Bolgios facts for kids

Bolgios (also spelled Bolgius or Belgius) was a brave Gaulish leader. He played a big part in the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. During this time, he led his army to invade Macedon and Illyria, where he defeated the Macedonian king, Ptolemy Keraunos.

The Gauls on the Move

Bolgios was part of a large group of Gauls who had settled in a region called Pannonia (which is now parts of Hungary and other countries). These Gauls were led by a chief named Cambaules. They wanted to explore new lands and expand their territory.

Dividing the Armies

The Gaulish leaders decided to split their forces to conquer different areas.

• One group, led by Cerethrius, went to fight the Thracians and Triballi.
• Another group, led by Brennus and Acichorius, marched towards Paionia.
• Bolgios led the third group, which aimed for Macedon and Illyria.

Confronting King Ptolemy

When Bolgios and his army approached Macedon, the king, Ptolemy Keraunos, was not worried. He even turned down an offer of 20,000 soldiers from the Dardanians, who wanted to help him.

A Refused Offer

Bolgios sent messengers to King Ptolemy. They asked for money to stop the attack. But King Ptolemy refused. Instead, he demanded that the Gauls give him hostages (people held as a guarantee) and hand over their weapons.

The Battle and Its Outcome

Just a few days later, a big battle took place. The Macedonian army was badly defeated. King Ptolemy was captured and killed.

After the Victory

Even though they won a major battle, Bolgios's army did not continue their attack right away. A Macedonian nobleman named Sosthenes quickly gathered an army. He managed to push Bolgios's forces back.

New Challenges for the Gauls

However, Sosthenes was later defeated by another Gaulish group led by Brennus. After this, the combined Gaulish armies under Brennus and Acichorius launched a major invasion of Greece. They won a battle at Thermopylae but were eventually defeated when they tried to attack Delphi.

Bolgios's Legacy

Some historians, like Koch, believe that Bolgios became a very important figure over time. It's thought that the "Belgae" people, who lived in parts of ancient Gaul and Britain, might have claimed to be his descendants. This idea of noble ancestry linked to Bolgios might also be connected to the legendary figure of Beli Mawr in ancient British stories.