| De Bello Gallico |
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De Bello Gallico - A Synopsis
Book I - 58 BCE
Description of Gaul:
- Distance from 'civilization', lack of luxuries which weaken men, continuous warring with Germani
- War with Helvetii (modern Switzerland) due to migratory plans of Orgetorix
- War with Germani- Aedui and other Gallic tribes ask for protection from the Germani who attempt often to cross the Rhenus (Rhine) seeking better land. Their leader is Ariovistus. Caesar foils their plans.
Book II - 57 B.C.E.
War with the Belgae
- The Veneti were a coastal tribe who relied on ships for trading and fighting. Caesar built a fleet, trained soldiers to man oars and defeated the Veneti in a naval campaign.
Book III - 56 B.C.E.
Caesar builds a navy
- The Belgae attempt to form an alliance in defiance of the Romans. Caesar subdues them.
Book IV - 55 B.C.E.
First Invasion of Germani
- Having stopped the Germani from entering Gaul, he amassed his troops and crossed the Rhenus. He terrorized the Germani in but 18 days.
First Invasion of Britain
- Having heard about the people living across the channel from Gaul, Caesar decided to look for himself and discovered that these were a people who would not be easily conquered. Saying that he had learned sufficient information about the people, he returned to Gaul.
Book V - 54 B.C.E.
Second Expedition to Britain
- Caesar tries again to make inroads into Britain since tribes there had protected rebellious Gauls. That's the ostensible reason. The real reason is probably that they were there. After ten hard weeks and considerable storm damage to his fleet, Caesar imposes peace terms and returns to Gaul, once again without having left forces in Britain.
Defeat at the hands of Ambiorix
- Led by Ambiorix, some Gauls revolt against Roman rule and attack the Roman encampment of Cotta and Sabinus. The lieutenants and many Romans are killed. Rome is disgraced.
Attack on the camp of Quintus Cicero
- The brother of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Quintus, was a trusted and valued lieutenant under Caesar. The Gauls attack his camp but he and the Romans under him are able to withstand the attack until the arrival of Caesar who quickly routs the Gauls and claims victory.
Book VI - 53 B.C.E.
Second Invasion into Germania
- Always concerned about the tendency of the Germani to seek the more fertile lands of Gaul, Caesar decides to cross the Rhenus again. He writes at length about what he finds here and for years, this is the definitive description people cited about the Germani of this period. He gives a thorough description of the Druids, the most influential and learned men of the Gauls. They were the rule makers, the religious leaders and teachers. They limited who could learn to read, who could know the laws, who could have power. He described the Germani as warlike, with little care about crop growing or land ownership, preferred common lands owned for all Germani. Caesar also described the animals he saw in the Hercynian forest. Upon return to Gallia from Germania he learned that Ambiorix was trying to stir up factions once again so quickly quelled that threat.
Book VII - 52 B.C.E.
Ultimate Defeat of the Gauls
- One man took up the challenge and tried to unite the various tribes of Gaul in revolt against the Romans. Vercingetorix was indeed a treat. Many joined him but the old jealouses proved too strong and little by little they abandoned him but not before Caesar's forces experienced severe losses. The strategy used by Caesar at the siege of Alexia is very famous. One sees pictures of the siege engines Caesar used to starve out the town. Vercingtorix surrendered rather than see his people starve. Today Vercingetorix is considered the first national hero of France. Vercingetorix was taken as prisoner to Rome where he was incarcerated in the Mamartine prison until Caesar held his triumph. Some say Caesar allowed him to commit suicide rather than be put in the 'games' to die because he respected Vercingetorix too much to let him die as a criminal.
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