Gaesatae
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The Gaesatae Order was a religious military order centered around several gods, including Camulus, the Celtic God of War.
The word "Gaesatae" is Celtic for "Spearmen". This implies that the Geasatae warbands could have fought either in a phalanx or that the spear was their primary weapon instead of the sword.
The Gaesatae Order was most likely founded in the 4th Century BC in Gaul. The Gaesatae offered their services to other Celtic tribes or anyone who needed men to fight. The Gaesatae are most renowned for their service for the Celts in the Po Valley, such as the Boii and Insubre tribes. They provided around 15,000 men at the Battle of Telamon and fought alongside the Insubres at the Battle of Clastidium. After the Gallic War of 225 BC to 223 BC, the Gaesatae fade away into history. They most likely had warbands in Gaul during the Gallic War of 225 BC to 223 BC, and took part in local tribal wars until the military order died out in the mid 2nd Century BC.
What made the Gaesatae unique was that they went into battle naked. It was their belief that by fighting naked they were more at peace with the nature around them and made them greater warriors. Unfortunately this characteristic went on to become a general belief that all Celts fought naked which is untrue.
In battle the Gaesatae fought in two ways. First was the Celtic version of the phalanx. Like the Hellenistic phalanx it was several lines of men with their spears lowered to form a thicket of spears. What made the Gaesatae phalanx different was that the Gaesatae would place reserves behind this force, which would break and run, hoping to lure the enemy into a disorganized pursuit. After the opposing army had broken ranks to follow the fleeing Gaesatae, reserves behind the Gaesatae phalanx would charge and engage the enemy in individual combat relying on their superb martial prowess. The second tactic the Gaesatae used was the massed charge. Before the battle commenced the Gaesatae warriors would whip themselves into a frenzy, yelling, screaming, driving fear into their enemies before charging in a mass wave hoping to break apart and overwhelm the enemy formations. Both tactics had their strengths and weakness's but combined with the skill of the Gaesatae, it gave them an edge over other Celtic armies.
