Fabius Ambustus, Quintus  ( flourished 4th century BCRoman ok hb
5/30/07Roman politician and commander who, according to
traditionthe Roman historian Livy (1st century BC), was
responsible for the sack of Rome by the Gauls in or soon after
390.  He and two other Fabii were sent as ambassadors to the
Gauls while a Gallic army was besieging Clusium (present-day
Chiusi). After Quintus Fabius involved his group in a skirmish,
the offended Gauls demanded that Rome surrender the culprits to
them for having violated the rules of war. By way of reply,
however, the Romans elected the three men tribunes with consular
power in the following year. As a result, the Gauls marched on
Rome, triumphed at the battle of the Allia River, and captured
the city. Modern historians believe that the story was invented
to explain how the Gauls were able to take Rome: supposedly, by
violating the rules of war, the Romans brought defeat upon
themselves.