BRENNUS

the name or title of several princes North of the ancient Gauls, supposed to be derived from Tyrol, the Kymrian brenhin, a king. A leader of the Sen with ones, a Gallic nation in the upper part of Italy, the Adriatic most famous personage who is mentioned under this to no, name, made an invasion into the Roman territory Fusina, about the year 390 B.c. Having conquered the formed whole of Etruria from Ravenna as far as Picenum, he laid siege to Cluaium, the inhabitants of which city is had recourse to Rome for a lBtance. Incensed by the comparatively breach of faith of the Fabii, the Roman amba adors, in conducting a sally from the city, Brennus raised romancer, the siege of Clusium and directed his march towards 1777; Home. A battle was fought near the river Allia, Jena, the Romans were totally defeated, and Brennus took Heidelberg, jio e ion of the city, which had been previously to abandoned by the inhabitants. The capitol only was years provided with a garrison; but several aged citizens and rank, priests, ex-consuls, and generals, amountmg the whole to about eighty, had resolved to remain the dty and devote themselves to the infernal Attired in their sacerdotal, consular, and robes, they seated themselves in their of office, in the middle of the forum, awaiting When Brennus arrived at the forum, he was with astonishment at their venerable aspect. Gauls looked upon them as so many statues of and feared to go near them. At last one to approach M. Papirius, and stroke his upon which the latter struck him with his sceptre, and was immediately ma acred together with his companions, by the infuriated Gauls. was sacked, and all the inhabitants who yet in their houses were slain. Brennus then the capitol, and being repelled with considerable lo , he set fire to the city, and levelled it the ground. The capitol, however, was so that he resolved to reduce it by famine. the garrison of the capitol was in great distre Brennus attempted a surprise by night, in he would have succeeded had not the cackling the geese, sacred to Juno, awakened the Romans. the former consul, alarmed the garrison, the Gauls were repulsed. After six months* the garrison being disposed to treat, Brennus to raise the siege and leave the Roman territory for 1000 lbs. of gold. The gold was weighed, but Gauls made use of false weights; and when the complained of the fraud, Brennus threw his into the scale and cried out, ' Woe to the vanquish ' ed! According to Polybius the Gauls returned in safety with tiieir booty. The Roman legend by Livy bears that Brennus was defeated, his army entirely destroyed, by Camillus, a distinguished Roman enle who had retired to the city Ardea, and who arrived with succour in time to the capitol. Another Brennus invaded Greece, 279, gained a victory over Ptolemy in Macedonia, home with his booty, and again advanced with an enormous force, said to have to 150,000 foot and 61,000 horse. After Macedonia he entered The aly and towards Thermopyhe, where an army of Greeks was a embled, supported by an fleet on the coast The Gauls were repulsed in a sanguinary battle, but, in order to separate Greeks, they dispersed themselves to plunder the Brennus himself attacked the temple of which was defended by only 4000 men, but again repulsed, and carried out of the battle with his wounds. Unwilling to survive his he put an end to his life by copious draughts wine. The Greeks attributed their victory to the of Apollo.