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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 80
Page xxiii
... soldiers ' quarters . Caesar describes a range of military operations in The Gallic War , from sieges and circumvallation to naval engagements , sudden ambushes , and pitched battles . Most of these opera- tions are described in a few ...
... soldiers ' quarters . Caesar describes a range of military operations in The Gallic War , from sieges and circumvallation to naval engagements , sudden ambushes , and pitched battles . Most of these opera- tions are described in a few ...
Page 100
... soldiers lost altogether , despite the large number both of vessels and voyages . Of those ships which were sent back empty from mainland Gaul - both the ones from which the soldiers who crossed first had disem- barked and the sixty ...
... soldiers lost altogether , despite the large number both of vessels and voyages . Of those ships which were sent back empty from mainland Gaul - both the ones from which the soldiers who crossed first had disem- barked and the sixty ...
Page 139
... soldiers heard the shouting . The cavalry hurried ahead and discovered the dangerous situation . The men were thor- oughly frightened , but had no defences to retreat behind : they were recent recruits with no experience of military ac ...
... soldiers heard the shouting . The cavalry hurried ahead and discovered the dangerous situation . The men were thor- oughly frightened , but had no defences to retreat behind : they were recent recruits with no experience of military ac ...
Contents
List of Illustrations | x |
Select Bibliography | xliv |
Explanatory Notes | 223 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
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