon took up arms with the Clusines. In the
battle that followed the Romans fought at the front of the army of the
Etruscans. The Gauls who were fighting were called the Senones. The Romans were
recognised by the Gauls and when they saw them killing their own tribesmen in
battle, the Gauls were filled with understandable rage. Realizing who the true
enemy was, the Gauls retreated from Clusium. Believing that the Fabians would
be punished, the elders of the Senones sent an embassy to the Senate in Rome. The senators
realized the cause of the Gauls and the crime of the 3 Fabians. But since they
belonged to a family strong in influence and prestige, the senate would not
convict them and hand them over. And such was the popularity of the 3 Fabians
that they were elected to serve as Consular Tribunes for the next year. Their
names were Kaeso Fabius Ambustus, Quintus Fabius Ambustus, and Numerius Fabius
Ambustus. Those elected to serve with them were Quintus Sulpicius Longus,
Publius Cornelius Maluginensis, and Quintus Servilius Fidenas, who 4th term
this was. They entered office accordingly at the start of the year. Meanwhile
the Gauls in the north learned that the Romans had rewarded those who had
insulted them. When the spring was ending in Italy the Gauls moved south towards
Rome. Over time
the Romans learned that the Gauls were passing various towns through messages
sent to them. By the time of the summer solstice the Romans prepared for war.
The Romans raised a force said to be 40,000 and began to march north. The
number was likely exagerated, being probably closer to 12,000 but still the
largest army they ever had. Normally the Romans would appiont a Dictator to deal
with such an emergency, but the consular tribunes did not. The Romans met the
enemy 11 miles north of the city where the Allia joins the Tiber.
Here the Gauls reportedly amounted to 70,000 but they were at most half that
number. They were a frightning looking people who made terrible noises that the
Romans had never before encountered. There manner of fighting was broken and
chaotic, unlike the Romans who at this time fought in the Greek hoplite
fashion.
The
battle that followed wasn't really a battle at all. The Romans were outnumbered
at least 2 to 1 and their line was extended to the breaking point. But still
the Gauls line was longer. Brennus, the chieftan of the Gauls, suspected that
the Romans were going to attack his flank when his center was attacking the
center of the Roman line. On the right wing of the Roman line was a hill where
the tribunes posted reserves. Brennus attacked these reserves first and the
Romans there fell back to the Romans on the plain. In the Roman line the troops
were already terrified. When they saw their reserves fleeing they all began to
run. Those on the Roman left wing fled to the river and many drowned. Those
that made it across fled to Veii.
Those on the right wing fled back towards Rome.
On whole the Roman retreat was a mass of men struggling to outrun the Gauls.
The Roman causulties were all men who were cut down from behind, which suggests
some Gallic cavalry. After a while the survivors from the right wing made it to
the city. Rome's
walls at this time were strong earth walls, with several gates. No one bothered
to close the gates of the city. They immediately garrisoned the Citadel on the
Capitoline hill. So ended the "battle" of the Allia. This was a
humiliating event that Rome
would never forget. The day of the battle was a day on which no business could
be done ever after.
The
Romans were not prepared for this battle. The tribunes had set up no camp and
had not made the proper sacrifices. This would be remembered as the primary
reason for their defeat, but the fear of the Gauls was the real one. The date of the battle was July 18. On the Julian calendar
it would be closer to July 2. Plutarch
says the moon was full, and it was "about (the time of) the summer
solstice" so the calendar was by now almost 16 days ahead of where it
belonged, if 386 is the correct year. This battle was considered one of the
most important dates in early Roman history. Due to various chronological
problems which will I'll write about elsewhere, the Romans thought this battle
occured 4 years earlier than it actually did. That is why in nearly every
histoy book says this event occured in 390 BC. The battle took place 19 years
"after" the Greek naval battle of Aegospotami.
That battle took place in September of 405 BC. In any event, Rome was under siege and various legends are
told of how the Romans got themselves out. I'll relate that story elsewhere.