Cæsar and Pompey, now finding that they agreed in many of their views,
resolved to unite their forces. To cement their union more closely,
Cæsar gave his only daughter, Julia, in marriage to Pompey. For various
reasons it was found desirable to admit Crassus to their political
partnership, and thus was formed (60 B. C.) that famous coalition known
in Roman history as the “First Triumvirate.” The object of Cæsar and
Pompey was to thwart the senatorial party in every way, and wield all
the power themselves.
The formation of the triumvirate was followed by the election of Cæsar
to the consulship (59 B. C.); and when his year of office expired he
obtained for himself the government of Gaul for five years, and then for
another five. This was probably the great object of Cæsar’s desires. No
doubt he was already brooding over the design of making himself master
of Rome; and for this purpose he would need an army.
During the years 58-50 B. C. Cæsar made eight campaigns in Gaul, forming
the remarkable series of operations which he afterwards described with
such pointed style in his _Commentaries_.
The result of his eight years’ campaigning was that, in the spring of 50
B. C., Cæsar was able to take up his residence in Cisalpine Gaul,
leaving the three hundred tribes beyond the Alps, which he had conquered
by such bloody means, not only pacified, but even attached to himself
personally. His army, which included many Gauls and Germans, was so
devoted to him that it would have marched to the end of the world in his
service.