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 101
... winter quarters of all the legions ( except the one he had allotted to Lucius Roscius to take to a very subdued and peaceful region ) were well within a hundred miles of each other . Mean- while Caesar decided to wait in Gaul until all ...
... winter quarters of all the legions ( except the one he had allotted to Lucius Roscius to take to a very subdued and peaceful region ) were well within a hundred miles of each other . Mean- while Caesar decided to wait in Gaul until all ...
Page 103
... winter quarters without orders from Caesar . They argued that the German forces , however large , could be held off if their winter camp were fortified . As proof of this there was the fact that they had withstood the enemy's first ...
... winter quarters without orders from Caesar . They argued that the German forces , however large , could be held off if their winter camp were fortified . As proof of this there was the fact that they had withstood the enemy's first ...
Page 112
... winter camp was about twenty - three miles away . He ordered Crassus ' legion to set out at midnight and come quickly to him . * As soon as the messenger arrived Crassus set out . Caesar sent a second messenger to his legate Gaius ...
... winter camp was about twenty - three miles away . He ordered Crassus ' legion to set out at midnight and come quickly to him . * As soon as the messenger arrived Crassus set out . Caesar sent a second messenger to his legate Gaius ...
Contents
List of Illustrations | x |
Select Bibliography | xliv |
Explanatory Notes | 223 |
Copyright | |
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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