Revolt of Sacrovir

The Revolt of Sacrovir, also called the Florus-Sacrovir Revolt, was a Gallic uprising against Roman authorities led by Julius Sacrovir of the Aedui and Julius Florus of the Treveri in AD 21. Motivated by financial woes, the two chieftains refused to pay an imposed tribute and led an army of Gallic debtors. Gaius Silius, commander of forces along the Rhine, suppressed the rebellion with two legions about twelve miles outside of Augustodunum. After failing to elude pursuers, Florus committed suicide to prevent capture, and Sacrovir was later killed after becoming trapped in a house fire.

Tacitus provides the most extent commentary on the rebellion of any primary source. In many respects Tacitus follows convention in his descriptions of the rebellion, even using the exact phrasing as other historians of his time (as was the norm in official historiography among Roman writers). Tacitus avoided lumping them in as opportunists. His description of the death of Sacrovir on the battlefield uses a tone of respectability and he emphasizes the fact Florus would have been brought before the Senate as a Roman for treason had he not taken his own life, treatment not given to mere brigands.