Celtic (400-50)

This is another of my Mini C&C Ancients armies. Composition is as follows (80 pts):

2 Gn, 7 Wb, 3 Ax, 2 LB, 4 L, 2 MC, 2 BCh

Although these figures could doubtless represent a Celtic army right down to 50 B.C., I use it for :

- the Senon tribe that, led by "Brennus" crossed the Alps around 400 B.C. and c.390 entered Rome itself, their departure bought off by a vast tribute. The Senons then settled in northern and eastern Italy. They continually troubled Rome until the battle of Sentinum (-295) and their final defeat by Dolabella in -283.

- the huge army of migrating Celts, perhaps 65,000 strong and probably including Senon refugees, that invaded the Balkans in -281 under the orders of another "Brennus" (more likely a title than a name).

The amy split in two. One wing, under Brennus, caused havoc in Thessaly and advanced in -279 on Delphes, intent on plundering the sanctuary. Their route was however blocked by a Greek army (mainly Aetolian). The other group moved through Thessaly, but were defeated in Macedonia by Antigonus Gonatas. Invited by Nicomedes I of Bithynia to assist him in a dynastic struggle, 10,000 fighting men crossed the straits into Asia Minor.

They were eventually defeated by the Seleucids and pushed into the most desolate parts of western Asia Minor, which became known as "Galatia".