manhood, in the full vigor of mind and body. His previous experience in
camp life had been comparatively small. His early service in Asia, and
his more recent campaigns in Spain, however, had shown his aptitude for
military life.
The Romans had already obtained a foothold in Gaul. Since 118, the
southern part of the country along the seaboard had been a Roman
province, called GALLIA NARBONENSIS, from the colony of Narbo which the
Romans had founded. The rest of Gaul included all modern France, and a
part of Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium. The inhabitants were all
of the Celtic race, except a few Germans who had crossed the Rhine and
settled in the North, and the AQUITANI, who lived in the Southwest and
who are represented by the Basques of to-day.
The Gauls were more or less civilized since they had come into contact
with the Romans, but they still had the tribal form of government, like
the early Romans. There were more than fifty of these tribes, which were
mostly hostile to one another, as well as divided into factions among
themselves. This condition favored a conquest, for the factions were
frequently Roman and non-Roman. Two of the chief tribes were the AEDUI
and SEQUANI. The former had been taken under the protection of Rome; the
latter, impatient of control and Roman influence, had invited a tribe
of Germans under Ariovistus to come into Gaul and settle, and be their
allies. These Germans had attacked and conquered the Aeduans, taken from
them hostages, and with the Sequanians were in the ascendency.
In Switzerland lived the HELVETII. They had so increased in numbers
that their country was too small for them. They therefore proposed to
emigrate farther into Gaul, and the Sequanians, whose lands bordered
on those of the Helvetians, gave them permission to march through their
country.
Such was the state of affairs when Caesar arrived in Gaul. Feeling that
the passage of such a large body of emigrants (368,000) through Gaul
would be dangerous to the province (Gallia Narbonensis), he determined
to interfere. The Helvetians were met at BIBRACTE, near Autun, and after
a terrible battle, which raged from noon until night, were defeated
with great slaughter (58). The survivors, about one third, were treated
kindly, and most of them sent back to Switzerland.
Caesar now turned his attention to the Germans who had settled west of
the Rhine. After several fruitless attempts at negotiation, during
which the bad faith of Ariovistus became conspicuous, the forces came
together. Though the Germans were brave, they were no match for the
drilled legionaries, who fought with the regularity of a machine. Few of
the barbarians escaped, but among these was Ariovistus.
The campaigns of this year being ended, the legions were sent into
winter quarters among the Sequanians under Labienus, the lieutenant of
Caesar. He himself went into Cisalpine Gaul to attend to his duties as
administrator, and to have communication with his friends at Rome.
THE WAR WITH THE BELGAE.
While Caesar was in Hither Gaul, he learned from Labienus that the
BELGAE were forming a league to resist the Romans. This people occupied
the northeastern part of Gaul, and embraced several tribes, of which
the principal were the REMI, BELLOVACI, SUESSIONES, and NERVII. The last
were the fiercest and least civilized.
Caesar raised two new legions, making eight in all, and marched against
the Belgae as soon as the spring opened. His sudden approach alarmed
the Remi, who lived nearest to Central Gaul, and they immediately put
themselves under his protection. From them he learned that the Belgae
could muster about 300,000 men.
By skilful tactics and a successful attack he put to flight and nearly
annihilated the Suessiones. The Bellovaci now put themselves under his
protection, but the Nervii remained in arms. One day, while the six
legions were forming camp on the bank of the river Sabis, the Nervii and
their allies suddenly rushed upon them from an ambuscade in the woods on
the opposite bank. The troops were entirely unprepared, and so quick was
the enemy's charge that the Romans had not time to put on their helmets,
to remove the covering from their shields, or to find their proper
places in the ranks. Great confusion followed, and they became almost
panic-stricken. Caesar rushed into their midst, snatched a shield from
a soldier, and by his presence and coolness revived their courage. The
Nervii were checked, and victory was assured. But the enemy fought on
with a bravery that excited the admiration of Caesar. Of sixty thousand
men scarcely five hundred survived. The women and children were cared
for kindly by Caesar, and settled in their own territory.
The Aduatuci, who had assisted the Nervii in their struggle, were
conquered by Caesar and sold into slavery.
Thus ended the Belgian campaign (57). The legions were put into winter
quarters near where the war had been waged, and Caesar went to Italy. In
his honor was decreed a thanksgiving lasting fifteen days.
THE VENETI.--INVASION OF GERMANY.
All the tribes in the northwestern part of Gaul (Brittany) except
the VENETI had given hostages to Crassus, son of the Triumvir, and
lieutenant of Caesar. This tribe refused to give hostages, and, inducing
others to join them, seized some Roman officers sent among them by
Crassus. The campaign of the third year (56) was directed against these
people. They were mostly sailors and fishermen, with villages built
on the end of promontories and easily defended by land. In a naval
engagement, which lasted nearly all day, their whole fleet was
destroyed. The leaders of the Veneti were put to death for their
treachery in seizing Roman officers, and the rest were sold into
slavery.
The legions spent the winter of 56-55 in the northern part of Gaul,
among the Aulerci and neighboring tribes.
During this winter another wave of Germans passed over the Rhine into
Gaul. They had been driven from their homes by a powerful tribe called
the SUEVI. In the spring of 55 Caesar collected his troops and advanced
to within twelve miles of the German camp, and gave the invaders
twenty-four hours to leave the country. Before the expiration of the
time, they attacked Caesar's outposts, killing several Knights, and two
men of aristocratic families. In the general engagement that followed,
the Germans were totally routed and most of them were slain.
Caesar next determined to cross the Rhine into Germany, thinking thus to
inspire the Germans with greater fear of the Romans. He built his famous
bridge, crossed it, remained eighteen days in Germany, and, thinking his
object accomplished, returned to Gaul, destroying the bridge behind him.
INVASION OF BRITAIN.
It was now August and Caesar occupied the rest of the season by crossing
the Channel to Britain (England). Landing near Deal, with but little
resistance on the part of the natives, he explored the country for a
short time, and returned in September, as the equinox was near and the
weather unsettled. The legions were sent into winter quarters among the
Belgae, and Caesar set out for Cisalpine Gaul.
During this winter (55-54), orders were given to build a large fleet,
as Caesar intended to return to Britain the next year. After all
preparations were completed, he set sail, July 20, 54, and the next
day landed on the island. He defeated the Britons under their leader
CASSIVELAUNUS, and compelled them to pay tribute and give hostages. Many
thousand prisoners were taken, and sold in Italy as slaves.
FINAL STRUGGLES OF THE GAULS.
In the winter of 54-53 the legions were distributed among several
tribes. That stationed in the territory of the Eburones was commanded
by the lieutenants, Gabinus and Cotta. News reached the encampment that
there was an uprisal of the Eburones. It was decided to break up camp,
and go, if possible, to the winter quarters of their nearest companions.
On the march they were surprised and nearly all killed. Only a few
stragglers carried the news to Labienus, who was wintering with a legion
among the Remi.
This success moved the Nervii to attack Quintus Cicero, the lieutenant
who was wintering with his legion among them. Word was sent to Caesar,
who had fortunately not yet left Gaul. He hastened to Cicero's relief,
raised the siege, and all but annihilated the revolting Nervii.
In 53 Caesar punished the Eburones for their action in the previous
winter. The tribe was completely destroyed, but their leader, Ambiorix,
escaped and was never captured. During this summer Caesar again crossed
the Rhine. At the close of the summer he returned to Cisalpine Gaul,
supposing that the Gauls were totally subdued. He was mistaken. The
patriotism of the people was not yet extinguished. The chiefs of all
the tribes secretly established communication with each other. A day was
settled upon for a general uprising. The Roman inhabitants of Genabum,
on the Liger, were massacred. The leading spirit in this last struggle
of the Gauls was VERCINGETORIX, chief of the Averni.
Caesar hastened across the Alps, surmounted the difficulties of crossing
the Cevennes when the snow was very deep, collected his legions, marched
upon Genabum, and plundered and burnt the town.
Vercingetorix saw that he was no match for the legions in open battle.
He proposed, therefore, to cut off Caesar's supplies by burning all the
towns of the Bituriges, and laying the country waste. Avaricum alone
was spared. Within its walls were placed the best of their goods and
a strong garrison. Thither Caesar marched, and, after a well defended
siege, captured the town and killed every person in it, excepting eight
hundred, who escaped to the camp of Vercingetorix. Large quantities
of corn were taken, with which Caesar supplied his soldiers. He then
marched against Gergovia, the capital of the Averni. As the town was
on a high plateau, and too strong to be stormed, he laid siege to it. A
part of the army, contrary to instructions, one day attempted to assault
the place. The battle which followed was disastrous to the Romans, and
the only defeat Caesar received in Gaul. Forty-six officers and seven
hundred men fell. The siege was raised. It was a serious position for
Caesar. All Gaul was in flames. Retreating at once, he formed a junction
with Labienus at Agendicum, and with all his troops started for Gallia
Narbonensis to protect it from invasion.
On his route was ALESIA. Here Vercingetorix was intrenched with
eighty thousand troops. It was, like Gergovia, situated on a hill
and considered impregnable. Caesar laid siege to this place (52).
Vercingetorix appealed to all Gaul for aid. Hardly had the fortress been
invested when Caesar's army was surrounded by an immense force of Gauls
that had come to the rescue. Caesar needed now all his skill and genius.
But they did not fail him. The relieving army, though five times as
large as his, was driven back and sent flying home.
Seeing that all was over, Vercingetorix called a council of his chiefs
and advised surrender. A message was sent to Caesar. He demanded
unconditional surrender, and was obeyed. The people were sold into
slavery, and the money obtained distributed among the soldiers.
Vercingetorix was kept to be exhibited in the triumph at Rome, and
afterwards died in a dungeon.
With the fall of Alesia, the subjugation of Gaul was practically
completed.
The next year (51) Caesar honored several chiefs with privileges; some
of the nobles were granted the franchise, and some admitted to the
Senate. The work of Romanizing Gaul was fairly begun. Two provinces were
formed, Gallia and Belgica, and later (17 A. D.) the former of these was
subdivided into Lugdunensis and Aquitania. Roman money was introduced,
and Latin became the official language.