Transcript Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars

Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars
The Gauls
• The Gauls had been a threat on the northern
frontier of Italy for a long time
• At intervals they poured forth in destructive
numbers
• In BCE 390 they destroyed Rome
• In BCE 102 only defeated by brilliant military
leader C. Marius
• Long before time of Caesar the Romans had
subdued the Gauls south of the Alps
• Making it into the province of Cisalpine Gaul
58 BCE: Caesar left Rome for Gaul; conquered most
of what is now central Europe, opening up these
lands to Mediterranean civilization
Reasons for Conquest
• Caesar presented it as a defensive and preemptive war
• But Caesar’s primary motivation was political
ambition
• Desired to advance his career and pay off his
huge debts
• According to Plutarch and recent scholars the
campaign resulted in 800 conquered cities, 300
subdued tribes, one million male slaves and three
million casualties
Conquered Lands
•
•
•
•
•
•
Caesar conquered all of Gaul which consisted of:
The rest of current France
Most of Switzerland and Belgium
Parts of Germany
Annexed them to Rome
By conquering Gaul and securing the natural
border of the Rhine, the Romans could easily
oppose invading Germanic tribes
Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War (De
Bellum Gallico)
• Caesar's personal record of the Gallic War
included seven books on the campaigns from 58
to 52 BCE.
• the only report by a military commander of
antiquity describing his own campaigns.
• ending with the defeat of Vercingetorix.
• an eighth book was later added by Aulus Hirtius
after Caesar's death, linking events of the Gallic
War to those of the Civil War (50-48 BC).
Vercingetorix
Statue of Vercingetorix in Burgundy
De Bellum Gallico
• provide a uniquely in-depth account of Gaul and
its people.
• cultural descriptions are secondary to military
matters in Caesar's campaigns
• However, the reader gains a familiarity with
settings, tribes, and personalities unavailable in
Strabo, Tacitus, or other ancient writers.
• the only primary source on the Celts of Gaul,
Germany and Britain during the 1st century BC
• compares with Tacitus' account Germania, written
in AD 98.
coin issued by Caesar depicting military trophy
• 56 BCE: Caesar, Pompey,
and Crassus met in
Caesar's province to
renew their coalition.
Pompey and Crassus were
to be consuls again, and
Caesar's command in Gaul
was extended until 49
BCE.
Julius Caesar Denarius. 46-45 BC, Spanish mint. Diademed
head of Venus right, Cupid on her shoulder / CAESAR below
Gallia & Gaulish captive seated beneath trophy of Gallic arms.
Caesar in Gaul and Britain
• Caesar led a
three-month
expedition to
Britain but he did
not establish a
permanent base
there.
Triumphal Arch, Reims, France
• Caesar set up an efficient
provincial administration
to govern the vast
territories; he published
his history The Gallic
Wars.
• Optimates in Rome
attempted to cut short
Caesar's term as governor
of Gaul
49 BCE Caesar led his armies across the Rubicon River (the
border of his province), which was automatic civil war.
The Rubicon River