Vae victis (IPA /waiː wIktiːs/) is
Latin for "Woe to the vanquished" or also "Woe to the conquered". (This is the plural form - the singular is Vae victo).In
390 BC, an army of
Gauls led by
Brennus attacked
Rome, capturing all of the city except for the
Capitoline Hill, which was successfully held against them. Brennus besieged the hill, and finally the Romans asked to
ransom their city. Brennus demanded 1000
pounds (327 kg) of
gold, and the Romans agreed to his terms.
Livy, in
Ab Urbe Condita Book 5 Sections 34-49, records that the Gauls provided steelyard and weights, and the Romans brought out their gold. But the Romans noticed that the weights were fixed, and the tribunes dared to complain to Brennus about the issue. Brennus took his sword, threw it on to the weights, and exclaimed: "Vae victis!", for the conquered have no rights, forcing the Romans to bring even more gold to fulfill their obligation.
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