AMBIORIX

He lured them out of their camp. Then he destroyed them.

In the winter of 54 BC, Ambiorix co-ruled the Eburones (in modern Belgium) with Catuvolcus. He approached the Roman winter camp of Sabinus and Cotta — one and a half legions, roughly 9,000 men — and warned them that a massive Gallic uprising was coming. He advised them to march to a safer camp.

Sabinus believed him. Cotta did not. Sabinus overruled Cotta. The Romans marched into a valley. Ambiorix attacked from the heights. The entire force was annihilated — the worst Roman defeat of the Gallic Wars. Only a handful of survivors reached the camp of Labienus.

Caesar was enraged. He spent two full campaigning seasons hunting Ambiorix, burning every Eburones settlement, inviting neighboring tribes to plunder their lands. Ambiorix escaped across the Rhine and vanished. Caesar never found him. He is the only major Gallic leader who defeated Rome and was never captured or killed.