Startled by the noise of the heavy chariots and by their strange appearance, the Roman horses turned and fled. In their flight they encountered the infantry, and dashing upon it, caused the legions to give way.
Decius tried in vain to rally his men. Then, in despair, he determined to do as his father had done, and yield himself up to death, that the army might be saved.
So, spurring his steed, he rode headlong into the midst of the Gallic warriors and was slain.
The soldiers, seeing that the Consul had sacrificed himself for their sake, took courage and turned to face the foe. Decius had, by his death, won a victory for his country.
Fabius meanwhile, had routed the Samnites, who now added to the confusion by rushing past the Gauls, in a desperate effort to reach their camp.
As the Samnites fled, the Gauls formed themselves into a dense mass, for they feared that they would now be attacked by Fabius.
The Consul, however, contented himself by sending a detachment of his men to harass the Gauls in their rear, and another to attack them in front.
Then vowing to build a temple to Jupiter and to offer him all the spoil if he was victorious, Fabius himself followed the Samnites and cut them down ruthlessly, until at length Egnatius, their brave commander, fell. Resistance was now at an end, yet those who were still alive refused to surrender. Forming themselves into a compact body, they marched away and struggled back to their own country.
The Gauls too were utterly crushed, and the glory of the battle of Sentinum belonged to Rome.