User:Mharrsch/Books/GallicWars

This book is intended to be a comprehensive reference guide to the Gallic Wars that were fought between forces of the Roman Republic and various Celtic tribes of west central Europe in the 1st century B.C.E. Information has been arranged to facilitate an understanding of the combatant cultures, their respective weapons technologies, life experiences of the respective commanders, an examination of key battles, and analysis of the reports of an eyewitness, Gaius Julius Caesar, as recorded in his personal commentaries.

	Preface - The Gallic Wars: Genocide or Stepping Stone to Empire? By Mary Harrsch, 21st century scholar
	Caesar and the Gallic Wars from a 19th century Perspective By Thomas de Quincy,(15 August 1785 – 8 December 1859), English author and intellectual
	The Contested Geography - Roman Gallia Roman Gallia encompassed present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine
	The Combatants: The Roman Republic The Roman Republic was governed by a complex constitution, which centered on the principles of a separation of powers and checks and balances. The evolution of the constitution was heavily influenced by the struggle between the aristocracy (the patricians), and the common populace, the plebeians. Over time, the laws that allowed these individuals to dominate the government were repealed, and the result was the emergence of a new aristocracy which depended on the structure of society, rather than the law, to maintain its dominance. Participating Legions: Legio VII Claudia Legio VIII Augusta Legio IX Hispana Legio X Equestris
	The Combatants: The Gauls and allied Celtic Tribes Gaulish society was dominated by the druid priestly class. The druids were not the only political force, however, and the early political system was complex. The fundamental unit of Gallic politics was the tribe, which itself consisted of one or more of what Caesar called "pagi". Each tribe had a council of elders, and initially a king. Later, the executive was an annually-elected magistrate. The tribal groups were organised into larger super-tribal groups that the Romans called civitates. These administrative groupings would be taken over by the Romans in their system of local control and become the basis of France's eventual division into ecclesiastical bishoprics and dioceses, which would remain in place — with slight changes — until the French Revolution Participating Tribes: Aedui, Roman allied tribe that inhabited the country between the Arar (Saône) and Liger (Loire), in today's France Allobroges, A tribe between the Rhône River and the Lake of Geneva (later Savoy, Dauphiné, and Vivarais), conquered by the Romans in 2nd century BCE Arverni, Roman client state living in what is now the Auvergne region of France that were historic rivals to the Aedui Belgae, A tribe living in northern Gaul, on the west bank of the Rhine Catuvellauni, a tribe or state of southeastern Britain defeated in Caesar's second punitive expedition to Britain Eburones, a Belgic people of Germanic or Celtic descent who lived between the Rhine and the Maas, east of the Menapii Helvetii, Roman allied tribal confederation occupying most of the Swiss plateau who later joined Vercingetorix Nervii, one of the most powerful Belgic tribes; living in the northeastern hinterlands of Gaul Sequani, People from the upper river basin of the Arar (Saône), the valley of the Doubs and the Jura Mountains Suebi, Germanic people living between the Rhine and the Middle Elbe River Suessiones, a Belgic people of northeastern Gaul inhabiting the region between the Oise and the Marne, near present-day Soissons Veneti, a seafaring people who lived on the Brittany peninsula known as Amorica
	Roman Military Tactics Roman soldiers were long-term service professionals whose interest lay in receiving a large pension and an allocation of land on retirement from the army, rather than in seeking glory on the battlefield as a warrior. The tactics of engagement largely reflected this, concentrating on maintaining formation order and protecting individual troops rather than pushing aggressively to destroy the maximum number of enemy troops in a wild charge. Primary weapons and equipment: Pilum Gladius Pugio Lorica hamata Lorica squamata Roman earthworks
	Celtic warfare "The whole race... is madly fond of war, high-spirited and quick to battle... and on whatever pretext you stir them up, you will have them ready to face danger, even if they have nothing on their side but their own strength and courage." – Strabo A heroic culture that prized individual skill above organization in battle, the Celts engaged in ritual combat. During large battles the Celts first sought to terrify their opponents with war horns, shouting, the rumbling of chariots, and the banging of swords on shields.
	Roman Training and Leadership The typical Roman training regime consisted of gymnastics and swimming, to build physical strength and fitness, fighting with armatura (which were wooden weapons), to learn and master combat techniques and long route marches with full battle gear and equipment to build stamina, endurance and to accustom them to the hardships of campaigns. Their commander, Julius Caesar, was reportedly a strong swimmer and skilled horseman, priding himself on his ability to ride with his hands behind his back - no small feat since the stirrup had not yet been invented Commanding Officers Julius Caesar, proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul, Transalpine Gaul and Illyricum Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus Mark Antony Publius Licinius Crassus (son of triumvir) Quintus Tullius Cicero Titus Labienus
	Celtic Training and Leadership Young Celtic warriors, trained by their tribal kinsmen in sword and spear, would seek to ally themselves with the most successful war leaders to boost their chances of increasing their own wealth (and thereby status) from successful raids. They honed their martial arts with low-intensity warfare activities such as cattle or slave raids and revenge attacks designed to settle disputes between clans and tribes. Their war band leader also hired out groups of warriors for mercernaries. Large scale engagements, however, were directed by war Leaders selected by a ruling council of nobles Celtic War Leaders: Ambiorix Ariovistus Boduognatus Casticus Commius Divico Dumnorix Galba, king (rex) of the Suessiones Orgetorix Vercingetorix
	The Gallic Wars, A Summary of The Conflict The Gallic Wars, a series of military campaigns mostly within the region of modern France from 58 - 51 BCE paved the way for Julius Caesar to become the sole ruler of the Roman Republic.
	Battle of the Arar, the first Roman victory of the Gallic Wars (58 BCE) The Battle of the Arar, the first major battle of the Gallic Wars, was fought between the migrating tribes of the Helvetii, and three Roman legions, under the command of Gaius Julius Caesar, (58 BCE).
	Battle of Vosges (58 BC), decisive Roman victory against the Suebi. Quick thinking by Roman cavalry commander, Publius Licinius Crassus, son of triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus, thwarts ambush by Suebi war leader Ariovistus
	Battle of Bibracte, decisive Roman victory over 300,000 Helvetii and their allies (58 BCE) Bibracte, a Gaulish oppidum or fortified city, was the capital of the Aedui and one of the most important hillforts in Gaul. Situated near modern Autun in Burgundy, France, Bibracte was not only the site of this decisive battle against the Helvetii but the location where Vercingetorix would later be named leader of combined Gaulish forces
	The Battle of Axona, Roman victory against the Belgae led by King Galba of the Suessiones (57 BCE) The Belgae attempt to seize one of Caesar's heavily fortified camps near modern Aisne, France only to be driven into retreat by Caesar's cavalry and light-armed Numidians, slingers and archers
	Battle of the Sabis, also (erroneously) known as the Battle of the Sambre River, a Roman victory over the Nervii (57 BCE) A Nervii ambush of Caesar's forces routes Caesar's skirmishers and cavalry, overwhelms his front and nearly captures Caesar himself. Caesar admits to losing all of his standards and most his centurions dead or felled by wounds. The tide of the battle is turned when Legate Titus Labienus regroups the Tenth Legion and attacks the Nervii from the rear
	Caesar takes punitive action against Veneti pirates (56 BCE) Using long billhooks, the Roman fleet under the command of Caesar's legate, Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, strikes the enemy's halyards, dropping the huge leathern mainsails to the deck, disabling the enemy vessels and enabling Roman forces to board and overwhelm the Gauls.
	To cut off resupply of the Gauls, Caesar invades Britain (55-54 BCE) Although Caesar's first attempt to invade Britain achieved little, the second was more successful, with Caesar setting up a friendly king, Mandubracius
	Caesar's two "assaults" on the Rhine (55 BCE and 53 BCE Demonstrating the might of Rome to the neighboring Germanic tribes, Caesar's legions construct two bridges across the Rhine considered masterpieces in military engineering.
	An uprising by the Belgae led by Ambiorix costs Caesar dearly (54-53 BCE) Fifteen Roman cohorts were wiped out at Atuatuca Tungrorum (modern Tongeren in Belgium) and a garrison commanded by Quintus Tullius Cicero narrowly survives after being relieved by Caesar in the nick of time.
	Battle of Gergovia, Gallic victory under the leadership of Vercingetorix (52 BCE) Caesar suffers the loss of 46 centurions and 700 legionaries when his forces fail to hear his signal for retreat, an attempt to mislead Vercingetorix and lead the Gauls from their position on the high ground of the battlefield.
	Battle of Lutetia, Roman victory under Titus Labienus (52 BCE) Having already captured the oppidum of Metlosedum (possibly present-day Melun), Titus Labienus crosses the River Seine to attack a coalition of Gauls near Lutetia.
	The Battle of Alesia, decisive Roman victory against the combined Celtic forces under Vercingetorix (52 BCE) Considered one of Caesar's greatest military achievements, the siege and battle of Alesia is considered one of the classic examples of siege warfare and investment.
	Eye Witness Account: Julius Caesar's DE BELLO GALLICO Although considered by some scholars to be merely personal propaganda, Caesar's commentaries on the Gallic Wars remains an invaluable source of information about Roman military tactics and strategies.