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Cativolcus (d.53 B.C.) was one of two kings of the Eburones tribe during the Gallic War. At the end of 54 B.C. Caesar placed one of his legions, under Sabinus, in winter quarters in Eburones territory. Cativolcus and his co-king Ambiorix greeted the Romans at their borders of their territory, but only fifteen days later, inspired by messages from Indutiomarus of the Treviri they began the second Gallic revolt by attacking Sabinus in his camp at Atuatuca, luring him out and destroying his legion. The elderly Cativolcus doesn't appear to have played an active part in the attack, which was led by Ambiorix.
Caesar spent the early part of 53 B.C. putting down the revolt, but he left the Eburones for last. When the Romans finally turned against them Ambiorix ordered his men to scatter into the ancient Ardennes Forest, denying Caesar an easy victory. By this time Cativoleus was too elderly to consider a life on the run, and after cursing Ambiorix as the author of his misfortunes he killed himself with the juice of the poisonous yew tree.
The Gallic War , Julius Caesar. One of the great works of western civilisation. Caesar was an almost unique example of a great general who was also a great writer. The Gallic War is a first hand account of Caesar's conquest of Gaul, written at the time to explain and justify his actions.
