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Early in Republican history, the city was besieged by the Gauls, led by Brennus, and ransomed.  This was the first incursion upon the soil of the city, and the last time enemies passed the sacred pomerium (border line) of the city until 410 A.D.  The account is romanticized in Titus Livius|Livy's ''Roman History'', where he describes that but for the efforts of the scorned hero Camillus, the Gauls would have utterly razed the city.<ref>Plutarch, ''Life of Camillus''</ref>  Instead, the ragtag remnants of the Roman Army were held the Capitoline Hill - one of the Seven Hills of Rome - against the Gauls in stalemate, ceding the rest of the city to the advancing armies.   

Early in Republican history, the city was besieged by the Gauls, led by Brennus, and ransomed.  This was the first incursion upon the soil of the city, and the last time enemies passed the sacred pomerium (border line) of the city until 410 A.D.  The account is romanticized in Titus Livius|Livy's ''Roman History'', where he describes that but for the efforts of the scorned hero Camillus, the Gauls would have utterly razed the city.<ref>Plutarch, ''Life of Camillus''</ref>  Instead, the ragtag remnants of the Roman Army were held the Capitoline Hill - one of the Seven Hills of Rome - against the Gauls in stalemate, ceding the rest of the city to the advancing armies.   

After this stalemate had lasted for some time, the Gauls offered to leave for a sum of gold.  The Romans quickly accepted, and began to carry out their gold, and weigh out the appropriate price on a Gallic [[balance scale]].  The Romans soon discovered that the Gauls had deliberately tinkered with the scales so as to weigh the gold lighter than it actually was, to trick the Romans into paying more.  As the Romans protested, and prepared to rescind the treaty, Brennus is said to have yelled ''"Vae Victis!"'', or, "Woe to the Conquered!", upon which he threw his sword onto the scales as an ''additional'' counterweight to the Roman gold.  The Romans, their land savage and their gold extorted from them, set to rebuilding the city.  The Gauls were never to return.

After this stalemate had lasted for some time, the Gauls offered to leave for a sum of gold.  The Romans quickly accepted, and began to carry out their gold, and weigh out the appropriate price on a Gallic balance scale.  The Romans soon discovered that the Gauls had deliberately tinkered with the scales so as to weigh the gold lighter than it actually was, to trick the Romans into paying more.  As the Romans protested, and prepared to rescind the treaty, Brennus is said to have yelled ''"Vae Victis!"'', or, "Woe to the Conquered!", upon which he threw his sword onto the scales as an ''additional'' counterweight to the Roman gold.  The Romans, their land savage and their gold extorted from them, set to rebuilding the city.  The Gauls were never to return.

However, the rebuilding of the city proved difficult.  Titus Livius [[Livy]] says that the Romans almost considered abandoning the city of Rome, and moving wholesale to Alba Longa, the mythical nearby city of Aeneas, to begin their lives anew there.  However, after an impassioned speech by Camillus, the Romans instead chose to rebuild Rome, at a breakneck pace.  Livy blames this hurried reconstruction for the disorganization and haphazard layout of the Roman streets, when compared with the ordered city plans of provincial capitals and colonies.<ref>Titus Livius, ''Roman History''</ref>

However, the rebuilding of the city proved difficult.  Titus Livius [[Livy]] says that the Romans almost considered abandoning the city of Rome, and moving wholesale to Alba Longa, the mythical nearby city of Aeneas, to begin their lives anew there.  However, after an impassioned speech by Camillus, the Romans instead chose to rebuild Rome, at a breakneck pace.  Livy blames this hurried reconstruction for the disorganization and haphazard layout of the Roman streets, when compared with the ordered city plans of provincial capitals and colonies.<ref>Titus Livius, ''Roman History''</ref>