Brennus

Family: Celts · Role: chieftain · First appears: Book 10 · Chapter 19

In Book 10, Chapter 19, Brennus persuaded the Galati to invade Greece once more and chose Acichorius as his colleague among the chieftains. In Chapter 22, he selected 40,000 infantry and about 800 cavalry and placed them under Orestorius and Combutis. At Thermopylæ, guidance through the Ænianes pass encouraged Brennus to attempt to reach the Greek rear. He left Acichorius with the main army, ordering him to attack when Brennus reached the rear, then marched through the pass with 40,000 picked men.

At Delphi the next day, Brennus was wounded, and the Galati retreated under Greek pressure. Acichorius’ division had joined those fleeing with Brennus the previous night. After the catastrophe in Greece, Brennus committed suicide by drinking neat wine.

Relationship record

Life events

• Brennus selected 40,000 infantry and 800 cavalry and placed them under Orestorius and Combutis.(Book 10 · Chapter 22)
  • With: Orestorius Combutis
  • “He selected therefore out of his whole army 40,000 foot and about 800 horse, all picked men, and put them under the command of Orestorius and Combutis.”
• Brennus received guidance through the Ænianes pass toward the Greek rear.(Book 10 · Chapter 22 · 📍 Thermopylæ)
  • “And this promise of the Ænianes and people of Heraclea encouraged Brennus”
• Brennus left Acichorius with the main army and ordered him to attack the Greeks after Brennus reached their rear.(Book 10 · Chapter 22 · 📍 Thermopylæ)
  • With: Acichorius
  • “And he left Acichorius with the main army, instructing him to attack the Greek force, when he (Brennus) should have got to their rear”
• Brennus marched through the mountain pass with 40,000 picked men.(Book 10 · Chapter 22 · 📍 Thermopylæ)
  • “and himself marched through the pass with 40,000 picked men.”
• Brennus was wounded, and the Galati retreated under pressure from the Greeks.(Book 10 · Chapter 23 · 📍 Delphi)
  • “but when Brennus was wounded, and taken off the field in a fainting condition, then the barbarians sorely against their will beat a retreat”
• Acichorius’ division joined the forces fleeing with Brennus.(Book 10 · Chapter 23)
  • With: Acichorius
  • “And Acichorius’ division had joined those who fled with Brennus only the previous night:”
• Brennus committed suicide by drinking neat wine after the catastrophe in Greece.(Book 10 · Chapter 23)
  • “And Brennus, though his wounds were not mortal, yet either from fear of his comrades, or from shame, as having been the instigator of all these woes that had happened to them in Greece, committed suicide by drinking neat wine freely.”

Book 10 · Chapter 19

• with Acichorius (They were colleagues in the invasion.) “He succeeded in persuading the Galati to invade Greece once more, and among other chieftains he chose Acichorius once more as his colleague.”
• with Acichorius (Brennus chose Acichorius as his colleague.) “among other chieftains he chose Acichorius once more as his colleague”

Book 10 · Chapter 22

• with Orestorius (Brennus placed Orestorius under his command.) “He selected therefore out of his whole army 40,000 foot and about 800 horse, all picked men, and put them under the command of Orestorius and Combutis.”
• with Combutis (Brennus placed Combutis under his command.) “He selected therefore out of his whole army 40,000 foot and about 800 horse, all picked men, and put them under the command of Orestorius and Combutis.”
• with Acichorius (Brennus instructed Acichorius to attack the Greek force.) “And he left Acichorius with the main army, instructing him to attack the Greek force, when he (Brennus) should have got to their rear:”

Book 10 · Chapter 23

• with Acichorius (Co-commanders of Galatian divisions during the retreat.) “And Acichorius’ division had joined those who fled with Brennus only the previous night”
• with Acichorius (Military commanders whose divisions fought and retreated together.) “And Acichorius’ division had joined those who fled with Brennus only the previous night”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.