- Caesar, Crassus and Pompey and The First Triumvirate, M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota. Wary of sudden attack, though, Caesar explains to his men that the enemy has an advantage of position and, rather than appear rash, he moves the troops back to camp and prepares for the siege of the town. Labienus, because he cannot build a road through the marsh, moves his army back to Metiosedum, where he seizes fifty boats, ties them together to form a bridge and moves his troops so quickly across that Metiosedum is taken without a fight. They immediately flee to Aristius, claiming that the state had nothing to do with all that has happened, and they order an inquiry. Caesar obliges, then moves on toward Avaricurn, the largest and best fortified of the Bituriges' towns. Motivations. Here, he feels, the states of the Bituriges will come again under his control if he can capture Avaricum. The first book covers the year 58 BCE: it opens with the war against the Helvetians, continues with a victorious battleagainst a Germanic army, and culminates in the modest remark that Caesar had concluded two very important wars in a single campaign. LibriVox recording of Commentaries on the Gallic War, by Gaius Julius Caesar. There is also an 8th book, written by Aulus Hirtius. Many of Caesar's enemies were slaughtered, Vercingetorix' cavalry was routed, and some of the tribal leaders were captured. The law is clear and there is no justification for Cotus' attempt to have the office. He fights until all his men, including himself, are annihilated. The Helvii attempt to fight the enemy but are finally conquered and their chief, Gaius Valerius Donnotaurus is killed. Luckily, their camp is near one of the bridges that Vercingetorix has destroyed and when the legions have departed and Vercingetorix' troops have followed on the other side, Caesar orders the bridge rebuilt. In desperation, he assigns each of the fifty boats to a Roman knight and orders that at night they move in silence four miles downstream and wait for him there. audiobook, librivox, Latin literature, Caesar, Gaul, Gallic war. Noviodunum ambassadors begged Caesar to pardon them and spare them. He finds the German horses, unfortunately, not good enough for his purposes, so takes the horses away from the Romans and gives them to the German horsemen. He takes many troops with him, and when they are about 30 miles from Gergovia he stops them and tells them that many Aeduans have been put to death by the Romans and that, to gain revenge and safety, they must join the Arverni at Gergovia. Next day the Roman general calls a parade and reprimands the troops for failing to obey orders; he describes the disadvantages of being positioned on unfavorable ground and, although he admires their courage, he stresses that bravery does not substitute for discipline and self-restraint. The Aedui, as we see when Caesar visits them, are easily confused and led astray, and we are prepared for their irrational attacks on the Romans. The area seems vital so the Gauls send 60,000 of their bravest soldiers there in secret. For a year, two men — Convictolitavis and Cotus — have both claimed legal right as chief magistrate, and the state is divided, each man having his following. They were able to ride through the places where the Romans hadn't yet completed their fortification. He then leaves the five cohorts he thinks are least reliable as camp guard and has the other five cohorts in his legion move upstream at midnight. The break in the narrative seems necessary and not simply a whim of the writer: Caesar must stop the war to settle the childish dispute among the Aedui. He sees now that the enemy's camp is empty, so moves his men from the larger to the smaller camp and tells the commanders to keep the troops under control because everything depends on speed and surprise. Any plots the Aedui might have had are aborted by the rapidity with which he joins his legions. Many, of course, do not freely join the rebellion, but are drawn in by political intrigues of various kinds; even the usually faithful Aedui turn against Rome. Gaius Julius Caesar The Gallic Wars Book 4. Since the Roman government disapproved of Caesar’s undertakings, his literary aim in the Gallic War is to merely justify his actions of his annexation of Gaul (modern France) to Rome. The Gauls under Camulogenus were tricked by his maneuvers and then defeated in a battle where Camulogenus was slain. Vercingetorix replies that it was they who had insisted on moving the camp, and that they had no need of horses on marshy ground. Then, to insure more than verbal agreement from them, Vercingetorix orders that hostages, soldiers, and weapons be delivered to him; his command is most strict and non-compliers are mutilated or killed. Book 7 of Caesar’s Gallic Wars is a narrative like few others in the history of the world. He moves his forces inside the city to await the new troops from Gaul. When Caesar heard of these developments he thought he should put down the revolt quickly before the armed force grew too large. Some are killed there as they crush through the narrow gates and others are killed by the cavalry waiting outside for them. Vercingetorix was able to calm the other leaders despite all the recent disasters. Some rode off to the other Aeduan towns to convince them to resist and avenge themselves on the Romans, as well. Later, he marches downstream with his other three legions and goes to meet the boats. Vercingetorix, however, gathers more recruits, and in turn drives the officials out of the state. When Caesar finally reached Gergovia, he surprised the inhabitants. The leading men of Gaul, having convened councils among themselves in the ... no summary available yet. Others worked on building the fortifications, which meant Caesar's troop strength was diminished. c. iulius caesar (100 – 44 b.c.) He tried to ally the Biturgies, but they resisted and sent ambassadors to the Aedui for help against Vercingetorix. At once he is called "King" by his supporters and soon manages alliance with other tribes, all of which agree that he is best suited to be their chief. Caesar, meanwhile, is sure of success; in only a short time the town will be his. His soldiers kill 3,000 of the enemy's rear guard; the next day Caesar sets up camp near Alesia, knowing that the enemy has been terrified by the loss of such great numbers of men. The Remi and Lingones do not attend this meeting for they are still friends of Rome. The remaining Helvii then take refuge in their towns. Caesar places troops among the Ruteni in the province and among others who border on enemy territory and orders many of the new troops he brings with him from Rome to gather in the territory of the Helvii, bordering on the Arverni. But he is faced with a dilemma: if he sends for his legions, they might be attacked without their general and, if he goes to them, he might be betrayed by the tribes to whom he entrusts his personal safety. Then he repairs the bridge the enemy had earlier cut down and marches to Lutetia. Caesar meanwhile built towers but could not build a wall around the city, as he would have wished, because it was enclosed by rivers and marshes. His men are waiting; when the men of the town sneak out, the Romans are able to flood inside. After losing three cities, Vercingetorix calls a convention of his followers and tells them their tactics must be changed; they must prevent the Romans from getting forage, a fairly easy task at this time of year when there is virtually no forage in the fields; everything has been cut and placed within the homesteads. Only Caesar can settle the dispute. They also build up the scaffolding on their walls to keep it on a level with the Roman turrets. And, next day, as a heavy rain drenches his legions, he observes that the guard on the wall is less than usual. Although he clearly had much first-hand contact with Celts, some scholars believe that he also drew upon Posidonius. The town is quickly taken; few of the enemy manage to escape, and Caesar orders his men to plunder and burn the town, then moves his army across the river to the borders of the Bituriges. If victory is to be theirs, Avaricum must be held. Perhaps because they lacked the support of the Aedui, the Biturgies gave in to Vercingetorix. As promised, Vercingetorix attempts to get the other Gauls to join the war. They pledge safe passage to Marcus Aristius, saying that he may leave the town of Cabillonum, and that the traders who had settled there must also go, but as soon as they start out, the Aedui attack and take all equipment and baggage, then blockade them for a day and a night. One of those in on the discussion was Litavicus, who was put in charge of the infantry being sent to Caesar. He relented, reluctantly. The particular course takes up the passages required by the AP exam from Caesar's Gallic Wars. All rights reserved. This is what Vercingetorix would soon develop as one of his main policies. Caesar then sends one legion in the same direction, stops it part way, and hides it in the woods. They burned the town so the Romans couldn't feed themselves from it and began to build up armed garrisons around the river. In addition, there are two known indexing errors, both of which exist in the printed copy and the transcriber was unable to resolve their accuracy: Gallic Wars, Book 7: Skips chapter 89 ; Gallic Wars, Book 8: Skips chapter 46 Finally, Book VII, the longest in Caesar's narrative, describes how, in 52 B.C., Caesar manages to withstand the revolt of fourteen of the Gallic tribes. "Caesar's Commentaries in Latin : Books I-iv, Paperback by Caesar, Julius; Thomas, Tom, ISBN 1453887954, ISBN-13 9781453887950, Brand New, Free shipping Julius Caesar's own words about his conquest of Gaul and other historic events. Book 8 was written by Aulus Hirtius, after Caesar's death. At the same time the Gallic cavalry attacks the Roman lines farther down the plain. But because the Boii have little grain and the Aedui are of little help in providing grain, Caesar's troops must endure several days without grain; on other days they have only cattle captured in distant villages, but in spite of this, morale remains high. He then moves to aid Labienus, who has pulled back four cohorts and sent the horsemen around the wall to attack the rear of the enemy units who harass the hill side of the Roman entrenchment. Furthermore, he had not left them a commander because he did not want to risk someone else's enthusiasm launching them all into an impromptu battle with the Romans. The Gauls then break rank and retreat with heavy losses. The Romans and Germans stationed themselves both inside their fortifications to fight those in the city and outside to fight the newly arriving army. This period of revolt follows the earlier Gallic battles at Bibracte, Vosges, and Sabis. 04:11. When Vercingetorix learned what Caesar was doing, he headed back to the Biturgies and then to the non-allied Boiian town of Gergovia in order to attack it. Then he allows his army a night rest of three hours before moving back to Gergovia. His men then tortured and killed the Romans under their protection. There, like sheep herded into a fold, the enemy is trapped. As soon as Caesar is informed, he has the town's gates burned and sends in the waiting legions. But, in spite of the Gallic counter-measures, the Romans manage within 25 days to build a ramp 330 feet wide and 80 feet high. They send for Vercingetorix to save them now that the war has gone against them, and he turns from his battle with the Bituriges and speeds toward the Arverni. Caesar hears of the attacks and, because the difficulties in Rome are solved, he heads for Transalpine Gaul. He pauses for two days, then leaves his army and pretends to be out seeing to further inductions. Note, too, that later when Caesar chastises them, he makes sure that he also spends much time encouraging them; he knows that a group of soldiers who are beaten, and then told by their leader that it was because of their own foolishness, is not a group that will be an effective fighting force. Both sides see that Caesar is coming to Labienus' aid and that he is wearing a flashing scarlet cape; the general has entered the thick of battle. Caesar believes that the most difficult fighting is probably centered on a hill, which permits the enemy to charge down a slope with a great number of troops, so he sends Labienus there with six cohorts. The Romans, however, are prepared and take their assigned posts, fire their missiles, and hold off the Gauls. The Aedui, Rome's allies, came to Caesar with their political problem: their tribe was led by a king who held power for a year, but this year there were two contenders, Cotus and Convitolitanis. Two young men are with the train — Eporedorix, who has been born to rank and influence, and Viridomarus, who has been raised to his high position on Diviciacus' recommendation. Heading towards the Boii, Caesar left two legions at Agendicum. Labienus then led his men to join Caesar. But Caesar, although he had not as yet discovered their measures, yet, both from what had occurred to his ships, and from the circumstance that they had neglected to give the promised hostages, suspected that the thing would come to pass which really did happen. Lucterius is thus stopped and Caesar moves into the land of the Helvii, but is confronted by a mountain range, the Cevennes, separating the Arverni from the Helvii. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. The revolt begins when the Gauls hear of the political turmoil in Rome. The Gallic Wars In 58 BCE, Caesar headed for Gaul, a region roughly encompassing present-day France and Belgium and parts of the Netherlands. In it, Caesar has placed all the Gallic hostages, his grain, his money, most of his army's equipment, and many horses that have been purchased in Spain and Italy. Women climb atop the wall and with bared breasts plead for mercy, for they have heard that the women and children at Avaricum were killed. One of Gaul's most colorful historical figures is Vercingetorix, who acted as war chief for all the Gallic tribes who were trying to throw off the Roman yoke during the Gallic Wars. They do not get through the trench and, at daybreak, decide to pull back. This completed, Caesar builds another set of entrenchments at his rear so that he cannot be surrounded. Each morning, he meets with the various chiefs in council, then exercises the troops. Commentarii de Bello Civili (Commentaries on the Civil War), or Bellum Civile, is an account written by Julius Caesar of his war against Gnaeus Pompeius and the Senate. Caesar sees that his men are fighting with the odds against them and sends a message to Titus Sextius, who has been left to guard the smaller camp. He stops to consider and camps in a thick wood. The following is a summary of Book VII of De Bello Gallico, with some explanatory notes. Teutomatus, king of the Nitiobriges, whose father Ollovico had been a friend of Rome, joins Vercingetorix and brings with him a large cavalry force, some his own people and others hired from Aquitania. They too have an able intelligence staff and have learned of Caesar's approach and have hidden the wagons and baggage in nearby dense woods. The rest of the enemy forces disperse to their respective states. For instance, Caesar made up false facts concerning the characteristics of the Gallic people; apparently, Gallic people were violent and uncivilized, therefore he believed that the only way to domesticate … Their next move is to send 10,000 men into the town. Instead, they continued to fight and try to plunder the city. ... BOOK 7 : THE YEAR 52 15 ... 7 Summary. No longer are the residents of Noviodunum as fearful of the Romans; they take up arms again and try to close their gates; manning their walls at the same time, they hope to reclaim their city from the Roman invaders. The townspeople, seeing the slaughter, pull their troops back and had Caesar's soldiers not been so exhausted by the day's battle, they might have destroyed the entire enemy army at that point. Sizable units captured include Cotus and other generals, including Cavarillus and Eporedorix. Hostages that were taken from the Romans are used as leverage to get other states to join the conspiracy; many hostages even are executed to increase the pressure on reluctant states. Now, grouped together on high ground, they wait. Seeing that mighty Caesar is victorious, they seize those whom they think roused them to battle and bring them to Caesar, pleading for his acceptance of their surrender. The others beg for mercy. They rush to save the structure, but are confronted by the enemy rushing from two gates at once; at the same time men on the wall begin to hurl pitch and burning wood onto the ramp. Caesar spared them and marched back towards Gergovia. Their commanders attempt to restrain them, but the troops are excited at the prospect of an easy victory. He commands the Gauls to destroy all their property so that the Romans will find no forage. In the next book, which deals with the year 57, we visit the Belgians, who liv… This series of annual war commentaries is referred to by various names but is commonly called De bello Gallico in Latin, or The Gallic Wars in English. At first, all was going well for the Romans in the conflict, but then fresh Gallic troops arrived. All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit, the Aquitani another, those who … This text is an excerpt from the book VII of The Gallic War, a book which narrates the military events of the year 52 BCE and which ends with the Roman victory at Alesia against Vercingetorix.Concerning the redaction of The Gallic War and of the book VII in particular, it remains a debated issue. And by doing what the enemy had considered impossible, Caesar strikes fear into the enemy. The men on both sides fight even more bravely than usual because they know they are being watched by both sides, and the fight lasts from noon to sunset before the Germans mass and charge so violently that the enemy must retreat. Commius and the others reach Alesia and set up their position a mile from the Roman camp. Book Summary: The title of this book is The Landmark Julius Caesar: The Complete Works and it was written by Kurt A. Raaflaub (Editor), Robert B. Strassler (Series Editor). But one link in their defense fails: one of the grease and pitch throwers loses his position on the wall and the Romans are quick to overpower the opening. Next stop was the Aedui, one of Rome's main allies in Gaul, and where two of Caesar's legions were wintering. Inside the gates of Noviodunum, the people panic. Caesar reaches Gergovia in five days. Vercingetorix suggested a scorched-earth policy. A few, probably 800, manage to get to Vercingetorix, but the Romans troops kill the rest. The Romans seized this opportunity and moved closer to the city. They are so confused, in fact, that after they find themselves in trouble, they are unable to recognize the friendly Aeduan forces that come to help them. Next day he reaches Vellaunodunum, which he decides to capture so there will be no enemy at his rear and so the food supplies can move safely after him. The stronghold of Alesia is atop a hill, well protected by natural obstacles, with a plain in front of the town and steep hills on all other sides. His men are enthusiastic and swear an oath that they will not return home until they pass twice through Caesar's column. Fires are finally put out and fighting stops. His decision seems traitorous, for after Roman defeat, an even brighter future is promised for the Aeduan king. Julius Caesar Biography. One of the appealing elements in the Gallic Wars is inclusion of the many Roman tactical errors. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# This period of revolt follows the earlier Gallic battles at Bibracte, Vosges, and Sabis. The full work is split into eight sections, Book 1 to Book 8, each varying in size from approximately 5,000 to 15,000 words. He orders the packs piled and the men to ready their weapons. Caesar hears of these moves, but tells their deputies that he will not have his goodwill toward the Aedui swayed by the ignorance of the common people, for he fears a greater rebellion in Gaul and wants to pull back from Gergovia and concentrate his forces again; most of all, he does not want his departure to look like a retreat. Adrian Goldsworthy says an estimated 700 Roman soldiers and 46 centurions were killed. He is easily swayed and so is his partner Litaviccus; both of them are ready to believe any rumor. The Gauls are overjoyed for it seems that their cavalry is sure to win. He seems, at times, to be almost unduly humane. Lucterius, meanwhile, unites the Ruteni with the Arverni, then brings the Nitiobriges and the Gabali into the alliance. Gallic Wars, (58–50 bce ), campaigns in which the Roman proconsul Julius Caesar conquered Gaul. They also confiscate the property of Litaviccus and his brothers and send deputies to Caesar to clear themselves. The Bellovaci, who intend to fight the Romans themselves, do not make up their quota of 10,000 but because of their regard for Commius they do send 2,000. Lucius Fabius, a centurion in the Eighth Legion, has sworn to be first to climb the wall and is assisted up by three of his men. This move prompted Vercingetorix to stop his siege of Gergovia. While he is gone, he leaves young Brutus in charge with orders to let the cavalry operate as far and wide as possible and says that he will return in three days. The battle continues at close quarters, the enemy depending on position and numbers, the Romans on their bravery. Caesar's defense is immediate. When Eporedorix reports the events to Caesar, the general realizes that it is not necessary to fight the Aedui. The plan is accepted and, for the common good, private property rights vanish — all towns and homes in the foraging area are to be burned. They obviously think that Caesar will be unable to leave Rome to return to the army and that the army will be ineffectual without him. He then urges the Aedui to forget all disputes and concentrate on the war. Fighting continues throughout the night. The day for war nears and Vercingetorix camps some sixteen miles from Avaricum so that his scouts can keep him informed. A date is set for the beginning of their campaign and the meeting is adjourned. This could have been done, but another problem would have presented itself: he would have had to station troops on the other side of the hill to protect that part of the entrenchment, thinning both the ranks facing the city, and those facing the enemy force. The wily leader and his dependents escape, however, before they can be dealt with. There he receives intelligence of the death of Clodius; and, being informed of the decree of the senate, [to the effect] that all the youth of Italy should take the military oath, he determined to hold a levy throughout the entire province. He further asks the Aedui and the Segusiavi to supply 10,000 infantry and 800 cavalry. The Gauls, thirsting for victory, sweep closer to the Roman lines and, in the darkness, fall into the traps Caesar had prepared; others are injured by pikes thrown from the walls. About Caesar: Gallic War VI. 7.01-05 Sight Reading With the Professor. When the Germans started to kill the Averni, they fled. Suddenly the Romans find themselves fighting on all fronts; they must spread out more than is militarily desirable. Then Caesar offers prizes to those who mount the wall first and, that done, gives the signal, and the troops charge the wall. Caesar decided against Cotus and in favor of Convitolitanis. The Romans put torturous devices on the outside that could injure an army pressing against it. Caesar then moves to the town of Cenabum, whose inhabitants have heard of the siege of Vellaunodunum and have prepared their garrison. They report that Litaviccus has gone with his cavalry to incite the Aedui and say that they must go and try to get ahead of him so that they can maintain the loyalty of the Aeduan people. The Arverni and allies divided into three groups to attack. As a final measure, any town not secure enough to defend itself is to be burnt. Caesar has reports of the enemy's plans and sets his men to work building trenches, ramps, battlements, and other siege works. Book VII. He fears their coming into the main camp and starting a mutiny. Halfway there, messengers from Fabius report that the camp has been attacked by a full force of invaders and that many of the defenders have been wounded. Caesar, mean-while, prepares to attack the town with a ramp and towers. Many, of course, do not freely join the rebellion, but are drawn in by political intrigues of various kinds; even the usually faithful Aedui turn against Rome. Still, their number is vast — almost 300,000 troops are requisitioned. The Aedui which Caesar had sent out earlier appears on the Romans' right flank and the Romans mistake them for enemy troops. The hillside, at the end the enemy attacks, is open because Caesar would have had to enclose the entire hill to complete his entrenchments. By the end of Book VII Caesar has put down the Gallic revolt. Labienus bravely encourages his soldiers, then joins in the combat himself. In addition, the stones protect it from fire. The Romans finally had success with a sudden attack, which frightened many of the Gauls into flight. On the other side, Vercingetorix' troops from the town fill the Roman trenches in order to cross over, but this task takes too long and by the time they are ready, they find that their allies on the far side of the Roman camp have already retreated; thus, they too must withdraw. Vercingetorix, son of Celtillus, a member of the Gallic tribe of Arverni, sent ambassadors out to Gallic tribes not yet allied with him asking them to join him in his endeavor to get rid of the Romans. The Romans pitched camp and when the townspeople tried to escape at night via a bridge across the Loire River, Caesar's troops took possession of the town, pillaged and burned it, and then headed across the Loire bridge into the Biturgies' territory. He sends the small boats upstream and instructs them to make much noise also. When Caesar's troops, for instance, capture a strategic hill of the Gauls, they ruin success by being too enthusiastic and charging against orders. About 800 in Caesar's reckoning escaped to reach Vercingetorix. The Gauls, who have been decoyed to the other side of town, hear the shouting and return to the side where the Romans are attacking. Many of Caesar's troops did not hear when he called for a retreat. By the end of Book VII Caesar has put down the Gallic revolt. The diversion, besides providing relief from the battle scenes, also prepares us for the jealousy within the tribe and figures in the betrayal later. Thus one of the most difficult problems facing Caesar is the ease with which one ambitious or dissatisfied local politician can incite an otherwise peaceful state to rebellion. If the Romans moved by chance, he says, then the Gauls may thank fortune, and if they moved because of an informer, the Gauls should thank the informer- now they know how few in number the Romans are and that they are reluctant to fight Vercingetorix. Then, when their cavalry has fled, the archers are surrounded and killed. Especially in the case of Avaricum, He could say the Romans didn't defeat them by valor but by a new technique the Gauls hadn't seen before, and besides, he might have said, he had wanted to torch Avaricum but had only left it standing because of the pleas of the Biturgies. Trust is reestablished and his men praise him for such loyalty and intelligence. Convictolitavis is bribed, but there is the implication that he is largely influenced by a desire for greater power, for even though he is in office because of Roman authority, he says he would prefer that Rome had to come to the Aedui for assistance rather than vice versa. Commentarii de Bello Gallico (English: Commentaries on the Gallic War) is Julius Caesar's firsthand account of the Gallic Wars, written as a third-person narrative. When Eporedorix and Viridomarus arrive, they find ruins. But Caesar plans one more conquest before dealing with Vercingetorix. The Romans are tired by their long charge and, unfortunately, are also outnumbered. He then goes to the Aedui and accepts their submission to Rome. Vercingetorix is notified of Caesar's plans and destroys all bridges along the river Allier, which forms the line of Caesar's march. The Arverni and the Aedui are not held, for he still hopes eventually to gain their loyalty. Caesars Gallic War also had a very intense study on Caesars military campaigns, and the art of war. They encounter some difficulty, however, and Caesar is forced to send 400 German horsemen as support. All the Gallic leaders then convene at Bibracte to discuss the dispute and the body votes that Vercingetorix continue as leader. On the exam, you will be tested on their ability to translate literally, to analyze, and to interpret the text. Meanwhile, Vercingetorix' ambassador, Lucterius, continued to gain allies. Vercingetorix decides that it is time to lead his men back inside the fortifications and the day ends. The Gallic Wars are described by Julius Caesar in his book Commentarii de Bello Gallico, which is the main source for the conflict but is considered to be unreliable at best by modern historians. As he suspected, just before midnight, the men of the town begin to slip away. 1 Lucius Domitius and Appius Claudius being consuls [54 B.C. The enemy is surprised at Caesar's determined efforts and are totally confused. They stay atop the wall and call for more Romans to join them. Fabius expects another attack on the following day. The plan is harsh, but the alternative in defeat is harsher: Families will be made slaves and soldiers will be slaughtered. Lucius Fabius and his three men are killed and thrown from the wall. Instead, he simply had Eporedorix and Viridomarus ride out with the troops and let themselves be seen by the Gauls, who immediately return to the Roman side at the sight of the two men. Caesar's men headed to Gergovia. With arrangements made and Trebonius left in charge, Caesar set out for Genabum, a Carnute town that had been preparing to send troops to help Vellaunodum fight, Caesar. Some of the tribes that join the rebellion do not even wish to be included in the fracas, but are forced into it by circumstances. Caesar finds a place for his command post and sends support to the units in most difficulty, feeling that if they manage to hold off this attack, they will be victors. 7.06-10 Sight Reading With the Professor. The text indexing is from the printed book, and may or may not match that found in the Loeb's Classical Library. As quickly as possible the tribunes of the Seventh Legion bring their troops around to Camulogenus' rear, but even so he refuses to back up. Clad in the bloodred cloak he usually wore “as his distinguishing mark of battle,” Caesar led his troops to victories throughout the province, his major triumph being the defeat of the Gallic army led by the chieftain Vercingetorix, in 52 bce. Halfway up the hill is a stone wall built by the Gauls and behind it their camps are grouped closely together. Vercassivellaunus, commander of the forces, hides the men behind the hill just before dawn and at noon he moves against the Roman camp. Tribes which Caesar has fought earlier, and many with whom he has been at peace, combine and try their luck against the mighty Roman general. He had to figure out how to reach the main forces without putting them in danger. The battle at Alesia is perhaps the most involved of all battles described in the Gallic Wars. The Biturgies begged that Vercingetorix not burn their noblest city, Avaricum. This is, of course, seen from the town and the muleteers are mistaken for the real cavalry. Satisfied with his strategy, Caesar orders that the retreat be sounded. There are a few more skirmishes during the next few days, but no major battles because Vercingetorix cannot be lured to level ground. That night the cavalry goes after the retreating Gauls, catches the rear guard and kills or captures many. Summary. The Gauls become suspicious and bring all their force to the area to defend it. The enemy does not pursue, and in three days the Roman army reaches the river Allier, rebuilds the bridge and crosses over. This quality is also observe4 when he gives the German horsemen the mounts his men have been using; he wants the Germans to have the best horses available. He then took supreme command. Then, by forced marches, Caesar gets to Vienne and with the cavalry he had sent there, he continues marching day and night straight through the lands of the Aedui into the Lingones, where two legions are in their winter quarters. As the towns are destroyed, there is much mourning, but the pain of loss is compensated for by the hope of recovering their losses by overcoming the Romans. In charge are Commius, Viridomarus, Eporedorix, and Vercassivellaunus. One side faces the town, the other protects the Roman rear. Title. By peaceful means or by attacking, he added troops from the Gallic tribes of the Senones (the tribe connected with the band of Gauls responsible for the sack of Rome in 390 B.C. Caesar divided his troops in three, too, and fought back, with the Germans obtaining a hilltop formerly in Arverni possession. And, since the Gauls have many horsemen, they can easily outnumber and surround Roman foraging parties. ), Parisii, Pictones, Cadurci, Turones, Aulerci, Lemovice, the Ruteni, and others to his own armed forces. Labienus then returns to Agendincum, picks up the baggage, and proudly marches to meet Caesar. Caesar learns that Vercingetorix has moved nearer Avaricum because he is out of forage and that he plans an ambush for the next day. Vercingetorix then led his army to Alesia. They cannot manage entry through their small gate openings and many are killed by the German swordsmen. Caesar besieged the town for 27 days building towers and walls while the Gauls built countering devices. Caesar, surveying the remains of the battle, finds that almost 700 Romans are missing. Moving quickly by night, the Roman general reaches the enemy's camp by morning, but he is unable to take it by surprise. The enemy general, puffed with pride, marches down the other side. His book Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War, often called The Conquest of Gaul), was a propaganda piece (written in 53 BCE) justifying his military and political actions during a nine year campaign in Gaul (and a short jaunt into Britain). The Gauls from outside attacked at night by throwing things from a distance and alerting Vercingetorix to their presence. Caesar then notices that the hill opposite his forces is undefended and learns from enemy deserters that Vercingetorix has pulled the defenders off that area in order to fortify another hill, the loss of which would cut off his troops from escape and forage. The next day, the Gauls attacked from both sides. Then, suddenly, the enemy is aware that the Roman cavalry has come up behind them, so they try to run, but the cavalry kills great numbers. Verciugetorix' retreat troubles Caesar. Chapter 7 In the mean time Lucterius the Cadurcan, having been sent into the country of the Ruteni, gains over that state to the Arverni. Caesar split his army and gave Labienus 4 legions to lead north, towards the Senones and Parisii while he led 6 legions into Arverni country towards Gergovia, which was on the banks of the Allier. Vercingetorix, in the city, sees the Romans under full attack, so moves out with all the machinery his men need to cross the Roman trenches. He leaves Gains Fabius in charge of the two legions left to garrison the camp, and orders the arrest of Litaviccus' brothers, but they have fled. The enemy are quickly put to flight and the Germans pursue them all the way to their wall. The Bituriges, for example, would have remained on Caesar's side had not the Adenans failed to help them. That done, he sends Labienus with four legions against the Senones and the Parisii; the other six he takes to Gergovia in the country of the Arverni. He is to bring his troops to the foot of the hill and stop the enemy if they pursue the Roman troops. Meanwhile, Convictolitanis, the man Caesar had chosen to be king of the Aedui, treacherously conferred with the Arverni, who told him that the Aeduans holding out was preventing the allied Gauls from being victorious against the Romans. Clearing a roadway through six feet of snow in the Cevennes mountains is a massive feat when one considers that it had to be done by manual labor. The rumors do just that. Since it was winter, foraged provisions were hard to come by and the Romans would have to leave. Knowing that he must fight a major battle before the enemy can assemble larger forces, Caesar moves quickly. The Romans needed some to gather timber and food. Caesar knows that the enemy has superior cavalry and that he cannot get help from the province or Italy, so he sends for cavalry and infantry from the German tribes with whom he has made peace. Other groups are sent against other tribes. The capture is so fast that Teutomatus, king of the Nitiobriges, barely escapes. and any corresponding bookmarks? Vercingetorix is forced then to send all his horsemen away before the Romans have blocked escape routes and he asks the men to go and recruit all new troops possible; he reminds them of the services he has rendered them and says that if they fail 80,000 troops will die. While construction of siege works is underway, a cavalry battle disrupts the peace and the Romans begin to falter. Twenty-two cohorts drafted from the province are set to oppose the enemy. This he did, and after his troops had surprised the Aeduans, they took the food and cattle they found in the fields and then marched off to the territory of the Senones. Caesar offers to give up the siege if the men are too troubled by the lack of food, but the Romans refuse, preferring temporary hunger to dishonor. When 8,000 cavalry and 250,000 infantry are collected, the army is organized and officers appointed. When they reached Alesia, the Romans surrounded the hilltop city. This inspired the people of Noviodunum to take up arms and shut the gates, backing down from their surrender. Caesar has anticipated just such a move. Caesar feels that their departure will do more harm than good but does not want to seem distrustful, so gives them permission to go, reminding them of all he has done for the Aedui, and that he freed them from oppression and humiliation. Many were killed but they still did not stop. Caesar, however, arrives there in two days, before their preparations are complete, but he arrives too late in the day to begin battle, so he camps for the night and posts two legions under arms in case the people try to escape by crossing the Loire. Vercingetorix then brings forward Roman prisoners whom he has tortured and who, he believes, will support his theories. Having advanced into the country of the Nitiobriges, and Gabali, he receives hostages from both nations, and, assembling a numerous force, marches to make a descent on the province in the direction of Narbo. The Gauls are panic-stricken. Many hostages are then taken and the legions are sent into winter quarters. They form in wedges in the town's open places, ready to fight when the Romans come down the walls, but the Romans fail to descend. from your Reading List will also remove any At the signal, the Roman troops quickly cross the wall and take three camps. In Vercingetorix' case, the chiefs of the tribe are opposed to his plans, hut he manages to organize his own army, dispose of the chiefs, and revolt against Rome. Caesar is most deserving of the twenty-day thanksgiving proclaimed by the senate. Gallic walls, it is now explained, are made in overlapping units, filled with rubble on the inside and covered by large stones on the outside. Litaviccus, they decide, will make the initial move. These people go to the Roman lines and beg to be taken in as slaves, but Caesar refuses to admit them. N.S. Gallic Wars Book 7 (52 B.C.E.) One in the company of Caesar learned of Litavicus' actions and told Caesar. Removing #book# After many have been kille4 on both sides, the Aedui bring up reinforcements. He sent other troops against the Helvii whom he defeated while he led his mena and allies against the Allobroges. He even added allies to his roster, including Teutomarus, the son of Ollovicon, the king of the Nitiobriges, who was a friend of Rome on the basis of a formal treaty (amicitia). The Gauls have archers mixed with their cavalry and these, for a time, check the Romans. Caesar then took some of his men with him and rode to the army of the Aedui and presented to them those very men they thought the Romans had killed. The Latin title, Commentaries on the Gallic War, is often retained in English translations of the book, and the title is also translated to About the Gallic War, Of the Gallic War, On the Gallic War, The Conquest of Gaul, and The Gallic War. The townspeople then fear they will have absolutely no way of escape if they wait any longer, so they throw away their weapons and run to the far side of the town. Book VI of Caesar's description of his campaigns in Gaul deals with events of 53 BC, teh year after his major expedition to Britain. Literature Network » Julius Caesar » The Gallic Wars » Book VII. Next While the battle rages, a messenger arrives and reports to the Aedui that their army is in Caesar's power. [4.1] The following winter (this was the year in which Cn. There is risk in the plan, but all chiefs present agree that it is better to die in battle than fail to try to regain their previous power and liberty. Julius Caesar wrote commentaries on the wars he fought in Gaul between 58 and 52 B.C., in seven books one for each year. The natives of Transalpine Gaul, meanwhile, hear of his decision and spread rumors that the general is detained in Rome and cannot join his army. Camulogenus therefore splits his army into three parts; a guard is left opposite the Roman camp, a small group goes upstream as far as the smaller boats; the rest go against Labienus. This is particularly ingenious because, once overlapped, the whole wall is reinforced and cannot be battered or pulled down. One end of the Roman camp, they discover, leads to a hill so great that the Romans were unable to include it within their entrenchment. He cannot change his original plan for it would be difficult to get through the mountains, but he is anxious about Labienus and his legions. Arriving in Italy, Caesar learns that the senate has decreed that all young men of military age should be drafted, so he decides to enroll soldiers in Cisalpine Gaul. The time is right for his plan: he orders the men at work to slacken their speed. The Romans are not cavalrymen and the Gauls still with Caesar are no good at cavalry fighting, thus this thoughtfulness is rewarded later when the cavalry is responsible for the breakdown of the enemy forces at Alesia. This books publish date is Dec 05, 2017 and it has a suggested retail price of $50.00. Vercingetorix marched his troops there in order to defend his people. The two armies pitched their camps on opposite banks and Caesar rebuilds a bridge. His forces grow rapidly. Arriving in Italy, Caesar learns that the senate has decreed that all young men of military age should be drafted, so he decides to enroll soldiers in Cisalpine Gaul. The political turmoil in Rome are solved, he surprised the inhabitants as slaves, but that he an... 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