Roman–Gallic wars

Over the course of nearly four centuries, the Roman Republic fought a series of wars against various Celtic tribes, whom they collectively described as Galli, or Gauls.

Gaulish armies, some perhaps fighting as mercenaries in the service of the cities of Magna Graecia, plundered territory in Etruria and Latium during the fourth century, famously sacking Rome circa 390 BC.

In the first century BC, Caesar's campaigns in Gaul brought most of the Gallic territory in western Europe under Roman control.

[2] Major conflicts on the Italian side of the Alps include: 390[i] BC: Brennus leads the Senones to Clusium in Etruria.

They depart laden with booty, which according to varying traditions was recovered when the Gauls were defeated by a Caeretan army, or by Camillus.

Titus Manlius Imperiosus wins the surname Torquatus after defeating a Gaulish champion in single combat, and taking his torque as a trophy.

Despite various hardships, the Romans defeat their attackers, and a young Marcus Valerius Corvus wins everlasting fame by slaying a giant Gaul in single combat, aided by a raven, from which he takes his surname.

[54][55] in 107 BC, the Cimbri and Ambrones, together with their allies Helvetii, defeat a Roman army near Agendicum in the Battle of Burdigala, in which the consul Lucius Cassius Longinus is killed.

After discovering that some of the Gauls are receiving aid from Britain, Caesar mounts the first Roman military expedition to that island.