Seven Commentaries on the Gallic WarGaius Julius Caesar (?100-44 BC) was born into the senatorial aristocracy which controlled the operations of the Roman empire. Always a supporter of popular measures in the politics of the city, he became consul in 59 with the support of Pompey ('the Great'), but the alliance did not last, and the two men became first political and then military rivals. A ten-year proconsular command in the Roman province of Gaul brought him immense wealth as well as control of a huge and devoted army, both of which factors in 49 BC enabled him to challenge Pompey for supremacy at Rome. The civil war which resulted left him, after Pompey's defeat at Pharsalus and death in Egypt, in sole control of Rome's affairs; the perpetual dictatorship and extraordinary honours which followed marked a shift in the structures of Roman politics which, despite his assassination on the Ides of March 44, was to prove permanent, and which played its part in the change from Republic to Principate. The accounts which he wrote of his campaigns against the peoples of Gaul, Britain, and Germany (The Gallic War) and against Pompey (The Civil War) have been valued for centuries as classics of military practice and literary excellence. |
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Page 20
... reason of both their own excellence and the hospitality and friendship of the Roman people ) were forced to surrender their most aristocratic citizens as hos- tages to the Sequani , and to bind the state by an oath , never to ask for ...
... reason of both their own excellence and the hospitality and friendship of the Roman people ) were forced to surrender their most aristocratic citizens as hos- tages to the Sequani , and to bind the state by an oath , never to ask for ...
Page 31
... reason for talks , the more so since the day before it had proved impossible to prevent the Germans throw- ing missiles at our men . In his view , to send one of his envoys to Ariovistus would be highly dangerous , as he would be at the ...
... reason for talks , the more so since the day before it had proved impossible to prevent the Germans throw- ing missiles at our men . In his view , to send one of his envoys to Ariovistus would be highly dangerous , as he would be at the ...
Page 92
... reasons why he should be left behind in Gaul . For one thing , he claimed , he knew nothing of sailing and was ... reason , he as- serted , was Gaul being stripped of all her aristocracy : Caesar was afraid to kill them in sight of ...
... reasons why he should be left behind in Gaul . For one thing , he claimed , he knew nothing of sailing and was ... reason , he as- serted , was Gaul being stripped of all her aristocracy : Caesar was afraid to kill them in sight of ...
Contents
List of Illustrations | x |
Select Bibliography | xliv |
Explanatory Notes | 223 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
according action advance Aedui Ambiorix approached Ariovistus arms army arrival attack baggage battle began Britain brought Caesar called camp campaign carried cavalry Cicero close cohorts command considered corn courage crossed death decided defeat defences direction Edited enemy engage envoys fact fear fighting force Gaius Gallic Gaul gave Germans give given going ground hand happened Helvetii hill hold hope hostages Italy joined killed Labienus land leaders learned legates legions live Lucius matter means MICHIGAN miles military moved night once ordered position possible prevent protection Province quickly Quintus reached ready reason received remained reported rest Rhine river Roman Rome route Sabinus Senate sent ships side soldiers Suessiones supply surrender taken territory thought took town Translated Treveri turned usual Vercingetorix wall wanted weapons whole winter woods