Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 35.5

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[1] At about the second hour the battle began. The left squadron¹ of the allies and the irregular troops² were fighting in the front line; their commanders were two lieutenants of consular rank, Marcus Marcellus³ and Tiberius Sempronius,⁴ consul of the preceding year.

[2] The new consul was now with the leading standards, now holding back the legions in reserve, lest in their ardour for the fight they⁵ should rush forward before the signal was given.

[3] He ordered two military tribunes, Quintus and Publius Minucius, to lead the cavalry of these legions beyond the flanks of the battle-line into open ground, whence, when the signal was given, they were to attack from the open.⁶

[4] As he was thus engaged, a runner from Tiberius Sempronius Longus came to him, saying that the irregulars were not holding the Gallic attack

[5] and that many of them had been killed and that those who were left, partly as a result of their exertions, partly from fear, had lost their zest for fighting. He should send in, if he saw fit, one of the two legions before a disgraceful defeat was sustained.

[6] The second legion was sent forward and the irregular troops relieved.⁷

[7] Then the battle was restored, since fresh troops, a legion with full ranks, had entered the fight; and the left squadron was withdrawn from the battle and the right took its place in the battle-line. The sun with its fierce rays scorched the bodies of the Gauls, which were little capable of enduring heat; nevertheless, in dense ranks, resting now on one another, now on their shields, they withstood the attacks of the Romans.

[8] When the consul saw this, he ordered Gaius Livius Salinator,⁸ who commanded the auxiliary cavalry, to charge at the utmost speed, the legionary cavalry to be in support.

[9] This storm of horsemen at first threw the battle-line of the Gauls into confusion and disorder, then scattered it, but without causing a rout.

[10] The captains prevented this, striking with their staffs the backs of the terror-stricken and forcing them back into the line, but the auxiliary cavalry, riding among them, would not allow this.⁹

[11] The consul urged the troops to make a little more effort;¹⁰ victory, he said, was in their grasp; they should press on while they saw the enemy disordered and in terror; if they permitted the ranks to be reformed they would fight again a new and doubtful battle. He ordered the standard-bearers to advance.

[12] All joined in the effort and at last turned the enemy to flight. As they were fleeing and scattering this way and that in rout, at that moment the legionary cavalry was let loose to pursue them.

[13] Fourteen thousand of the Boii perished on that day; one thousand and ninety-two were captured alive, seven hundred and twenty-one cavalrymen, with three of their commanders, two hundred and twelve standards and sixty-three carts were taken.

[14] But for the Romans the victory was not bloodless; more than five thousand of the soldiers, Romans and allies, fell, twenty-three centurions, four commanders of allies, and Marcus Genucius and Quintus and Marcus Marcius, military tribunes of the second legion.

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor). Medford, MA. .

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Sage, Evan T.; Schlesinger, Alfred C., translators. Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959. (Loeb Classical Library))

Editions (3)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 35.5 focus

[1] hora secunda ferme concursum est. sinistra sociorum equitum ala et extraordinarii prima in acie pugnabant; praeerant duo consulares legati, M. Marcellus et Ti. Sempronius,

[2] prioris anni consul. novus consul nunc ad prima signa erat, nunc legiones continebat in subsidiis, ne certaminis studio prius procurrerent, quam datum signum esset.

[3] equites earum extra aciem in locum patentem Q. et P. Minucios tribunos militum educere iussit, unde, cum signum dedisset, impetum ex aperto facerent.

[4] haec agenti nuntius venit a Ti. Sempronio Longo non sustinere extraordinarios impetum Gallorum;

[5] et . caesos permultos esse et, qui supersint, partim labore partim metu remisisse ardorem pugnae. legionem alteram ex duabus, si videretur, summitteret, priusquam ignominia acciperetur.

[6] secunda missa est legio, et extraordinarily extraordinarii recepti. tum redintegrata est pugna, cum et recens miles et frequens ordinibus legio successisset.

[7] et sinistra ala ex proelio subducta est, dextra in primam aciem subiit. sol ingenti ardore torrebat minime patientia aestus Gallorum corpora; densis tamen ordinibus nunc alii in alios, nunc in scuta incumbentes sustinebant impetus Romanorum.

[8] quod ubl ubi animadvertit consul, ad perturbandos ordines eorum C. Livium Salinatorem, qui praeerat alariis equitibus, quam concitatissimos equos immittere iubet et legionarios equites in subsidiis esse.

[9] haec procella equestris primo confudit et turbavit, deinde dissipavit aciem Gallorum,

[10] non tamen ut terga darent. obstabant duces, hastilibus caedentes terga trepidantium et redire in ordines cogentes; sed interequitantes alarii non patiebantur.

[11] consul obtestabatur milites, ut paulum adniterentur; victoriam in manibus esse; dum turbatos et trepidantis viderent, instarent; si restitui ordines sivissent, integro rursus eos proelio et dubio dimicaturos.

[12] inferre vexillarios iussit signa. omnes conisi tandem averterunt hostem. postquam terga dabant et in fugam passim effundebantur, tum ad persequendos eos legionarii equites immissi.

[13] quattuordecim milia Boiorum eo die sunt caesa; vivi capti mille nonaginta duo, equites septingenti viginti unus, tres duces eorum, signa militaria ducenta duodecim, carpenta sexaginta tria.

[14] nec Romanis incruenta victoria fuit; supra quinque milia militum, ipsorum aut sociorum, amissa, centuriones tres et viginti, praefecti socium quattuor et M. Genucius et Q. et M. Marcii tribuni militum secundae legionis.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Livy in Fourteen Volumes. Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Schlesinger, Alfred C., editors. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959 (printing).) — 30.5 focus

[1]

his praeparatis advocatoque consilio et dicere exploratoribus iussis quae conperta adferrent Masinissaque, cui omnia hostium nota erant, postremo ipse quid pararet in proximam noctem proponit;

[2] tribunis edicit ut, ubi praetorio dimisso signa concinuissent, extemplo educerent castris legiones.

[3] ita ut imperaverat signa sub occasum solis efferri sunt coepta. ad primam ferme vigiliam agmen explicaverunt; media nocte—septem enim milia itineris erant —modico gradu ad castra hostium perventum est.

[4] Ibi¹ Scipio partem copiarum Laelio Masinissamque ac Numidas adtribuit et castra Syphacis invadere ignesque conicere iubet.

[5] singulos deinde separatim Laelium ac Masinissam seductos ² obtestatur ut, quantum nox providentiae adimat, tantum diligentia ³ expleant curaque:

[6] se Hasdrubalem Punicaque castra adgressurum; ceterum non ante coepturum quam ignem in regiis castris conspexisset.

[7] neque ea res morata diu est; nam ut primis ⁴ casis iniectus ignis haesit, extemplo proxima quaeque et deinceps continua amplexus ⁵ totis se passim dissipavit ⁶ castris.

[8] et trepidatio quidem, quantam ⁷ necesse erat in nocturno effuso tam late incendio, orta est; ceterum fortuitum, non hostilem ac bellicum ignem rati esse, sine armis ad restinguendum incendium effusi in armatos incidere hostes,

[9] maxime Numidas ab Masinissa notitia regiorum castrorum ad exitus itinerum idoneis locis dispositos.

[10] multos⁸ in ipsis cubilibus semisomnos hausit flamma; multi ⁹ praecipiti fuga ruentes super alios alii in angustiis portarum obtriti sunt.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 35.5 focus

[1]

hora secunda ferme concursum est. sinistra sociorum [equitum] ala et extraordinarii prima in acie pugnabant; praeerant duo consulares legati, M. Marcellus et Ti. Sempronius , prioris anni consul.

[2] novus consul nunc ad prima signa erat, nunc legiones continebat in subsidiis, ne certaminis studio prius procurrerent, quam datum signum esset.

[3] equites earum extra aciem in locum patentem. Q. et P. Minucios tribunos militum educere iussit; inde, cum signum dedisset, impetum ex aperto facerent.

[4] haec agenti nuntius venit a Ti. Sempronio Longo non sustinere extraordinarios impetum Gallorum;

[5] et caesos permultos esse et, qui supersint, partim labore partim metu remisisse ardorem pugnae. legionem alteram ex duabus, si videretur, summitteret, priusquam ignominia acciperetur.

[6] secunda missa est legio, et extraordinarii recepti. tum redintegrata est pugna, cum et recens miles et frequens ordinibus legio successisset. et sinistra ala ex proelio ¹ subducta est, dextra in primam aciem subiit.

[7] sol ingenti ardore torrebat minime patientia aestus Gallorum corpora; densis tamen ordinibus nunc alii in alios, nunc in scuta incumbentes sustinebant impetus Romanorum.

[8] quod ubi animadvertit consul, ad perturbandos ordines eorum C. Livium Salinatorem , qui praeerat alariis equitibus, quam concitatissimos equos immittere iubet et legionarios equites in subsidiis esse.

[9] haec procella equestris primo confudit et turbavit, deinde dissipavit aciem Gallorum, non tamen ut terga darent.

[10] obstabant duces, hastilibus caedentes terga trepidantium et redire in ordines cogentes; sed interequitantes alarii non patiebantur.

[12] inferre vexillarios iussit signa. omnes conisi tandem averterunt hostem. postquam terga dabant et in fugam passim effundebantur, tum ad persequendos eos legionarii equites immissi.

[13] quattuordecim milia Boiorum eo die sunt caesa; vivi capti mille nonaginta duo, equites septingenti viginti unus, tres duces eorum, signa militaria ducenta duodecim, carpenta sexaginta tria.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 35.5 focus

[1]

The battle began about the second hour. The left brigade of the allies, and the Extraordinaries, fought in the first line, and were commanded by two lieutenant-generals of consular dignity, Marcus Marcellus and Tiberius Sempronius, who had been consul the year before.

[2] The present consul was sometimes employed in the front of the line, sometimes in keeping back the legions in reserve, that they might not, through eagerness for fighting, come up to the attack until the signal was given.

[3] He ordered the two Minucii, Quintus and Publius, military tribunes, to lead off the cavalry of the legions into open ground, at some distance from the line; and "when he should give them the signal, to charge the enemy through the clear space.

[4] While he was thus employed, a message came from Tiberius Sempronius Longus, that the Extraordinaries could not support the onset of the Gauls; that great numbers had already fallen; and that partly through weariness, partly through fear, the ardour of the survivors was much abated.

[5] He recommended it therefore to the consul, if he thought proper, to send up one or other of the two legions, before the army suffered disgrace.

[6] The second legion was accordingly sent, and the Extraordinaries were ordered to retire. By the legion coming up, with its men fresh, and the ranks complete in their numbers, the fight was renewed with vigour.

[7] The left wing was withdrawn out of the action, and the right took its place in the van. The intense heat of the sun discomposed the Gauls, whose bodies were very ill qualified to endure it: nevertheless, keeping their ranks close, and leaning sometimes on each other, sometimes on their bucklers, they withstood the attack of the Romans;

[8] which, when the consul observed, in order to break their ranks, he ordered Caius Livius Salinator, commander of the allied cavalry, to charge them at full speed, and the legionary cavalry to remain in reserve.

[9] This tempest of cavalry first confused and disordered, and at length entirely broke the line of the Gauls; yet it did not make them fly.

[10] That was prevented by their officers, who, when they quitted their posts, struck them on the back with their spears, and compelled them to return to their ranks: but the allied cavalry, riding in among them, did not suffer them to recover their order.

[11] The consul exhorted his soldiers to

continue their efforts a little longer, for victory was within their reach; to press the enemy, while they saw them disordered and dismayed; for, if they were suffered to recover their ranks, they would enter on a fresh battle with doubtful success.

[12] He ordered the standard-bearers to advance with the standards, and then, all exerting themselves at once, they at length forced the enemy to give way. As soon as they turned their backs, and fled precipitately on every side, the legionary cavalry was sent in pursuit of them.

[13] On that day, fourteen thousand of the Boians were slain; one thousand and ninety-two taken —as were seven hundred and twenty-one horsemen, and three of their commanders, with two hundred and twelve military standards, and sixty-three chariots.

[14] Nor did the Romans gain the victory without loss of blood: of themselves, or their allies, were lost above five thousand men, twenty-three centurions, four praefects of the allies, and two military tribunes of the second legion, Marcus Genucius and Marcus Marcius.

History of Rome Perseus (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.) — 35.5 focus

[1]

The action began about eight o'clock. The left wing of the allied cavalry and the "special" corps were fighting in the front line, and two generals of consular rank-M. Marcellus and Tiberius Sempronius; the latter had been consul the previous year-were in command of them.

[2] The consul Merula was at one moment at the front and at another holding back the legions who were in reserve, lest in their eagerness they should go forward before the signal was given.

[3] Two military tribunes, Q. Minucius and P. Minucius, received orders to take the cavalry of these two legions outside the line and when the signal was given to deliver an attack from the open.

[4] Whilst the consul was making these dispositions a message came from Ti. Sempronius Longus informing him that the special corps were not able

[5] to withstand the onslaught of the Gauls, a great many had been killed, and the survivors, wearied out and dispirited, had lost all heart for fighting. He asked the consul, therefore, if he approved, to send up one of the legions before they were humiliated by defeat.

[6] The second legion was sent up and the special corps was withdrawn. The battle was now restored, as the legion came up with its men fresh and its maniples complete.

[7] As the left division was withdrawn from the fighting the right came up into the front line. The hot sun was blazing down on the Gauls, who were incapable of standing the heat; nevertheless they sustained the attacks of the Roman army in mass formation, leaning against each other or on their shields.

[8] On perceiving this the consul ordered C. Livius Salinator, the allied cavalry leader, to send his men at a hard gallop against them, and the cavalry of the legions to act as supports.

[9] This hurricane of cavalry confused, disordered, and finally broke up the Gaulish lines, but they did not turn to flee.

[10] Their officers began to stop any attempt at flight by striking the waverers with their spears and forcing them back into their ranks, but the cavalry, riding in amongst them, did not allow them to do this.

[11] The consul urged his men on; only a little more effort was needed, he said; victory was within their grasp, they saw how disordered and demoralised the enemy were, and they must press the attack. If they allowed them to re-form their ranks, the battle would begin all over again with doubtful result.

[12] He ordered the standard-bearers to advance, and with one united effort they at last forced the enemy to give way. When once the Gauls were scattered in flight the cavalry of the legions was sent in pursuit.

[13] Fourteen thousand of the Boii were killed in that day's fighting, 1902 taken prisoners, as well as 721 of their cavalry, including three officers; 212 standards were also captured and 63 military wagons.

[14] Nor was the victory a bloodless one for the Romans; they and the allied contingents together lost over 5000 men, including 23 centurions, four praefects of allies and three military tribunes in the second legion-M. Genucius, Q. Marcius and M. Marcius.

Notes on the current edition

Ab Urbe Condita With An English Translation, books 1-10, 21-45, with periochae 11-20

1. Cf. XXXI. xxi. 7; the dextra ala in this case was apparently with the Roman legions: see sect. 6 below.

2. These troops were not an organic part of the legion: cf. XXXIV. xlvii. 4 and the note.

3. Probably the consul of 196 B.C. (XXXIII. xxv. 4).

4. Cf. XXXIV. xlii. 3.

5. B.C. 193

6. The phrase ex aperto does not repeat the idea of in locum patentem above, but indicates that no ambuscade or masked attack was planned for the cavalry.

7. The manœuvre is that known as

passing through

friendly troops, each unit moving through the intervals separating the maniples of the corresponding element.

8. Cf. xxiv. 6 below.

9. That is, would not permit the enemy to reorganize their line.

10. B.C. 193

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 35.5

Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor)

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