Battle of Pedum (358 BC)

The Battle of Pedum was fought in 358 BC, near Pedum between the Roman Republic and a group of Gauls who had entered Latium. The Romans, led by dictator Gaius Sulpicius Peticus and his magister equitum, Marcus Valerius Poplicola, defeated the Gauls at their encampment near Pedum after a prolonged standoff.[2][3]

This article is about the 358 BC battle. For the 338 BC battle, see Battle of Pedum (338 BC).
Battle of Pedum
Part of Roman-Gaulish Wars
Date358 BC
Location
Pedum in Latium, Italy
Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Gauls
Commanders and leaders
Gaius Sulpicius Peticus
Marcus Valerius Poplicola		 unknown
Strength
2 consular armies; about 40,000[1] unknown

Background

News of Gallic tribes in Latium had been common towards the end of 359 BC. Upon hearing news of a force of Gauls entering Latium and encamping near Pedum, the Romans resolved to appoint Gaius Sulpicius Peticus as dictator, who, along with his magister equitum, Marcus Valerius Poplicola, quickly set off for Pedum in anticipation of an easy victory.[1]

Upon reaching Pedum, Peticus, to the displeasure of his men, ordered that no soldier be permitted to attack without his command. Peticus's men soon began publicly voicing their distaste for the dictator's orders. The opposition culminated when Sextus Tullius, one of Peticus's senior centurions, delivered a speech to his men, denouncing Peticus's choice and effectively convincing Peticius to engage with the Gauls.[4][5]

Battle

Skirmishing began between Romans and Gauls shortly after Tullius's address, prompting Peticus to formulate a strategy. Peticus decided to send a mix of muleteers and cavalry atop a nearby mountain, and lined up the rest of his forces along the plains near base of the mountain.[6] The Gauls were quick to attack after they spotted the Romans descending the mountain, but the move ultimately resulted in disorder, and the Romans were able to rout both the right and left flanks of the Gaulish forces, driving them to retreat. At this, Peticus ordered his cavalry and muleteers to intercept the fleeing Gallic army.[7][5]

Aftermath

Peticus, Poplicola, and the Roman force returned to Rome with a considerable amount of gold taken from the Gallic camps. The spoils were brought to the Capitoline Hill and consecrated.[7][3]

References
  1. Livy, Ab urbe condita 7.12
  2. Public Domain Bunbury, Edward (1857). "Pedum". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Vol. 2. London: John Murray.
  3. Forsythe, Gary (2005). A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War (1st ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-520-94029-1. OCLC 70728478.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. Livy 7.13
  5. Montagu, John Drogo (2000). Battles of the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Chronological Compendium of 667 Battles to 31 B.C., from the Historians of the Ancient World. London: Greenhill Books. pp. 159–160. ISBN 1-85367-389-7. OCLC 42699582.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. Livy 7.14
  7. Livy 7.15
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