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Short description

The Gaesatae were feared assault infantry were notorious for their wild ferocity and stubborn courage.

Description

These feared assault infantry were notorious for their wild ferocity and stubborn courage. Quick moving, despite their lack of armour these well-built warriors were classed as heavy infantry.

Polybius says that the term "Gaesatae" was a generic name for Gallic mercenaries. Their name comes from the Latin word "gaesum", which was the kind of heavy javelin they used. This javelin was longer and heavier than the Roman pilum. Together with two such javelins, the Gaesatae' principal weapon was the flat, pointless, double-edged slashing sword, 55-65 cm long. Celtic swords were known for their strength and flexibility. To protect themselves, they used the traditional Gallic shield, which was large, but not large enough to cover their entire body. The spears were thrown, prior to engaging with the sword. The characteristic Celtic shield was oval, of leather-covered wood.

Of course, the most notable feature of the Gaesatae was that they fought in battle naked (or only wearing drawers, according to Diodorus Siculus, 5.30). Wearing only elaborate torque and golden armlets, the Gaesatae rush into combat naked to demonstrate their courage, and to intimidate their enemy. According to Polybius, these warriors also fought this way for comfort (2.28).

The Gaesatae were landless young Celtic warriors, the bravest of their tribes, recruited from among the upper stratum of Celtic society, who agreed to serve as mercenaries in the hosts of other tribes and nations in search of glory, loot and sustenance. Very fast, because of their lack of armour, they were often described as "berserkers" because of their wild, ferocious behaviour during the famous campaign of the Cisalpine Boii and Insubres tribes against Rome in 226-222 BC.

The Gaesatae (Greek Gaesatae) were first mentioned by the sources during this campaign, when the Boii and Insubres of Cisalpine Gaul hired a large force of Gaesatae led by their chieftains Concolitanus and Aneroëstes to assist them in their invasion of central Italy. After some initial success, the Cisalpine Gauls were trapped and completely destroyed at the battle of Telamon in Etruria in 225 BC. In this battle, the Gaesatae rushed the Roman line to fight until death (Polybius, 2.30). The Gaesatae also fought for the Cisalpine Gauls in the later battles of Fiesole (225 BC), Acerrae, Clastidium and Mediolanum (222 BC). During the battle of Clastidium, besieged by Celtic troops, the Roman general Marcellus slew Britomarus, the Gaesatae's warlord, in single combat (Plutarch, Life of Marcellus).