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¤ ALLOBROGES A tribe in the province of GALLIA NARBONENSIS (now southern France). This
region was annexed early by the Romans. The inhabitants resisted the overtures of the Gallic chieftain
vercingetorix when he led a Gallic revolt and were rewarded for their loyalty to Rome. Their capital was
Vienne, and Gallia Narbonensis became the birthplace of such great Roman figures as the orator
Domitius Afer, the consul Valerius Asiaticus and Emperor Antoninus Pius.
¤ ALYPIUS Bishop of Tagaste and a close friend to St. Augustine; the two visited Boniface in 422 A.D. to
convince him to remain active in the defense of the West. Alypius was also noted for his sensitive nature
and devout Christianity.
¤ AMANDUS AND AELIANUS Imperial aspirants from the bagaudae tribe. In 286 A.D., these two led a
revolt against Rome, citing the barbarian invasions of their lands and the crushing Roman tax system.
Diocletian, the newly crowned emperor, sent his trusted aide Maximian to crush the rebellion. The
Bagaudae were easily subdued, and Amandus and Aelianus faded from history.
¤ AMASEIA (or Amasia) A town in GALATIA (later CAPPADOCIA) that served for centuries as the
capital of the kings of Pontus. Pompey reorganized the city and used it as an administrative center that
survived until the time of Augustus, whose new provincial system made it a part of Galatia. As the east
became accessible, Amaseia grew in economic importance. The city was also known for its deliberate and
wanton cruelty to Christians during the periods of persecution.
¤ AMATHUS City beyond the Jordan River, near Gadara. In 100 B.C., Amathus was captured by
Jannaeus, also called Alexander, who was aspiring to the throne of Palestine. Pompey the Great
reconquered all of the area c. 63 B.C., and in 57 B.C. Proconsul Galienus broke up Palestine. Amathus,
like Jericho and Jerusalem, was a capital for one of five newly created districts.
¤ AMBIORIX (d. after 54 B.C.) King of the Eburones and an opponent of Rome who attacked Julius
Caesar's army in 54 B.C. The Romans were spread out in a series of winter camps in Gaul (see GALLIA)
when the Eburones rose in revolt. Ambiorix, their king, was a dubious military strategist but a convincing
liar. He lured the Roman legate, Titurius Sabinus, to his destruction at Aduatuca but lost the opportunity
to exploit that victory by failing to crush Q. Cicero and his Roman command. Caesar recovered and
routed the combined enemy near the Sabis. Ambiorix escaped but was soon overshadowed by another