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rebellions against their conquerors. The first was in 21 A.D., when SACROVIR, their king, led 40,000
Aedui and their allies against the legate Gaius SILIUS (1). The battle was quickly decided by Roman
might, and Sacrovir killed himself. VINDEX, a Romanized Gaul, and the governor of the pacified region
of Gallia Lugdunensis, rose up in 68 A.D., declaring that GALBA should be declared the princeps; the
Aedui joined him. L. VERGINIUS RUFUS, the master of the legions of Germania Superior, smashed
Vindex's hopes in battle. The Aedui were not punished, because Rome's attention was drawn to its own
civil war of 69 A.D.
The relationship of the Aedui and the Romans was remarkably cordial and solid over the decades, a
unique circumstance among the proud Gallic tribes. The Aedui aided Julius Caesar in his campaigns.
Eventually, as clients of Rome, they were able to send representatives to serve in the Senate. But
ultimately their involvement with the Romans proved disastrous. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, the Aedui
lands were destroyed by the constant wars of the Empire, while the onslaught of barbarians from the east
broke Aedui power.
¤ AEGIDIUS (d. 464 A.D.) The MAGISTER MILITUM in Gaul in 458, serving Emperor Majorian as
one of Rome's leading figures in a chaotic era of the Late Empire. Aegidius upheld Roman power at Aries,
working with numerous tribes of the region, including the FRANKS and the VANDALS. He was
personally responsible for defeating the powerful THEODORIC II, king of the VISIGOTHS, who
invaded Gaul. By 461, Aegidius was the principal opponent of Rome's true master, RICIMER, the
German magister militum, who deposed Majorian and replaced him with libius SEVERUS. Only the
continuing wars with Theodoric's Visigoths kept Aegidius from advancing on Rome to take the throne
himself. According to Gregory of Tours, the Franks offered him their own throne. Aegidius died in 464,
perhaps by poison. He was a devout Christian and a Roman of strict ideals.
¤ AELIAN
(Claudius Aelianus) (c. 170-235 A.D.) A writer and rhetorician, heavily influenced by
STOICISM. He was the author of two books of lasting interest, Natura Animalium and the Varia
Historia, and is considered by some to be the author of the Peasant Letters as well.
¤ AELIANUS, CASPERIUS (d. 98 A.D.) A prefect of the PRAETORIAN GUARD. Appointed by
DOMITIAN, Aelianus was soon replaced in the aftermath of a financial scandal. When Nerva came to
the throne in 96, Aelianus regained his position with the Guard. As prefect of the powerful Praetorians,
Aelianus drove his troops into a rage over the assassination of Emperor Domitian. The Praetorians raced
to the palace and cornered the new emperor, demanding justice and the death of Domitian's slayers (two
of Nerva's allies). Nerva was dismissed by the Praetorians. The guilty were soon removed and executed,
and Emperor Nerva collapsed and died soon after. Trajan, the new emperor of Rome, summoned