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| Battle of Faesulae |
| Part of Roman-Gaulish Wars |
|
|
| Combatants |
| Roman Republic |
Gauls |
| Commanders |
| Aemilius and a Roman Praetor |
|
| Strength |
| 6000 Romans |
estimated at 10000 |
The Battle of Faesulae was fought in 225 BC between the Roman Republic and a group of Gauls living in Italy. The Gauls defeated the Romans, but the same year, a battle at Telamon had the opposite outcome. A general call to arms was issued throughout Italy in the early months of 225 BC because of the growing threat of the Gauls to the Romans.Seventy thousand Samnites, Etruscans, Umbrians, Campanians and Romans joined forces to meet the common threat that faced them to the North. Roughly a quarter of this huge force was called up for active service,while the rest was employed in garrison duty,or held back in reserve.One of the consuls,Caius Atilius,who was fighting in Sardinia,recieved orders to return immediately without delay.The other consul, Lucius Aemilius,with a full consular army,took up position at Ariminum,to guard the eastern coast route.Another army,composed of Sabines and Etruscans,and commanded by a Praetor,advanced into Etruria,and it was here that the decisive engagement took place.The Gauls,wishing to avoid an encounter with Aemilius,marched rapidly through the central passes of the Apennines, and, entering Etruria,passed on unopposed as far as Clusium.plundering and burning as they went.Here they were brought to a stand by the Praetor,who had made a nasty retogade movement on perceiving that the enemy had got between him and Rome.The Gauls then fell back toward Faesulae,leaving their cavary to cover their retreat,and the Roman general,pursuing them incautiously,allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush and suffered a grave defeat.The Roman force was only saved from total destruction by the arrival of Aemilius,who had left his position at Ariminum as soon as he learnt that the Gauls were on the march to Rome.Thus was the battle of Faesulae.
