Rome's Great Enemy: Who Were the Gauls? (Rome and Romans)

The Gauls were perhaps the most famous of Rome's enemies. Most of this fame has to do with Julius Caesar's war against the Gauls in the 50s BCE. Yet, Rome and the Gauls had actually been in conflict for centuries prior to this great war. A few Gallic Tribes invaded the northern half of Italy in the year 400 BCE. These tribes were able to successfully carve out a small kingdom in Northern Italy by defeating the Etruscans, Umbrians, and other native Italians. Of course, this set the newly settled Gallic Tribes on a collision course with Italy's new powerhouse, Rome. However, it took another decade or so for Rome and the Gallic Tribes to truly begin the first of their many wars. So how did the Gauls come into Italy? What Gallic Tribes actually settled within the newly conquered territories? And just who or what was a Gaul? Let's talk about it.