In 278 BC large numbers of Gauls crossed into Asia Minor at the request of Nicomedes-I of Bithynia. Nicomedes used them successfully against the pretender Zipoites II. The Gauls initially had no permanent home in Asia Minor, but ranged about, plundering as they went. Three tribes were involved: the Tolistobogii, the Tectosages and the Trocmi.
Defence against the Gauls became important to the Seleucids since after their victory at the Battle of Corupedium in 281 BC the Seleucids had come into possession of Lysimachus’ possessions in Asia Minor. The date of Antiochus-I’s ‘elephant’ victory over the Gauls is usually given as 273 BC.
Sometime before 230 BC the Gauls after much raiding and plundering met with fierce resistance from Attalus-I of Pergamum, who confined them to a tract of land comprising parts of Phrygia and Cappadocia that afterwards bore their name. Their allegiance with Antiochus-I, whose defeat they shared at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC, brought them the hostility of Rome and in 189 BC they were defeated by the Roman consul Manlius Vulso (consul 189 BC).
During the Mithridatic wars (88-65 BC), several Galatian chieftains were prominent supporters of the Romans, and one in particular Deiotarus-I (c.65; r.64-c.40 BC), ruler of Tolistobogii, was rewarded in Pompey’s Asian settlement with increased territory; the Senate gave Deiotarus the royal title. Pompey also increased the territory of Deiotarus’ son-in-law, Brogitarus (r.63-50 BC), the ruler of Trocmi, who ruled concurrently with Deiotarus.
In 51 BC Deiotarus put his forces at the disposal of Cicero (106-43 BC) and Bibulus (consul 59 BC) to help in resisting the Parthians. In the civil war (49-45 BC) he first followed Pompey then joined Caesar (100-44 BC) after the Battle of Pharsalus (48 BC). He assisted Calvinus (consul 53 and 40 BC) in his Pontic campaign. On Caesar’s death Deiotarus joined Brutus (85-42 BC), but before the final Battle at Philippi (23 October 42 BC) he deserted to the Triumvirs (43-33 BC) and escaped punishment. He died peacefully in 40 BC and was succeeded by his son Deiotarus II (r.49-37 BC).
Amyntas (r.37-25 BC), formerly secretary of Deiotarus, commanded the Galatian auxiliaries of Brutus (85-42 BC) and Cassius Longinus (before 85-42 BC) in 42 BC. He deserted after the first Battle at Philippi (3 October 42 BC). After Deiotarus’ death he received from Antony (c.83-30 BC) a kingdom that comprised Galatia, Lycaonia, and parts of Phrygia, Pamphylia and Pisidia. He accompanied Antony to Actium, but by deserting before the battle he won the favour of Augustus (76; r.31-00-14) and his kingdom was further enlarged. After his death his kingdom was made into a Roman province.
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