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Proud, hot-tempered warriors with no aversion to battle, the Celts preferred to settle their wars by the single-combat of leaders or champions, which avoided widespread death and destruction. Celts served as mercenaries all over the known world. They originally used two-man war chariots, but later were employed by the Roman army as elite cavalry regiments.
In 390 BC the Rome was already a strong and aggressive state. It sent ambassadors to a Celtic mercenary army in neighbouring Etruscany, supposedly to arrange a non-aggression treaty. But the Romans engaged in conspiracy against the Celts and one of their emissaries assassinated a Celtic chieftain; so Brennos led his army (some say they were British) against Rome. Having shattered a Roman army, his force sacked and burned most of the city, then laid siege to the Capitoline garrison. Finally, one thousand pounds weight in gold was handed over as ransom, and the Celtic army withdrew. Had they followed the example of their enemy, they would have killed or enslaved the Roman people, and world history might be very different....
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PICTURES
Horses to the left of page-heading are based on a horse carved on stone at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.
The dogs picture comes from the Book of Kells; original drawing is a mere 8mm in diameter.
The Battersea Shield, faced in bronze, has red enamel inlays within its decorative patterning.
Bronze chamfrein (horse armour) is from Torrs, Kircudbright.
The bronze helmet was found in the river Thames, at London.
Later Celtic swords were iron, with elaborate bronze scabbards.
Spears, javelins, daggers, slingshots or bows were used, and a chainmail body armour was sometimes worn.
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A Celtic confederation spanned all the way from Iberia to the land now known as Turkey, but then called Galatia; from northern Scotland and Ireland down to Italy. It never consolidated into centralised control, existing instead as a network of free peoples. Celtic power was not confined to the land - the Picts of Scotland were particularly noted for their naval prowess. Even at its peak the Roman Empire failed to conquer these Picts or their Irish cousins. Celtic warriors had little to fear from death itself, since in their religion to die here just meant being born into the Otherworld, and vice-versa.
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