The Senones – the Celts Who Sacked Rome

History & Finds 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).

Bronze coin of the Senones with a bird motif, before 52 BC. cgb, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Celts on both sides of the Alps

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

The Senones were a Celtic people who appeared in two branches: one in Gaul around today's Sens, another in northern Italy on the Adriatic coast. Both played a dramatic role in the history of Rome.

Brennus sacks Rome

In 387 BC the Italian Senones under their leader Brennus marched against Rome, defeated the Roman army and plundered the city. It was a primal catastrophe of Roman history that engraved itself deep in the memory of the Romans.

"Vae victis!"

According to legend Brennus, while weighing the ransom gold, is said to have thrown his sword into the scale and cried: "Vae victis!" – "Woe to the vanquished!" The exclamation became a byword for the right of the stronger.

The Senones in Gaul

The Gaulish branch around Sens (Agedincum) later joined the revolt of Vercingetorix. The name of the city of Sens recalls the tribe to this day.

Evidence: The sack of Rome in 387 BC is reported in detail by Livy (Book V); the Gaulish Senones are named by Caesar (BG).

Myth check: Famous details like "Vae victis!" and the warning geese of the Capitol come from Livy, who wrote centuries later and embellished the events with legend. The core – a Celtic sack of Rome – is historical, the embellishment is not.

What is documented: The battle at the Allia and the taking of Rome by Celts around 387 BC, the Celtic settlement in northern Italy and the later subjugation by Rome (Livy, Polybius).

What is interpretation: Much of the march on Rome is legend, embellished by Livy centuries later – the saving geese, the exact "Vae victis". Whether the leader was really called "Brennus" or that was a title is uncertain; a second "Brennus" appears later at Delphi.

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

Glanz & Gravur — From our workshop: Celtic-Germanic motifs on natural slate, laser-engraved. To the shop →

Sources & literature

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

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The Senones: "Woe to the Vanquished!"

Celts on both sides of the Alps

Brennus sacks Rome

"Vae victis!"

The Senones in Gaul

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