Divitiacus, fl.58-57 B.C.

Divitiacus (fl.58-57 B.C.) was a leader of the pro-Roman faction in the Aedui, and the brother of the anti-Roman leader Dumnorix. According to Cicero, with whom Divitiacus may have stayed during a visit to Rome, he was a druid. When Divitiacus visited Rome (61 B.C.) he was the chief magistrate of the Aedui, and he was attempting to convince the Romans to help his tribe in their war with the Sequani and a contingent of Germans under Ariovistus. In 61 the Romans were distracted by a revolt in Transalpine Gaul, and Divitiacus was unable to win any substantial support. This failure significantly reduced his power, and helped Dumnorix rise to power.

In 58 B.C. Divitiacus accompanied the Roman army during the campaign against the Helvetii. He was thus with Caesar when the Romans discovered that Dumnorix had been plotting against them and had been preventing vital corn supplies from reaching the army. Caesar's initial reaction was that Dumnorix had to be punished, but Divitiacus was able to use his friendship with Caesar to prevent this. Instead Dumnorix was pardoned but was warned not to repeat his behaviour and spies were set to watch him. This was an early sign of the willingness to pardon his enemies that would eventually lead to Caesar's assassination, largely at the hands of pardoned opponents in Rome. Dumnorix also remained hostile to the Romans, and in 54 B.C. was killed after fleeing from the Roman camp before the first crossing to Britain. 

Battles and Sieges of the Gallic War (58-51 B.C)
Battles and Sieges
of the Gallic War
(58-51 B.C)

At the end of the campaign against the Helvetii Divitiacus was one of the Gallic leaders who asked Caesar to intervene against the German king Ariovistus, who had crossed the Rhine some years earlier to help their enemies defeat the Aedui. Caesar didn't need much convincing, and Ariovistus was soon defeated and forced back across the Rhine (battle of Vesontio).
 
In 57 B.C. Divitiacus led the Aeduan army during Caesar's campaign against the Belgae. While the Romans attacked the main Belgic army Divitiacus led his troops into the lands of the Bellovaci, former allies of the Aedui who had joined the resistance against the Romans. This attack worked as Caesar had hoped and the Bellovaci left the main Belgic army to defend their homelands. After the fighting was over Divitiacus again used his influence with Caesar to convince him to pardon the Bellovaci, arguing that the leaders that had taken up arms against the Romans had now fled to Britain.

The Gallic War , Julius Caesar. One of the great works of western civilisation. Caesar was an almost unique example of a great general who was also a great writer. The Gallic War is a first hand account of Caesar's conquest of Gaul, written at the time to explain and justify his actions.
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (18 March 2009), Divitiacus, fl.58-57 B.C. , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_divitiacus.html

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