Diviciacus (Aedui)

Diviciacus or Divitiacus was a druid of the Aedui tribe who lived in Gaul during the 1st century BC. He is the only druid from antiquity whose existence is attested by name. The name may mean "avenger".[1] His date of birth is unknown, though he was an adult during the late 60s BC, and an aristocrat who took part in the clans' decision-making, as described by Julius Caesar in Caesar's The Gallic War.

Not to be confused with his namesake Diviciacus, king of the Suessiones.

Diviciacus supported the Aedui's pre-existing alliance with Rome. He was a leader of the pro-Roman faction, and would ultimately aid Julius Caesar in his conquest of Gaul. However, his younger brother Dumnorix was a leader of the tribe’s anti-Roman faction; who “...thought it better to be dominated by their fellow Gauls... rather than the Romans.”.[2] Dumnorix would secretly work to undermine Caesar’s and Diviciacus’ efforts in Gaul. Both brothers appear in Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War.

Visit to Rome

In 63 BC, Diviciacus survived the Battle of Magetobriga, where forces of the Sequani and Arverni, together with Germanic troops under the Suebi king Ariovistus, massacred the Aedui.[3] Thereafter, the Aedui became tributary to the Sequani. Following the Aedui defeat, Diviciacus traveled to Rome and spoke before the Roman Senate to ask for military aid. While there he was a guest of Cicero, who wrote of his knowledge of divination, astronomy and natural philosophy, and names him as a druid.[4] Julius Caesar, who knew him well, noted Diviciacus' particular skills as a diplomat without calling him a druid.

Alliance with Caesar

Following Caesar's victory over the Helvetii, Diviciacus was a prominent member of the Gallic delegation to Caesar, and was appointed as their chief spokesman. He brought the Gallic people's concerns to Caesar regarding Ariovistus, who had taken the lives and liberty of the Aedui, yet he also drew attention to the fact that the lands of the Sequani (ancient enemies of the Aedui) were also being hijacked by Ariovistus.[5][6][7] The Gauls' request provided the catalyst for the next phase of Caesar's Conquest of Gaul, when Caesar went on to confront and defeat Ariovistus.

Diviciacus had a brother, Dumnorix, who was aggressively anti-Roman. Throughout the Gallic Wars Dumnorix was able to actively sabotage Caesar's conquests many times thanks to his powerful position among the Aedui. Caesar asserts that Dumnorix conspired to take all of Gaul through his influence with the Helvetii, through the cunning statesman Orgetorix, and the Sequani.[5] After defeating him in battle, Caesar spared his life so as to avoid antagonizing Diviciacus, who had begged Caesar not to punish his brother. Later, however, Dumnorix attempted to escape from Caesar's control and was killed in the attempt.

Social positions

Delamarre contends that, in addition to holding the religious office of druid, Diviciacus may have been the Uergobretos, the annually elected political leader or chief magistrate[8] of the Aedui, one of the most powerful nations in Gaul. If true, his combination of military and religious office responsibilities in Aedua paralleled Caesar's duties among the Romans (in Rome, Caesar was Pontifex Maximus in addition to being a magistrate and general). Diviciacus would have been Uergobretos sometime before 52 BC, when the election was contested between Convictolitavis and Cotos.[9] The date of Diviciacus' death is not known; Cicero speaks of him in the past tense in 44 BC.[10]

Diviciacus appears as a special Druid unit in the 2003 video game Praetorians, part of which is set during the Gallic Wars. In the game, Diviciacus serves as a healer, frequently appearing on the side of Rome during the campaign. His name is spelled "Divitiacus".

The lyrics to the Eluveitie song "(Do)minion" are written from the point of view of Diviciacus, addressed to his brother Dumnorix.

References
  1. Delamarre 2003, p. 145–146.
  2. Goldsworthy, Caesar, 206
  3. Brunaux 2005, p. 282.
  4. Cicero, De Divinatione I xli.
  5. Caesar-Translated by Hammond, Carolyn. The Gallic War. Oxford World's Classics. pp. 3–34.
  6. Walter, Caesar: A Biography, 158 and 161
  7. Goldsworthy, Caesar, 271
  8. Delamarre 2003, p. 315.
  9. Brunaux 2005, p. 283.
  10. Cicero, De Diviatione 1.90

Bibliography
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