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.
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.