Notice while reading the gallic wars that he usually keeps units in reserve to assist romans in difficulty or to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. Of all these, the belgae are the bravest, because they are furthest from the civilization and refinement of our province, and merchants least frequently resort to them, and import those things which tend to effeminate the mind. Julius caesars fascinating account of his conquests offers a trove of priceless details about the cultures of gaul, germany, and britain during the first century b. Rome didnt control the entirety of the territory, so. The gallic wars by julius caesar, part of the internet classics archive.
Gaius julius caesar commentaries on the gallic war translated by w. Caesars gallic wars are his own reports of these military efforts to expand the roman empire and bring peace to. Book 8 was written by aulus hirtius, after caesars death. The gallic wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the roman proconsul julius caesar against several gallic tribes. The conquest of gaul is julius caesars firsthand account of the gallic wars, fought between 58 and 50 b. Part history and part political propaganda, the book follows caesar and his legions as they fight their merry way through belgium, france, switzerland, and even england. Suetonius in his biography of julius caesar states that the gallic and civil wars were written by caesar, and that the 8th book of the gallic wars was written by aulus hirtius. Despite his extensive background in politics, caesar expresses. Caesars gallic wars essays chronicle the history of his military engagements during the years 5851 b. Gallic wars cliffsnotes study guides book summaries.
The works of julius caesar, parallel englishlatin tr. Julius caesar took official command of his provinces of illyricum, cisalpine gaul and transalpine gaul in 59 bc. Julius caesar was one of the most ambitious and successful politicians of the late roman republic and his short but bloody conquest of the celtic tribes led to the establishment of the roman province of gaul modern france. In 58 bce, caesar headed for gaul, a region roughly encompassing presentday france and belgium and parts of the netherlands. The gallic wars by julius caesar the internet classics archive. All gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the belgae inhabit, the aquitani another, those who in their own. The civil war is julius caesars personal account of his war with pompey the great the war that destroyed the fivehundredyearold roman republic. Caesar knew that a tie of hospitality subsisted between them and ambiorix. Caesars gallic war consists of seven parts books, each devoted to. A brief description of the great divisions of gaul, and of their inhabitants. The gallic war by caesar was written just over two thousand years ago by one of the greatest military minds the world has ever known.
This text has been carefully proofread and i believe it. And, as an aid to his readers, he provides expository information for those who are unfamiliar with the faroff lands and people encountered during his forays. Publius crassus has been wintering in the country of the andes with the seventh legion and has sent some of his officers to neighboring states to get grain. In it caesar describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting the germanic peoples and celtic peoples in gaul that opposed roman conquest. Julius caesar, who appeared on the scene when things were going. Allen and greenoughs new latin grammar for schools and colleges, syntax of the verb.
Unfortunately many people think it is a scholarly work, which it is not, it is a war diary, carefully edited for political consumption. The battle of alesia was fought septemberoctober 52 bc during the gallic wars 5851 bc and saw the defeat of vercingetorix and his gallic forces. The gallic wars has been divided into the following sections. Caesar, when informed of these matters, fearing the fickle disposition of the gauls, who are easily prompted to take up resolutions, and much addicted to change, considered that nothing was to be entrusted to them. Gallic wars, 5850 bce, campaigns in which the roman proconsul julius caesar conquered gaul.
Book vi, the shortest of the hooks in the gallic wars, relates caesars adventures during 53 b. In it caesar describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting. Caesars brilliance as a tactician also made a large contribution to his military successes. The internet classics archive the gallic wars by julius. After having established this suspicion of his cowardice, he selected a certain suitable and crafty gaul, who was one of those whom he had with him as. Gaul as a whole, contrasted with gaul in the narrower sense, or celtic gaul. Clad in the bloodred cloak he usually wore as his distinguishing mark of battle, caesar led his troops to victories throughout the province, his major triumph being the defeat of the gallic army led by the chieftain vercingetorix, in 52 bce. Romes war against the gallic tribes lasted from 58 bc to 50 bc and culminated in the decisive battle of alesia in 52 bc, in which a complete roman victory resulted in the expansion of the roman republic over the whole of gaul mainly presentday france and belgium. The only chronicle by an ancient general of his own campaigns, this historical treasure is also a work of profound literary merit. Iulius, 10244 bce, statesman and soldier, defied the dictator sulla. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the gallic wars.
His book gives us a glimpse of life in western europe more than 2,000 years ago 51 b. The gallic wars is one of the earliest examples of a military science manual, detailing arms technology, tactical maneuvers, battlefield politics, espionage, intelligence and even the role played by luck in ground and sea campaigns. The gallic wars by julius caesar book one chapter 1 all gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the belgae inhabit, the aquitani another, those who in their own language are called celts, in our gauls, the third. Covers the gallic wars from julius caesar s point of view giving insight to how he though and how he wanted the public to see him. Allen and greenoughs new latin grammar for schools and colleges, construction of cases. After the formation of the triumvirate in rome, julius caesar spent seven years fighting in gaul, germany, and britain. Julius caesars war commentaries marquette university. Incidentally, this book used to be much more famous back in the day.
As for the battle narrative itself, it concerns an early revolt of several tribes, quelled by caesar and labienus. With the belgae and the seduni conquered and the germans driven out, caesar assumes gaul is relatively at peace, but before he can get to illyricum war once again kindles in gaul. In his gallic war and civil wars caesar 10044 bce provided vigorous, direct, clear, thirdpersonal, and largely unemotional records of his own campaigns. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Pdf caesar s gallic wars download read online free. When he is faced by larger forces, common in most of the major battles, he deliberately.
Julius caesar biography cliffsnotes study guides book. Julius caesar was a famous alpha, and the gallic wars is the story of his glory days, when he turned hundreds of thousands of folks into wolf chow and compost. Works of julius caesar parallel englishlatin, full text etext. Believed to have occurred around mont auxois, near alisesaintereine, france, the battle saw julius. Grant daniell, commentary on caesars gallic war, ag bg 6. His original desire was likely to pursue glory against the further reaches of illyricum and dacia, but events in his new provinces soon changed the plan. In three short books, caesar describes how, in order to defend his honor and the freedom of both himself and the roman people, he marched on rome and defeated the forces of pompey and the senate in. All these differ from each other in language, customs and laws. Ho thought that these auxiliaries ought to be detached from him before he provoked him to war. In it caesar describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting local armies in. While caesar was in winter quarters in hither gaul, as we have. Commentaries on the gallic war is julius caesars firsthand account of the gallic wars, written as a thirdperson narrative.
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