Errrrr...Aedui...chariots??

[fraoula]

Well historically they were present in Telamon in 225 bc :

"They themselves marched confidently out with their whole available army, consisting of about fifty thousand foot and twenty thousand horse and chariots, and advanced on Etruria."

"The Celts had drawn up facing their rear, from which they expected Aemilius to attack, the Gaesatae from the Alps and behind them the Insubres, and facing in the opposite direction, ready to meet the attack of Gaius' legions, they placed the Taurisci and the Boii from the right bank of the Po. Their wagons and chariots they stationed at the extremity of either wing and collected their booty on one of the neighbouring hills with a protecting force round it."

as stated by Polybius.

However according to the recruitment viewer are only available to the south of England and northern France.
Shouldn't they be available in Mediolanum too?

[Rahwana]

Actually, I also got that... avernii AI spamming chariots on my Lusotann campaign. BTW, they didn't hit the reform yet at 240 BC

[Urg]

Well historically they were present in Telamon in 225 bc

...and were also used by the Gauls in Northern Italy in 196 BC.

Livy (XXXIII:37) describes a triumphal procession of one of the consuls of that year following a victory over the cisalpine gauls (its a bit unclear from the text whether it is the Insubres, Boii, or maybe the "Comani"):

"Large quantities of spoils, taken from the enemy, were carried in the procession in captured chariots, and many military standards; also, three hundred and twenty thousand asses of brass, two hundred and thirty-four thousand of silver denarii, stamped with a chariot."

[anubis88]

...and were also used by the Gauls in Northern Italy in 196 BC.

Livy (XXXIII:37) describes a triumphal procession of one of the consuls of that year following a victory over the cisalpine gauls (its a bit unclear from the text whether it is the Insubres, Boii, or maybe the "Comani"):

"Large quantities of spoils, taken from the enemy, were carried in the procession in captured chariots, and many military standards; also, three hundred and twenty thousand asses of brass, two hundred and thirty-four thousand of silver denarii, stamped with a chariot."

Well that doesn't mean they were war chariots. Chariots as such are still in use today for transportation.

[Foot]

Well that doesn't mean they were war chariots. Chariots as such are still in use today for transportation.

Which is why we don't appear for the gauls in the later reforms. They are an early unit only.

Foot

[Urg]

Well that doesn't mean they were war chariots. Chariots as such are still in use today for transportation.

Good point. So I had a closer look. I found descriptions of the use of chariots in battle by Gauls at two battles: Telamon (see fraoula's post above) and at the battle of Sentinum, 295 BC (Gauls = Senones)

Livy X:28:

"Twice they compelled the Gallic cavalry to give way. At the second charge, when they advanced farther and were briskly engaged in the midst of the enemy's squadrons, by a method of fighting new to them, they were thrown into dismay. A number of the enemy, mounted on chariots and cars, made towards them with such a prodigious clatter from the trampling of the cattle and rolling of wheels, as affrighted the horses of the Romans, unaccustomed to such tumultuous operations."

I'm no expert, but I understand that the use of chariots in Gaul was gradually phased out over time, which is to be contrasted with their continued use in Britain as set out in Caesar's De Bello Gallico .... hence Foot's comment.

[anubis88]

Good point. So I had a closer look. I found descriptions of the use of chariots in battle by Gauls at two battles: Telamon (see fraoula's post above) and at the battle of Sentinum, 295 BC (Gauls = Senones)

Livy X:28:

"Twice they compelled the Gallic cavalry to give way. At the second charge, when they advanced farther and were briskly engaged in the midst of the enemy's squadrons, by a method of fighting new to them, they were thrown into dismay. A number of the enemy, mounted on chariots and cars, made towards them with such a prodigious clatter from the trampling of the cattle and rolling of wheels, as affrighted the horses of the Romans, unaccustomed to such tumultuous operations."

I'm no expert, but I understand that the use of chariots in Gaul was gradually phased out over time, which is to be contrasted with their continued use in Britain as set out in Caesar's De Bello Gallico .... hence Foot's comment.

Indeed that seems to be the case. The chariots proved especially useless in their confrontations with Rome IMHO, so it was a smart decision that the Gauls dropped them :)

[Power2the1]

Its interesting to note though the king of the Arverni, Bituitos, rode to war at Vindalium in 121 B.C. using a silver chariot. Apparently up to this time the Gauls, or at least the kings and nobility, valued the chariot to some extent to have the notion go to war with one. However, after 121 B.C. or the later era, nothing is mentioned about chariots in Gaul, save 2 chariot burials from the later era iirc.

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Its interesting to note though the king of the Arverni, Bituitos, rode to war at Vindalium in 121 B.C. using a silver chariot. Apparently up to this time the Gauls, or at least the kings and nobility, valued the chariot to some extent to have the notion go to war with one. However, after 121 B.C. or the later era, nothing is mentioned about chariots in Gaul, save 2 chariot burials from the later era iirc.

I wonder whether he actually fought from the chariot though or just rode it to the scene of the battle and from there dismounted or changed over to a horse. From my understanding, many cultures employed chariots ceremonially far after their use as implements of war was halted. I would expect a Celtic king riding past his troops on a glittering silver chariot would inspire his men before the battle. That said I don't know if he would use the chariot during the fight.