The Conquest of Gaul tells the story of the Roman Conquest of what is now France, Switzerland, most of the Low Countries, and parts of present day Germany. \u00a0 It was written by Julius Caesar, the Governor of the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul from 59 B.C. until he was declared Dictator of Rome in 44 B.C. \u00a0 He presents a linear account of the conquest of Gaul set forth as a series of books, each book covering one year of his governorship. \u00a0 The first seven books were written by Caesar himself as yearly reports to Rome. \u00a0 The seventh book covering 51 B.C. was written after Caesar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s death by Aulus Hirtius who had served with him in Gaul. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0“The Conquest of Gaul\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is a revealing look at the manner in which Rome, the most powerful nation of its time conducted military operations. \u00a0 Caesar is perfectly placed to describe the operations in Gaul as he personally commanded the operations he describes.<\/p>\n
Book I is the story of the first year of Caesar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s governorship of Gaul 58 B.C. it details the methods he used to defeat the Helvetii. \u00a0 They were a Gallic tribe attempting to migrate into Gaul from the vicinity of present day Switzerland. \u00a0 Caesar attempted to stop their migration through diplomacy but they continued their march into Gaul. \u00a0 Caesar recounts the campaign in which he pursued and defeated them ultimately expelling them from Gaul. \u00a0 The book also describes his campaign against Ariovistus a German chieftain who had subjugated some native Gallic tribes. In his narrative Caesar describes Roman siege methods for the first time. Caesar succeeds in expelling Ariovistus from Gaul and the book ends with Romans taking up winter quarters in Gaul and Caesar returning to northern Italy. \u00a0 Caesar makes pains to stress that he uses violence as a last resort preferring instead to negotiate with the barbarians before setting the Roman legions loose on them. \u00a0 This is somewhat disingenuous as the tone of his writing is such that it is clear he desires to defeat them in battle rather than with words.<\/p>\n
Book II carries the tale of the conquest of Gaul into the next year 57 B.C. \u00a0 During the winter rumors reached Caesar of a coalition of Belgic tribes gathering to oppose the Roman invasion of Gaul. \u00a0 Caesar quickly raised two new legions from his province in Italy and marched into Gaul to confront the impending revolt. \u00a0 He faced down a Gallic army at the town of Bibrax and the Belgae melted away to their tribal areas. \u00a0 Caesar then relates the methods he used in chasing and subduing the Belgae throughout the rest of the campaigning season. \u00a0 The legions are put into winter quarters most in the territory of the defeated tribes but three in different tribal areas to forestall rebellion there. \u00a0 Caesar then returned to Italy and notes that fifteen days of celebration ordered at Rome in commemoration of his victories. \u00a0 This book elaborates on Caesar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s skill as a commander both strategically and tactically. \u00a0 It also brings us the first mention of his legions by name particularly the Xth<\/sup> Legion which is to prove one of Caesar’s favorites.<\/p>\n Book III picks up the narrative at the end of 57 B.C. by describing the abortive alpine campaign of Servius Galba in which one Legion and some cavalry are repulsed from opening a trade route through the Alps for the Romans. \u00a0 Caesar next moves into 56 B.C. to detail the campaigns against the tribes along the Atlantic coast who rebelled in response to Roman food requisitions. \u00a0 This rebellion rapidly became almost general and caused Caesar to build a fleet in order to properly subdue the Veneti who lived in seaside cliff fortresses. \u00a0 After subduing the Veneti the Romans under Publius Crassus proceeded to assault and conquer Aquitania where the tribes were also in rebellion. \u00a0 While this was going on Caesar attempts to subdue the Morini and Menapii but is unable to finish the campaign because of the onset of winter. \u00a0 After putting down the revolt the legions were quartered in the rebellious territories for the winter.<\/p>\n Book IV presents the story of the one of Caesar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s greatest feats as a military campaign. \u00a0 In 55 B.C. in response to raids by the Germanic Suebi from across the Rhine who had invaded Gaul and massacred two tribes Caesar invaded Germany. \u00a0 After fruitless negotiations Caesar pursued and trapped the Suebi at the junction of the Moselle and Rhine rivers where he defeated them. \u00a0 To solidify his victory and demonstrate Roman power Caesar decided to cross the Rhine and raid German territory; to do this he had a bridge constructed across the Rhine and took his legions across. \u00a0 They laid waste to the German countryside and returned to Gaul tearing the bridge down after them. \u00a0 To conclude this very active year of campaigning Caesar next invaded Britain even though it was late in the year. \u00a0 He fought several battles before the natives sued for peace promising tribute. \u00a0 Caesar then returned to Gaul where he wintered his legions in Belgic territory.<\/p>\n Book V continues the story into 54 B.C. where Caesar once again faced rebellion in Gaul. \u00a0 Showing how redoubtable the Roman soldier was he started the campaigning season by returning to Britain where he compelled the Britons to pay tribute and surrender hostages before returning to Gaul. \u00a0 On his arrival he learned that one of his legions had been slaughtered by the Eubrones and all Gaul was in revolt. \u00a0 Caesar immediately marched to the relief of another of his legions that was under siege. \u00a0 He broke the siege and continued into northern Gaul to quell the rebellion. \u00a0 The rebellion ended when the leader of the revolt Indutiomarus was caught and killed by the Romans.<\/p>\n Book VI covers the year 53 B.C. which once again saw almost ceaseless campaigning by Caesar. \u00a0 He called up additional legions from Rome and his province and immediately set out to defeat the Treverii who remained in revolt. \u00a0 After defeating them he proceeded to re-cross the Rhine to punish the German tribes who had the revolt. \u00a0 As before he bridged the Rhine and proceeded to lay waste to the crops and villages of the Germans. \u00a0 At the end of the year he retired across the Rhine and settled the legions in winter quarters in the territory of the Treverii to ensure their submission.<\/p>\n Book VII tells the story of the greatest threat Caesar was to face in his time in Gaul, the revolt of Vercingetorix in 52 B.C. which would culminate with one the greatest sieges of the ancient world. \u00a0 The Gauls hearing word of troubles in Rome and seeing their chance, rose in revolt thinking the Romans would be distracted and unable to counter them. \u00a0 When Caesar heard of the revolt hastened back to Gaul from Italy and mobilized his legions to put down the rebellion. \u00a0 Caesar first laid siege to and captured the town of Avaricum then pursued Vercingetorix to Gergovia where the Romans suffered a partial defeat before withdrawing. \u00a0 After refitting his troops Caesar pursued the Gauls to Alesia where he laid siege to Vercingetorix. \u00a0 While this was in progress an army approached to relieve the Gauls in Alesia causing Caesar to construct both inward and out ward facing siege lines. \u00a0 Facing starvation the Gauls attempted to break the siege but was decisively defeated with Vercingetorix being captured. \u00a0 After the siege all the tribes of Gaul quickly made peace with the Romans. \u00a0 Caesar put his legions into winter quarters and returned to northern Italy.<\/p>\n Book VIII is the only book not written by Caesar it tells of the events of 51 and 50 B.C. in which Caesar put down the final revolt by the Gauls and then defies the Roman Senate by bringing troops to Rome thus threatening civil war. \u00a0 In 51 B.C. the Gauls rose once more and Caesar rapidly put the rebellion down defeating Gallic armies of Bituriges, Carnutes, and the Bellovaci with customary swiftness. \u00a0 Caesar then proceeded to the town of Uxellodunum which he laid siege to and captured. \u00a0 In order to forestall further revolt he decided to make an example of the defenders releasing them only after cutting off the hands of the soldiers so that all could see the cost of rebellion. \u00a0 Then Hirtius describes the actions that led up the civil war but goes no farther.<\/p>\n Caesar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Commentaries are perhaps the best source extant for Roman military methods being written by the commander of the armies involved. \u00a0 There are numerous examples of the Roman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s superiority in arms and strategy. \u00a0 Caesar makes plain that there were some very hard fought battles but through superior discipline and morale the Romans always s managed to succeed. \u00a0 He mentions the importance of logistics to his success many times, emphasizing that it was always at the back of his mind. \u00a0 The Romans were masters of military engineering which he does not fail to point out. \u00a0 He describes in detail the methods of both how the Rhine was bridged as well as how the siege-lines in Alesia were constructed. \u00a0 This book should be required reading for anyone studying ancient history military or otherwise. \u00a0 It provides a detailed glimpse of one of the most important periods in ancient history written by one of the pivotal figures of a pivotal time.
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