How One Man Nearly Ended Ancient Rome: The Story of Marcus Papirius

After the Battle of Allia, where the Roman Army was crushed by the invading Gauls, Rome was left practically defenseless. The invading army entered the city and stood shocked at what they saw. The patricians stood stoically before their homes left wide open. Meanwhile, the plebeians boarded up their homes, and the Gauls had no qualms about ransacking them. But if there was wealth to be found in Rome, it would be in the homes of the patricians. Under the searing gaze of the patricians, the Gauls made no attempt to pillage the houses. An enemy army had marched unopposed into Rome and for the time being, it appeared Rome might be safe! That is until Marcus Papirius took matters into his own hands.

Background

The sack of Rome and Marcus Papirus’s crucial role occurred in 390 BCE. During this time, Rome was not that powerful empire that turned the Mediterranean Sea into a “Roman Lake”. Rather, Rome was in the arduous process of expanding out from its capital to subjugate the Italian Peninsula. During this time, the Roman Republic’s territory consisted of Rome and the land immediately outside the city. The Romans had recently conquered the city of Veii, but the people there were not considered Roman Citizens. There was no central authority over the peninsula, and many groups wanted in on the action. These groups include but were not limited to Romans Etruscans and Gallic tribes. It would a Gallic tribe, known as the Senones, that almost strangled the budding Roman colossus in its cradle. The Senones originated from Gaul (Modern-day France), but soon invaded and settled, parts of Northern Italy. The Senones soon set their sights on an Etruscan town called Clusium. The Clusians in fear of the advancing Gauls called upon Rome for assistance. Rome sent ambassadors to negotiate for the safety of Clusium. Negotiations went poorly and a fight broke out in which a Senone chieftain died. For the time being, the Gauls ceased any attempts at conquest. Meanwhile, the Gauls traded with the peoples of the Italian Peninsula. Favorite items included figs wine and olives. The Gauls asked where these items could be found, and the Etruscan traders replied that they came from a fertile area full of non-war-like people. The trader was referring to the Romans. The Senones decided to try their hand at conquering again and returned to Clusium. The Senones met the Romans against and this time, a Gallic later died in a scuffle.  Getting annoyed now, the Senones sent ambassadors to Rome to seek redress of grievances. The Roman Senate scoffed at the Gauls and refused to even hear their case. This haughtiness proved to be a grave miscalculation. The Senones became enraged and shifted their focus from Clusium to Rome. The Senones tore through the Italian countryside with the sole goal of reaching Rome. They did not damage the towns they passed through. The Senones marched to Rome and encamped on the Allia river, a tributary of the Tiber river. The semi-professional Roman army hastily assembled themselves and was poorly trained. The stage was set for Rome’s greatest disaster in its young history.

A map of Ancient Rome’s expansion. Notice how small Rome was when the Senones invaded

The Battle of Allia

The Roman army consisted of militia like troops who were not well trained. The Senone army consisted of battle-hardened warriors who spent their whole lives fighting.  Exact troops counts are hard to find but the Romans had two legions of about 4,000 each and the Senone army had no more than 12,000 troops. While the strength of the armies was unknown, it was apparent the Senones were more prepared for battle. The Senones had the better-trained troops but also the element of speed. The Senones advanced rapidly through northern Italy and left Rome little time to prepare. The Romans hastily sent their green troops to go apprehend the invaders. The Romans assembled their forces so quickly that they didn’t divine the Gods! The Romans would bite off more than they could chew. The Romans set the flanks of their army very wide to avoid being outflanked. However, this left the center of the Roman lines dangerously weak. Despite this, the Senone line was still wider than the Romans and had a deeper center. The Romans left a reserve force of mostly inexperienced citizenry on the hill behind them. Brennus, leader of the Senones, feared the Romans were planning a trap with the reserve forces. He feared that if he directly engaged the Roman lines, the reserve force would sneak out and attack his forces from the rear. Instead of attacking the Roman lines, Brennus sent his battle-hardened warriors to attack the reserve forces on the hill. What happened next was a complete slaughter. The Senone warrior made quick work of the reserve forces, and the Senones now were poised to attack the Romans from the rear! The Roman army dissolved into a panic, the left flank began fleeing towards the city of Veii and the right flank began fleeing towards Rome. Brennus then ordered the rest of his army to charge the Roman center. The Senones turned the battlefield into a slaughterhouse as Romans were killed as they fled. Many attempted to cross the river Allia, but most either drowned in their heavy armor or were slain as they swam. The few who survived had to alert Rome that their armies were destroyed and that an invading force was only miles away. Once the Senones finished slaughtering the Romans, they marched unopposed up to the walls of Rome. What the Senones found was incredible. The Romans had left the walls undefended and even left the gate to the city open! Rome was undefended and the few troops who were present holed up in the citadel. Stunned, the Senones marched into Rome

A map of the Battle of Allia where the Senones crushed the inexperienced Roman army

Marcus Papirius gets involved

When the Senones entered Rome, they were met by the stoic gaze of the patricians standing before their stately homes. The Senones stood frozen and made no moves. Rome although much smaller in the days of Brennus, still possessed vast wealth, especially compared to what the Senones had. The Senones had untold wealth at their fingertips and yet made no move to do so. Under the stare of the Patricians, it is safe to say the Senones were a hair intimidated. The Senones had technically achieved their mission. They marched to Rome to teach the Romans a lesson. Maybe the Senones were contempt with themselves and might leave with some trade goods. The longer this encounter went on, the more likely this possibility became. That is until a Senone warrior stroked the lengthy beard of Marcus Papirius. This was a big taboo in most ancient cultures and Rome was no exception. At this moment, Marcus Papirius would make his mark on history. He picked up his ivory scepter and hit the Senone over his head. With this faithful; act, Marcus Papirius assured Rome would not escape the wrath of the invading Senones. The Senones killed Marcus and began the slaughter of the patricians. The Senones now began the sacking of Rome. Much of Rome was looted and burned. Some stubborn Romans remained in the Capitoline Hill. The Senones attempted to capture the hill, but famine and malaria began to take its toll on the attackers. The Senones eventually received 1,000 pounds of gold from the Roman if they stopped the sack. The Senones agreed and left Rome to return to their new homeland in Northern Italy. Alas, the Senones never got to enjoy their loot. A relief force from the city of Veii blocked off the Senones retreat and destroyed the disease-ridden Gauls. Marcus Papirius nearly did extinguish the budding Roman Republic, but thanks to the heroics on Capitoline Hill and a timely Malaria outbreak, Rome would recover from the disastrous event and eventually subjugate the very people who sacked their city under Julius Caesar. Still, Marcus Papirius’s brash actions should go down as one of history’s biggest blunders committed by one person and certainly the most consequential facial hair faux pas.