Diviciacus or Divitiacus was a druid of the Aedui tribe who lived in Gaul during the 1st century BC, the only druid from antiquity whose existence is attested by name. The name may mean "avenger".[1]
His date of birth is not known, but he was an adult during the late 60s BC, at which time he was described by Julius Caesar as a "senator" of the Aedui. In Caesar's The Gallic War, the word "senator" is used to refer to Gallic aristocrats who took part in their clans' decision-making. Diviciacus supported the Aedui's pre-existing alliance with Rome.
In 63 BC, Diviciacus survived the Battle of Magetobriga, where forces of the Sequani and Arverni, together with Germanic troops under the Suebi king Ariovistus, massacred the Aedui.[2] Thereafter, the Aedui became tributary to the Sequani. Following the Aedui defeat, Diviciacus traveled to Rome and spoke before the Roman Senate to ask for military aid. While there he was a guest of Cicero, who wrote of his knowledge of divination, astronomy and natural philosophy, and names him as a druid.[3] Julius Caesar, who knew him well, noted Diviciacus' particular skills as a diplomat without calling him a druid.
Alliance with Caesar
Following Caesar's victory over the Helvetii, Diviciacus was a prominent member of the Gallic delegation to Caesar, and was appointed as their chief spokesman. He brought the Gallic people's concerns to Caesar regarding Ariovistus, who had taken the lives and liberty of the Aedui, yet he also drew attention to the fact that the lands of the Sequani (ancient enemies of the Aedui) were also being hijacked by Ariovistus.[4][5][6] The Gauls' request provided the catalyst for the next phase of Caesar's Conquest of Gaul, when Caesar went on to confront and defeat Ariovistus.
Diviciacus had a brother, Dumnorix, who was aggressively anti-Roman. Throughout the Gallic Wars Dumnorix was able to actively sabotage Caesar's conquests many times thanks to his powerful position among the Aedui. Caesar asserts that Dumnorix conspired to take all of Gaul through his influence with the Helvetii, through the cunning statesman Orgetorix, and the Sequani.[4] After defeating him in battle, Caesar spared his life so as to avoid antagonizing Diviciacus, who had begged Caesar not to punish his brother. Later, however, Dumnorix attempted to escape from Caesar's control and was killed in the attempt.
Social positions
Delamarre contends that, in addition to holding the religious office of druid, Diviciacus may have been the Uergobretos, the annually elected political leader or chief magistrate[7] of the Aedui, one of the most powerful nations in Gaul. If true, his combination of military and religious office responsibilities in Aedua paralleled Caesar's duties among the Romans (in Rome, Caesar was Pontifex Maximus in addition to being a magistrate and general). Diviciacus would have been Uergobretos sometime before 52 BC, when the election was contested between Convictolitavis and Cotos.[8] The date of Diviciacus' death is not known; Cicero speaks of him in the past tense in 44 BC.<ref>Cicero, De Diviatione 1.90
Popular culture
Diviciacus appears as a special Druid unit in the 2003 video game Praetorians, part of which is set during the Gallic Wars. In the game, Diviciacus serves as a healer, frequently appearing on the side of Rome during the campaign. His name is spelled "Divitiacus".
The lyrics to the Eluveitie song "(Do)minion" are written from the point of view of Diviciacus, addressed to his brother Dumnorix.
Delamarre, Xavier (2003). "Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental". Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise (2nd ed.). Paris: Editions Errance. ISBN2-87772-237-6.
diviciacus, aedui, confused, with, namesake, diviciacus, king, suessiones, diviciacus, divitiacus, druid, aedui, tribe, lived, gaul, during, century, only, druid, from, antiquity, whose, existence, attested, name, name, mean, avenger, date, birth, known, adult. Not to be confused with his namesake Diviciacus king of the Suessiones Diviciacus or Divitiacus was a druid of the Aedui tribe who lived in Gaul during the 1st century BC the only druid from antiquity whose existence is attested by name The name may mean avenger 1 His date of birth is not known but he was an adult during the late 60s BC at which time he was described by Julius Caesar as a senator of the Aedui In Caesar s The Gallic War the word senator is used to refer to Gallic aristocrats who took part in their clans decision making Diviciacus supported the Aedui s pre existing alliance with Rome Contents 1 Visit to Rome 2 Alliance with Caesar 3 Social positions 4 Popular culture 5 References 6 BibliographyVisit to Rome EditIn 63 BC Diviciacus survived the Battle of Magetobriga where forces of the Sequani and Arverni together with Germanic troops under the Suebi king Ariovistus massacred the Aedui 2 Thereafter the Aedui became tributary to the Sequani Following the Aedui defeat Diviciacus traveled to Rome and spoke before the Roman Senate to ask for military aid While there he was a guest of Cicero who wrote of his knowledge of divination astronomy and natural philosophy and names him as a druid 3 Julius Caesar who knew him well noted Diviciacus particular skills as a diplomat without calling him a druid Alliance with Caesar EditFollowing Caesar s victory over the Helvetii Diviciacus was a prominent member of the Gallic delegation to Caesar and was appointed as their chief spokesman He brought the Gallic people s concerns to Caesar regarding Ariovistus who had taken the lives and liberty of the Aedui yet he also drew attention to the fact that the lands of the Sequani ancient enemies of the Aedui were also being hijacked by Ariovistus 4 5 6 The Gauls request provided the catalyst for the next phase of Caesar s Conquest of Gaul when Caesar went on to confront and defeat Ariovistus Diviciacus had a brother Dumnorix who was aggressively anti Roman Throughout the Gallic Wars Dumnorix was able to actively sabotage Caesar s conquests many times thanks to his powerful position among the Aedui Caesar asserts that Dumnorix conspired to take all of Gaul through his influence with the Helvetii through the cunning statesman Orgetorix and the Sequani 4 After defeating him in battle Caesar spared his life so as to avoid antagonizing Diviciacus who had begged Caesar not to punish his brother Later however Dumnorix attempted to escape from Caesar s control and was killed in the attempt Social positions EditDelamarre contends that in addition to holding the religious office of druid Diviciacus may have been the Uergobretos the annually elected political leader or chief magistrate 7 of the Aedui one of the most powerful nations in Gaul If true his combination of military and religious office responsibilities in Aedua paralleled Caesar s duties among the Romans in Rome Caesar was Pontifex Maximus in addition to being a magistrate and general Diviciacus would have been Uergobretos sometime before 52 BC when the election was contested between Convictolitavis and Cotos 8 The date of Diviciacus death is not known Cicero speaks of him in the past tense in 44 BC lt ref gt Cicero De Diviatione 1 90Popular culture EditDiviciacus appears as a special Druid unit in the 2003 video game Praetorians part of which is set during the Gallic Wars In the game Diviciacus serves as a healer frequently appearing on the side of Rome during the campaign His name is spelled Divitiacus The lyrics to the Eluveitie song Do minion are written from the point of view of Diviciacus addressed to his brother Dumnorix References Edit Delamarre 2003 p 145 146 Brunaux 2005 p 282 Cicero De Divinatione I xli a b Caesar Translated by Hammond Carolyn The Gallic War Oxford World s Classics pp 3 34 Walter Caesar A Biography 158 and 161 Goldsworthy Caesar 271 Delamarre 2003 p 315 Brunaux 2005 p 283 Bibliography EditBrunaux Jean Louis 2005 Les Gaulois Paris Les Belles Lettres ISBN 2 251 41028 7 Cicero De Divinatione 1 41 Delamarre Xavier 2003 Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise Une approche linguistique du vieux celtique continental Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise 2nd ed Paris Editions Errance ISBN 2 87772 237 6 Julius Caesar Commentarii de Bello Gallico 1 3 1 16 20 1 31 32 2 5 2 14 15 6 12 7 39 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diviciacus Aedui amp oldid 1127075253, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
