In 390 BC, the Gauls, led by Brennus (Bren meaning chief in Celtic) invaded Etruria to appropriate the riches of the Italian peninsula. Winners of the Roman army on the Allia river, they seize Rome which they find deserted, its doors open. The population fled, with the exception of the senators, seated on their curule chairs in a town square. A Gallic soldier approaches one of them and has fun pulling his beard. The senator punishes the audacious with a blow of a stick. He was immediately massacred, along with his colleagues. The Gauls then engaged in numerous lootings and massacres.
Only a few Roman refugees in the Capitol manage to resist the Gallic invasion. The siege of the Capitol then begins and will last seven long months... One night, the geese of the Capitol awaken the Romans with their cries, thus alerting them to a surprise attack by the Gauls. Thanks to them, the defenders managed to repel this night assault which could have been particularly deadly. Another day, the Romans, yet on the verge of starvation, throw bread at the besiegers to make them believe they have infinite reserves and thus demoralize them.
Faced with this unexpected resistance, Brennus agrees to deal with the Roman military tribune Quintus Sulpicius:the Gauls will withdraw on payment of a large ransom, 1,000 pounds of gold (327.45 kg).
A large balance is then prepared on a square in Rome; in order to further increase the ransom, the Gauls place false weights there. In front of the protests of the Romans who realize the deception (“By what right do you use rigged weights?!”), Brennus adds to their dishonor still further:answering them “From the right of the victors! », he throws his sword and his baldric on the balance, adding in Latin « Woe to the vanquished » as a conclusion (Livy, V, 48).
Brennus was later defeated by Camillus who washed the honor of Rome.