I never knew how amazing the story of Ambiorix, King of the Eburones was. Finding a decent English language source was a bit difficult, but here’s what I got.
2022-07-30
I have always been fascinated by Gauls, but I never knew about Ambiorix until I played Civilization VI
> “How can such creatures as you wish to rule us who are so great?”
Exactly! Thanks for the great read OP!
My professor of ancient history called Ambiorix the Osama Bin Laden of his time. Planning terror attacks against the Romans, fleeing the Roman armies and going into hiding, a man hunt at him that took Caesar a year of his life and never finding him. Caesar apparently really went mental in his search for Ambiorix and even genocided the Eburones. Interesting figure indeed.
Am from Tongeren, walk by that statue every day, in school we learn very much about the romans, seen as it’s the history of our city.
I find it fascinating how big of an impact he had with only appearing so briefly in the historical record.
Perseus digital library has English translations of the gallic wars by Julius Caesar.
Didn’t he flee last minute before the final battle?
Nice article, thanks for the read. This stuff is fascinating. Ever since the Hardcore History podcasts, stuff like this feels so real and “in color”. These were people like us, thinking like us, with the same virtues and flaws as us.
If you’re interested in battles watch [historia civilis](https://youtu.be/QqUnpCUi9KQ), he explains his story/battles in great detail on the channel.
I love how he leads the Gauls in Civ VI, even with Vercingetorix as the more obvious pick. It’s probably the only way we’re ever getting a Belgian Civilization
Interesting figure indeed! I have always been told by my history teacher that Ambiorix could have just been made up by Caesar in his Bello Gallico as an excuse for the loss of his legionaries. His reflection upon his campaign in modern day France and Belgium was used as a sort of modern day blog and was read out loud in Rome in order to amaze the people of his accomplishments there. If I am correct, the Bello Gallico is the only source mentioning Ambiorix.
13 comments
> “How can such creatures as you wish to rule us who are so great?”
Exactly! Thanks for the great read OP!
My professor of ancient history called Ambiorix the Osama Bin Laden of his time. Planning terror attacks against the Romans, fleeing the Roman armies and going into hiding, a man hunt at him that took Caesar a year of his life and never finding him. Caesar apparently really went mental in his search for Ambiorix and even genocided the Eburones. Interesting figure indeed.
Am from Tongeren, walk by that statue every day, in school we learn very much about the romans, seen as it’s the history of our city.
I find it fascinating how big of an impact he had with only appearing so briefly in the historical record.
Perseus digital library has English translations of the gallic wars by Julius Caesar.
Very related: [Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History: the Celtic Holocaust](https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-60-the-celtic-holocaust/) (also available on spotify)
I only know this dude from Jommeke strips
Didn’t he flee last minute before the final battle?
Nice article, thanks for the read. This stuff is fascinating. Ever since the Hardcore History podcasts, stuff like this feels so real and “in color”. These were people like us, thinking like us, with the same virtues and flaws as us.
If you’re interested in battles watch [historia civilis](https://youtu.be/QqUnpCUi9KQ), he explains his story/battles in great detail on the channel.
I love how he leads the Gauls in Civ VI, even with Vercingetorix as the more obvious pick. It’s probably the only way we’re ever getting a Belgian Civilization
Interesting figure indeed! I have always been told by my history teacher that Ambiorix could have just been made up by Caesar in his Bello Gallico as an excuse for the loss of his legionaries. His reflection upon his campaign in modern day France and Belgium was used as a sort of modern day blog and was read out loud in Rome in order to amaze the people of his accomplishments there. If I am correct, the Bello Gallico is the only source mentioning Ambiorix.
Read the part about the wives, can confirm.