The Battle of Telamon

Rome for many years was at peace with the tribes of Cisalpine Gaul (the Po river valley in northern Italy). When in 230 BC e. Transalpine Gauls through the Alps entered Italy, it was the fighting that drove them out, although six years earlier their united army had broken up due to civil strife only at Arimin ^[1] . But when the Romans divided the former territory of the Gauls of Pitsen (also known as the “Gallic Field” ^[1] ), in 234 BC. e. between their own citizens, this caused outrage among the battles and insubra , who feared further penetration into the Po river valley ^[1] .

In 225 BC e., battles and insubra raised funds to pay hired gesat from Transalpine Gaul led by Aneroest and Concolitan to fight Rome. Alarmed by this, the Romans entered into an agreement with the Carthaginian governor in Spain, Hasdrubal the Beautiful , on the delimitation of spheres of influence on the peninsula , after which they began to prepare to repel the attack from the north.

The Republic called on its Italian allies to deploy troops. Consul Lucius Emilius Pap had under the command of four legions of Roman citizens with a total number of 22 thousand soldiers and 32 thousand allied forces, stationing most of them in Arimin. 54 thousand sabins and Etruscans were stationed in Etruria under the praetor command, and 40 thousand allied warriors of the Gallic tribes of Umbra , Venets , Sarsinates and Tsenomani were to attack the possessions of the battles to divert their forces. Another consul, Gaius Atilius Regulus, had an army similar to the Pope, but was stationed in Sardinia . In Rome itself there was an army of 21.5 thousand citizens and 32 thousand allies, two reserve legions remained in Sicily and in Tarentum ^[2] .

The Gauls entered Etruria and headed straight for Rome. During a three-day march from the capital, the Roman army met them near the city of Clusius , where both sides built camps. That same night, the Gauls, leaving their cavalry and lighted bonfires as bait, advanced to the city of Fezula (modern Fiesole ), where they built defenses. In the morning, the Gallic cavalry began to move in full view of the Romans, who began to pursue the "retreating" enemy. On habitable fortifications they were met by the rest of the army. After a hard battle, six thousand Romans fell to the battlefield, the rest retreated to the hills ^[3] .

That same night, Pap arrived, who had set up a camp nearby. Aneroest convinced the Gaul warriors to go west to the sea coast along with their prey, and continue the war later. Dad began to pursue the rear of the Gallic army, but did not dare to give a general battle. Arriving from Sardinia, Regulus landed in Pisa , after which he headed to Rome. His scouts met the Gallic advanced foragers , who were defeated and captured. From them, the commander learned about the proximity of the main army, as well as the second Roman army ^[4] .

Regulus placed the available troops in battle formation and sent several troops to occupy the hill above the road along which the raiders were supposed to go. The Gauls, who did not know about the arrival of the second consul, took the Romans for the Pope's horsemen, after which they sent several light infantry and cavalry detachments to defend their strategic position. Realizing that two armies of the republic were participating at once against them, the Gallic infantry advanced in front and behind. Against the Pope, insubra were also nominated, against Regulus - battles and Taurisks, the flanks were protected by carts and chariots. A small detachment guarded the prey on another hill nearby. The struggle for the main hill was fierce, and despite the pope's cavalry, Regulus was killed and his head delivered to the leaders. As a result, the Roman cavalry was able to keep the hill ^[5] .

The Romans began to advance from two directions, throwing darts at the rear of the Gesat, fighting naked with small shields. Part of this unit attacked the enemy, part - retreated, causing panic among the allies. After that, the skirmishers retreated, and the Roman infantry began to move in the ranks of maniples . Insubras, fights and Taurisks fiercely resisted, but in close combat, Roman shields and short swords were more effective than the Gaul's long swords. Finally, Roman cavalry from the hill attacked the flank of the Gallic army. The Gauls' infantry was destroyed, only the cavalry could escape ^[6] .

About 40 thousand galls fell, and 10 thousand were taken prisoner. Aneroest fled with a small group of supporters, with whom he later committed suicide . In 224 BC e. the Romans conquered the battles in 222 BC. e. - insubras. Both tribes ceded part of their territory, issued hostages and paid tribute. In the field of fighting, a colony of Mutin ( Modena ) was founded, on the Po river - Cremona and Placencia ( Piacenza ) ^[7] .

Sources

• Polybius . General History , II, 24–31

Works

• Kovalev S.I. Part I. Republic. Chapter XIV. Carthage and Rome from 241 to 218. The Conquest of Cisalpine Gaul // History of Rome. Course of lectures . - 2nd edition, revised and supplemented. - L .: Leningrad State University Publishing House, 1986. - 744 p. - 25,000 copies.
• Allen, Stephen. The battle of Telamon - 225 BC e. // Celts. Lord of the Battle = Lords of Battle: The World of the Celtic Warrior. - M .: Exo, 2010 .-- 224 p. - (Military history of mankind). - 3000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-699-38415-0 .

• Kozlenko A. Celts: Roman conquest of Cisalpine Gaul (Neopr.) . Site "WarSpot" . LLC Wargaming Rus . Date accessed August 27, 2017.