The Battle of

Clastidium Clastidium (modern Casteggio), was a village of the Ligurian tribe of Anamares (Marici named also) in Gallia Cispadana, on the Via Postumia, 5 miles east of Iria (modern Voghera) and 31 miles west of Placentia. Here in 222 BC, Marcus Claudius ...

was fought in 222 BC between a

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...

an army led by the Roman consul

Marcus Claudius Marcellus Marcus Claudius Marcellus (; 270 – 208 BC), five times elected as consul of the Roman Republic, was an important Roman military leader during the Gallic War of 225 BC and the Second Punic War. Marcellus gained the most prestigious award a Roma ...

and the

Insubres The Insubres or Insubri were an ancient Celtic population settled in Insubria, in what is now the Italian region of Lombardy. They were the founders of Mediolanum ( Milan). Though completely Gaulish at the time of Roman conquest, they were the r ...

, a Celtic people in northern Italy. Florus writes that the Insubres were led by

Viridomarus Viridomarus or Britomartus as translations vary, (died 222 BC) was a Gaulish military leader who led an army against an army of the Roman Republic at the Battle of Clastidium. The Romans won the battle, and in the process, Marcus Claudius Marcellu ...

, Florus. Epitome of Roman History, Book 1.1 or Britomartus, as the name varies in translation. The Romans won the battle, and in the process, Marcellus earned the ''

spolia opima The ''spolia opima'' ("rich spoils") were the armour, arms, and other effects that an ancient Roman general stripped from the body of an opposing commander slain in single combat. The ''spolia opima'' were regarded as the most honourable of th ...

'', one of the highest honors in ancient Rome, by killing the king in single combat. It was also notable as one of the few battles won by the Roman cavalry without any aid by the

legion Legion may refer to: Military * Roman legion, the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army * Spanish Legion, an elite military unit within the Spanish Army * Legion of the United States, a reorganization of the United States Army from 179 ...

Background

After the successful campaign of

consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throu ...

Publius Furius Philus Publius Furius Philus was a consul in 223 BC, a praetor in 216, and a censor in 214. He died the following year, before resigning his office. Family and background Furius was a member of the patrician '' gens Furia'', an ancient and noble house ...

and Gaius Flaminius in 223 BC against the

, the latter sent out ambassadors begging for peace to the Roman senate. The new consuls

and

Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus (died 211 BC) was a Roman general and statesman during the third century BC. He played a major part in the Second Punic War establishing Roman Rule in the east of the Iberian Peninsula and tying up several Carthagini ...

however strongly urged that no peace should be granted to them. On meeting with a refusal, the Insubres decided to fight to the last and hired a force of thirty thousand

Gaesatae The Gaesatae or Gaesati ( Greek Γαισάται) were a group of Gallic mercenary warriors who lived in the Alps near the river Rhône and fought against the Roman Republic at the Battle of Telamon in 225 BC., s.v. ''Gaesatae''. According to s ...

mercenaries to aid their cause. The Roman consuls, when the war season came, invaded the territory of the Insubres with their legions, and laid siege to the city of Acerrae, nowadays in the area of Pizzighettone, between Cremona and Lodi (south of Milan). The Insubres could not come to the assistance of the besieged, as the Romans had occupied all the advantageous positions around the city. But with the object of making the latter raise the siege, they crossed the Po with part of their forces, and entering the territory of the Anares, laid siege to a town there called

. On the consuls learning of this, Marcellus set off in haste with two thirds of his cavalry (about 3,200 men, assuming a full complement of 4,800

equites The ''equites'' (; literally "horse-" or "cavalrymen", though sometimes referred to as "knights" in English) constituted the second of the property-based classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the senatorial class. A member of the equestrian ...

for two consular armies) and a small body of his fittest infantry to relieve the besieged. He left Gnaeus with most of the army to maintain the siege of Acerrae.

Battle

As soon as they were aware of the enemy's arrival, the Celts raised the siege and advanced to meet them, drawn up in order of battle. In response, Marcellus led his squadrons of cavalry forward and tried to outflank them, extending his wings into a thin line until he was not far from the enemy. His horse was temporarily seized with panic and turned away from the Gallic line, which he could convert into a spectacle of dedication to the Gods. He then vowed that he would consecrate to

Jupiter Feretrius The numerous epithets of Jupiter indicate the importance and variety of the god's cult in ancient Roman religion. Capitoline cult Jupiter's most ancient attested forms of cult are those of the state. The most important of his sanctuaries in Rome ...

the most beautiful suit of armor among them. Meanwhile, Viridomarus had ridden before his men and issued a challenge for

single combat Single combat is a duel between two single warriors which takes place in the context of a battle between two armies. Instances of single combat are known from Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The champions were often combatants who repre ...

to the Roman consul. Marcellus accepted and promptly galloped at his opponent, unhorsing him on his first pass with his

lance A lance is a spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier (lancer). In ancient and medieval warfare, it evolved into the leading weapon in cavalry charges, and was unsuited for throwing or for repeated thrusting, unlike s ...

. He then dispatched Viridomarus with two more thrusts before dismounting to strip his fallen foe of his beautiful bejeweled armor. Encouraged, the Roman cavalry charged at the Gallic horse and foot, who at first stood firm but were taken both in the rear and flank and were put to rout. Thousands of Gauls were killed in the pursuit, many drowning in the Po.

Aftermath

Encouraged by the victory the Romans took Acerrae shortly afterward, while the demoralized Gauls retreated to

Mediolanum Mediolanum, the ancient city where Milan now stands, was originally an Insubrian city, but afterwards became an important Roman city in northern Italy. The city was settled by the Insubres around 600 BC, conquered by the Romans in 222 BC, and ...

, the largest city of the Insubres. Gnaeus followed close on their heels, and suddenly appeared before Mediolanum. The Gauls at first did not stir, but, when he was on his way back to Acerrae, they sallied out, and made a bold attack on his rear, which were only beaten off with difficulty. Gnaeus, following them, laid waste the country and took Mediolanum itself by assault, upon which the chieftains of the Insubres lost all hope and surrendered unconditionally. Thus the Romans succeeded in conquering the largest independent Celtic tribe in Italy,Polybius Histories II 17.4-5 and firmly established their hegemony over the

Po Valley The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain ( it, Pianura Padana , or ''Val Padana'') is a major geographical feature of Northern Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of including its Venetic ex ...

, then the most productive agricultural region in the peninsula.

References

{{Reflist 222 BC

3rd century BC in the Roman Republic Clastidium 222 BC Clastidium 222 BC

Background

Battle

Aftermath

See also

References