The Tigurini, one of the four clans that make up the Helvetii. They took part in the Cimbrian War and won major victories against Rome in 107 BC. They come up again in Caesar’s “Conquest of Gaul” 49 years later and both times they are led by the same man, Divico.
Also recorded as “Divicus” both names come from the Gallic root “divic” meaning “to avenge, to punish” and essentially the name Divico and Divicus means The Avenger or The Punisher. This name could suggest that Divico was a ruler focused on justice and a judge who gave punishments. Or it could mean that he avenged a injustice against him. Either way, Divico is still remembered for his millitary prowess.
Divico first appears in history when the Tigurini join in the Cimbrian War allying with the Cimbri Tribe. From the Jutland peninsula came the Cimbri and Tuetones and along the way they made allies with the Tigurini and the Ambrones, who are theorized to be the fourth Helvetian clan but there’s no evidence to support it.
This alliance of Celtic and Germanic tribes was a force to be reckoned with, defeating the Romans at several critical moments. One such battle took place in 107 BC in what is now Bordeaux, France. The Battle of Burdigala was a decisive victory and it lead to the death of two Roman generals.
The Helvetians were under the command of Divicos who ambushed the inexperienced and poorly led Roman army with a greater force. Divico added insult to injury and the surviving Roman soldiers were forced to give up their possessions and forced to leave “under the yoke”. Some sources take this as metaphorical but other take it literal.
Unfortunately, the Cimbri would end up losing the war with Rome. Following the Battle of Burdigala, the alliance would see some more success and another major victory but the tide would turn in favor of Rome. The Cimbri failed to cease the momentum even when they had control of the passes in the Alps and instead of invading the Italian peninsula they chose to fight against the Celtiberians in the West.
This decision gave Rome enough time to regroup and gave command over to Gaius Marius who was a celebrated military general. The Cimbri alliance was splintered and demoralized by this point. With the signs of imminent defeat on the horizon, Divico and the Tigurini chose to leave the alliance and settled back in Helvetian territory. Making their home in the Jura Mountains near Lac Leman.
The Cimbrian War will be covered in greater detail but the story of Divico doesn’t end just yet. The Avenger would come into the scene again during the early stages of the “Conquest of Gaul” in the Helvetian War. Caesar recalls that after the death of Orgetorix, the Helvetii continue with their migration and request passage through Roman controlled Provence.
Caesar meets with a Helvetii delegation lead by the now aged Cheiftan and General, Divico, 49 years after the Battle of Burdigala. What Divico had to offer was almost a surrender, namely to have the Helvetii settle wherever Caesar wished them to, although it was combined with the threat of an open battle if Caesar should refuse. Caesar demanded hostages to be given to him and reparations to the Aedui and Allobroges. Divico responded by saying that “they were accustomed to receive, not to give hostages; a fact the Roman people could testify to“, this once again being an allusion to the giving of hostages by the defeated Romans at Burdigala.
Sadly not much is mentioned of Divico after Caesar rejects the offer. No record of a death in the coming Battle of Bibracte or if he succumbed to illness or old age. Caesar would have cherished recording a victory and while some sources say that Divico say that he was the Gaulish commander at Bibracte (others say it was Dumnorix) the fact that Caesar doesn’t mention Divico again is odd.
According to history this is where the story of Divico ends. It’s very much unsatisfying that we never know how or when Divico dies. There are some thoughts and theories on it but they are just that: Thoughts and Theories. One is that Caesar hated Divico so much that after their meeting on the bridge he chose to never mention him again. To essentially not even dignify Divico with a record of how he fared in the Battle of Bibract. To chose to not record him again out of spite for killing his relative and embarassing the Empire all those years ago.
Another possibility could be that Divico was too old to participate in the events following the bridge meeting. 49 years is along time and Divico had to at least be in his 60s or even his 70s by this point. Divico could have been used as a delegate only. Using his name and fame as a deterrent or act of intimidation. Caesar knew of how badly Divico had beaten Romans in the past so maybe having the man himself come before Caesar was meant to be a psychological move that did not work on the general.
There is the idea that Julius Caesar fabricated the meeting with Divico. To add to his own glory or to use as a metaphor. Caesar facing the man who decimated the Roman forces nearly half a century earlier before delivering a decisive blow to the Helvetii at Bibracte could be a symbolic fiction in his memoirs.
Lastly, the fact that in the Cimbrian War he is known as Divicus but is known as Divico later on could have a possible meaning. That perhaps Divicus and Divico could be two separate people. Maybe even father and son. Caesar attests that they are the same man despite the small difference in name. Could this also have a deeper meaning? Maybe the delegate that Caesar met was in fact Divico, son of Divicus, a man who was so much like his father that Caesar though them the same?
Who knows. What is known is that for a while Divico was a force to be reckoned with. A name that made the Romans sweat. However he met his end, Divico is forever remembered as a warlord who could resist the might of Rome. A wise king who chose to leave the Cimbrian Alliance and bought his people half a century of peace before the return of Rome. A hero who chose to die a free Helvetian than live as a slave for Rome.
Divico’s name survives in the modern Swiss culture. Various companies and products and even a band now bears his name. The Avenger Divico is as synonymous with the Swiss today just as it was with the Helvetii in ancient times. It’s almost as if Divico is venerated in this way. History only has a few mentions of name and yet he has become apart of the land, culture, and people.
In a way Divico lives up to his namesake. While he did not defeat Gaius Marius or Julius Caesar, nor saw the fall of Rome in his lifetime, The Avenger of the Tigurini Tribe became the spirit of resistance that was carried on into the present day. Caesar would be assassinated and Rome would eventually be divided and toppled.
While the Helvetii would lose their Celtic identity with the invasion of the Germanic Lombardi and Alemanni, their name and spirit would live on and form Switzerland into what it is today. Rome would never rise again, but the Helvetians, in a way, have thrived. No longer a Celtic tribe but a multilingual nation that is associated with the name Helvetica. That is Divico’s revenge and alot is owed to this Helvetian Hero.
Nemeton Eluêtion 