The Senones: "Woe to the Vanquished!"

The Senones were a Celtic people originally settled in Gaul (around today's Sens), but who then – like many Celts – migrated to northern Italy, to the region around Ancona (Ager Gallicus).

The sack of Rome (387 BC)

Under their leader Brennus the Senones beat a Roman army at the Allia in 387 BC and took Rome itself – only the Capitol held out. Legend says the sacred geese of Juno warned the defenders. Rome had to buy itself free with gold.

"Vae victis!"

When the Romans complained the gold scales were rigged, Brennus is said to have thrown his sword onto the scale and cried: "Vae victis!" – "Woe to the vanquished!" The phrase became proverbial. Centuries later Caesar destroyed the Italian Senones in the course of conquest.

"Woe to the vanquished!"Brennus, after Livy, From the Founding of the City V (public domain, own translation)

The Senones show that the Celts were the terror of Rome long before the Germani. Continue with the Arverni, Aedui and Boii.

Read more with us

The Arverni · The Aedui · The Boii · The Celtic Warriors · The Treveri.

Sources & literature

Livy, From the Founding of the City V; Polybius, Histories II; quote public domain (own translation).

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