Aneorestus

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Aneorestus was a Gallic chieftain in command of the Gaesatae warbands in the Gallic invasions of Italy in 225 BC.

Before the Gallic War of 225 B.C, he was a leader in the Gaesatae, a mercenary band whose operated from Spain to Asia Minor. When the Celtic tribes of the Po Valley asked for his assistance he led 15,000 Gaesatae from over 300 different warbands across the Alps to fight for the Gauls in Italy.

Aneorestus was one of the two commanders of the Gallic army who led the Gauls to victory in several consecutive skirmishes with the Romans, killing over 12,000 Romans with little loss to his own troops. After hearing of the vast hordes of Romans that were sent to engage the Gauls, Aneorestus suggested retreating to safer territory.

When the Gauls were trapped at the Battle of Telamon he lead the Gaesatae and Insubre warbands against the legions of Paullus. Personally leading the charge, Aneorestus and his forces nearly broke through the Roman lines when the Boii and their allies were routed. Following the victory, the Romans on that wing of the battle flanked the Gaesatae and Insubre warbands. The Gallic army was slaughtered, losing 40,000 men out of 50,000 men. Aneorestus survived the main battle and fell back with several followers with Roman cavalry on their heels. In the last act of defiance to the Romans, Aneorestus took his own life, denying the Romans a Triumph.