FABIUS AMBUSTUS, QUINTUS

flourished 4th century BC Roman politician and commander who, according to tradition, was responsible for the sack of Rome by the Gauls in or soon after 390. He and two other Fabii were sent as ambassadors to the Gauls while a Gallic army was besieging Clusium. After Quintus Fabius involved his group in a skirmish, the offended Gauls demanded that Rome surrender the culprits to them. By way of reply, however, the Romans elected the three men tribunes with consular power in the following year. As a result, the Gauls marched on Rome, triumphed at the battle of the Allia River, and captured the city.