Celtic Northeast Gaul. Senones
Circa 100-50 BCE
AE 15mm 3.35g
Obv: Celtic head right.
Rev: abstract bird left, two pellets within wings; [YLLY]CCI above, pentagram and cross with pellets behind, two pellet-in-annulets below.
D&T 2635; Depeyrot, NC V, 130; CCCBM III 150-1
The Senones were known to the Romans well before Julius Caesar’s conquering of Gaul, as they were the parent stock of a mass that migrated to Italy, settling in an area near modern-day Rimini, and displaced the Umbrians who lived there. They then defeated the Romans at the Battle of Allia and sacked Rome, before finally being defeated and conquered by Rome in 283 BCE.
When Julius Caesar led his campaign against the Gauls, he installed Cavarinus as king over his brother Moritasgus. They joined the wider revolt led by Vercingetorix and supplied 12,000 men, but were conquered by Caesar again.
Today, many funerary monuments from the Senones remain in the area.
Their main city was named Agedincum by Caesar, and corresponds to modern-day Sens, France.
Senones lead the sack of Rome
Senones living in Italy are subjugated by Rome
Julius Caesar installs Cavarinus as king of the Senones
Acco leads a revolt by the Senones against Roman rule and is executed by Julius Caesar
Senones join the revolt by Vercingetorix