Orgetorix | |
|---|---|
| Born | unknown |
| Died | 61 BC |
| Occupation | Aristocrat |
| Known for | Conspiracy to take control of Gaul |
Orgetorix was a wealthy aristocrat among theHelvetii, a Celtic-speaking people residing in what is nowSwitzerland during the consulship ofJulius Caesar of theRoman Republic.[1]
In 61 BC, he convinced the Helvetians to attempt to migrate from Helvetian territory to southwesternGaul (modern-dayFrance).[2] He was also party to a clandestine arrangement withDumnorix of theAedui andCasticus of theSequani to seize control of their respective tribes by arms and between them rule most of Gaul. The conspiracy was denounced, Orgetorix was called to a hearing in chains before the government of the Helvetii. He arrived with a small army and was released but died mysteriously in a rumoured suicide. The Helvetians went on with their plans for migration but were defeated in 58 BC and returned by Julius Caesar. The incident was the beginning of theGallic War in which Caesar subjugated Gaul.[3]
Julius Pokorny segments the name[P]orgeto-rix in which the first element contains Gallicorge "kill", related toOld Irishorcaid "kill", from theIndo-European root *per-g-, "to hit."[4] The second element is manifestly Celticrīx, "king:" "warrior-king", which does not imply that the owner of the name is necessarily a legal ruler. Although Orgetorix had aspirations in that direction, he was not a legal ruler.
According to Caesar's I.2 ofDe Bello Gallico, Orgetorix was by far the wealthiest and noblest. He made himself an ambassador on behalf of theHelvetians to the other Gallic tribes, and he gave his own daughter to Dumnorix as abona fide gesture. Orgetorix failed in his attempt to become one of three ruling triumvirs ofGaul.[5]
The Helvetians made elaborate plans for making such a journey. According to Caesar, they spent two years sowing crops and buying beasts of burden and intended for the migration to start in the third year. The effort came by way of marital exchange and individual alliances among some of the young nobles from all three tribes.[6]
Orgetorix was intending to make an unlawful attempt in seizing control of all of Gaul, with Dumnorix and Casticus as his other triumvirs. Unknown to the Helvetians, Orgetorix was making a deal to involve the use of Helvetian soldiers to seize control of all of Gaul, instead of a mere migration. If the conspiracy had been carried out, the Aeduans, Sequanians and Helvetians, under the threesome, would have all of Gaul at their disposal.[7]
Rivals among the Helvetii discovered Orgetorix's plot and moved to put him on trial, with the penalty of death by burning if he was found guilty. In assisting his efforts to avoid that fate, Orgetorix had meanwhile acquired a significant personal retinue, in addition to having called up an army of more than 10,000 men at arms in addition to their mobilized clients, followers and dependents.[8]
Many Helvetians suspected that Orgetorix committed suicide, rather than face death by burning. According to Roman accounts, he managed to evade pleading his case, but as the magistrates forced away the crowd of persons from the fields, Orgetorix died. Nonetheless, the Helvetians continued their attempt to migrate.[8]
