The Gallic Wars, Roman Empire

Gaul was a vast area of land north of Rome that stretched over modern-day northern Italy, Switzerland, France and Belgium. Before Caesar, it was regarded as a wild country, hostile to any from the South, prone to spewing forth hordes of ravenous warriors who sacked the cities and carried off the wives and children of more civilised folk. 

To Julius Caesar and his legions, it is a land ripe for conquest, and the battleground where he will finally prove himself to the Roman people as a great commander. As he comes to the proconsulship of Cisalpine Gaul, Caesar uses the migrations of the Helvetii tribe of the Alps into Roman territory as a pretext for war. He smashes them in their hillfort at Bibracte (in modern-day Burgundy, France), forcing them back to their own lands.

Caesar has a foothold in Gaul when a new opportunity arises: Ariovistus and a band of Germanic warriors have crossed the Rhine and begun to settle their people in Gaul. The Gauls ask for Caesar’s aid, and he gladly gives it, defeating Ariovistus, pushing him back to the forests of Germania, and claiming more land for Rome.

Over the next two years, Caesar swallows up more and more of the territory, defeating the Belgae, the Veneti, and even making a foray into Britannia. Then, in a bitter, genocidal winter campaign, the rebellious Eubrones are destroyed root and stem, a grim warning for any who might question Roman dominance.

As Caesar wins victory after victory, and as slaves and treasures from the North pour into Rome, the Senate and Pompey Magnus become worried. Caesar begins to write an account of his campaign, now known as “Caesar’s Gallic Wars”. In it, he combines ethnography, mythology and military history to give a picture of Gaul to the Roman public, but also exaggerates and aggrandises his deeds, buoying his popularity with the people.

Gaul is under Caesar’s thumb, but the proud chieftains of this land prefer death to slavery. Vercingetorix of the Arverni raises his tribe in revolt. Soon, thousands of warriors from all over Gaul flock to his banner; the Gallic uprising has begun.

Vercingetorix fights with bravery and cunning. He uses scorched earth tactics; retreating from Caesar’s well-armed, well-trained legions, he burns everything of value. The Romans, freezing and starving, are continuously harassed by bands of Gallic warriors, who use hit-and-run tactics to exhaust their foes, whittling their numbers down gradually.

Caesar pursues Vercingetorix to his hillfort at Gergovia. The high position and fortifications force Caesar’s legions to fight uphill and to spread themselves thin as they attempt to storm the fort from multiple directions. Then, as Caesar settles in for a long siege, Vercingetorix counterattacks, driving the Romans back and inflicting heavy casualties. Caesar, bloodied and humiliated, is forced to withdraw.

The Gauls celebrate their triumph, but cannot capitalise on their success. Soon they meet Caesar’s forces again, this time at the hillfort of Alesia. Again, Caesar besieges Vercingetorix, and again, he suffers horrendous casualties, unable to break through the defences of the fort. He builds great fortifications around Alesia, cutting the Gauls off from supplies. He wants to starve them out.

But Vercingetorix manages to get a message out, and soon the Gallic tribes are uniting. A massive force of furious warriors bears down on Caesar from the North. Caesar must act quickly before he is caught between Vercingetorix and his allies.

Caesar’s response is to construct two walls. One between Alesia and his forces, and another behind him, creating a temporary fort. The weather is atrocious, but the legions work tirelessly through the mud and rain, knowing that if they do not complete the fortifications quickly enough, they will be crushed.

The Gauls arrive at Alesia, and Caesar must defend two lines simultaneously. Vercingetorix sallies forth, bringing the fight to the Romans, whilst the relief force attacks from behind. Caesar and his legions remain steadfast, holding the line until the Roman cavalry can get into position. They charge and scatter the Gauls. Caesar collapses in relief, the Battle of Alesia is won.

To save his men, Vercingetorix rides out on his horse to meet the victor. He surrenders, ending the rebellion and the hope of a free Gaul. Julius Caesar is now master of this exhausted and defeated country; he has added a huge tract of territory to Rome's empire and solidified his position as the pre-eminent man in Rome.