or as the name is found in in
491
scriptions, BETULTUS, a king of the Arverni in Gaul. When the proconsul Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus undertook the war in B. C. 121 against the Allobroges, who were joined by the Arverni under Bituitus, these Gallic tribes were defeated near the town of Vindalium. After this first disaster the Allobroges and Arverni made immense preparations to renew the contest with the Romans, and Bituitus again took the field with a very numerous army. At the point where the Isara empties itself into the Rhodanus, the consul Q. Fabius Maximus, the grandson of Paullus, met the Gauls in the autumn of B. C. 121. Although the Romans were far inferior in numbers, yet they gained such a complete victory, that, according to the lowest estimate, 120,000 men of the army of Bituitus fell in the battle. After this irreparable loss, Bituitus, who had been taken prisoner in an insidious manner by Cn. Domitius, was sent to Rome. The senate, though disapproving of the conduct of Domitius, exiled Bituitus to Alba. His son, Congentiatus, was likewise made prisoner and sent to Rome. Florus adds, that the triumph of Q. Fabius was adorned by Bituitus riding in a silver war-chariot and with his magnificent armour, just as he had appeared on the field of battle. (Liv. Epit. 61; Florus, 3.2; Vell. 2.10; Suet. Nero 2; Appian, Gallic. 12, where Bituitus is erroneously called king of the Allobroges; Eutrop. 4.22, where the year and the consuls are given incorrectly; Oros. 5.14; V. Max. 9.6.3; comp. Strab. iv. p.191; Plin. Nat. 7.51.) [L.S]