![]() Most had contact with Roman merchants and some, such as the Aedui, who were governed by republics, had enjoyed stable political alliances with Rome in the past. The tribes of Gaul were civilized and wealthy, constituting what is known to archeologists as the La Tène culture. Untold numbers of Gauls were killed, enslaved, or mutilated, including large numbers of civilians.īackground Sociopolitical Modern historians believe that Gallic forces were smaller than the Romans claimed, and that the Romans suffered more casualties than Caesar claims. Caesar makes impossible claims about the number of Gauls killed (over a million), while claiming almost zero Roman casualties. It is the primary source for the conflict, but modern historians consider it prone to exaggeration. Julius Caesar described the Gallic Wars in his book Commentarii de Bello Gallico. The Gallic Wars were a key factor in Caesar's ability to win the Civil War and make himself dictator, which culminated in the end of the Roman Republic and the establishment of the Roman Empire. Caesar's wild successes in the war had made him wealthy and provided a legendary reputation. There is no precise end date to the war, but the imminent Roman Civil War led to the withdrawal of Caesar's troops in 50 BC. Gaul was conquered, although it would not become a Roman province until 27 BC, and resistance would continue until as late as 70 AD. In 51 and 50 BC, there was limited resistance, and Caesar's troops mainly engaged in mop-up operations. Gallic forces won a notable victory at the Battle of Gergovia, but the Romans' indomitable siege works at the Battle of Alesia crushed the Gallic coalition. This failed, and Vercingetorix led a revolt in 52 BC. 53 BC saw a brutal pacification campaign. Tribes rose up on the continent, and the Romans suffered a humiliating defeat. The next year, he returned with a proper army and conquered much of Britain. Rome hailed Caesar as a hero upon his return from Britain, though he had achieved little beyond landing because his army had been too small. He undertook first-of-their-kind expeditions across the Rhine and the English Channel. In 55 BC, Caesar sought to boost his public image. In 56 BC, Caesar defeated the Veneti in a naval battle and took most of northwest Gaul. He led campaigns in the east, where the Nervii almost defeated him. By 57 BC, Caesar had resolved to conquer all of Gaul. The wars began with conflict over the migration of the Helvetii in 58 BC, which drew in neighboring tribes and the Germanic Suebi. Conquering Gaul allowed Rome to secure the natural border of the river Rhine. Native tribes in the region, both Gallic and Germanic, had attacked Rome several times. Still, Gaul was of significant military importance to the Romans. Caesar portrayed the invasion as being a preemptive and defensive action, but historians agree that he fought the wars primarily to boost his political career and to pay off his debts. Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix's attempt to unite the Gauls under a single banner came too late. Though the various collective Gallic armies were as strong as the Roman forces, the Gallic tribes' internal divisions eased victory for Caesar. The Wars 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. Gallic, Germanic, and Brittonic tribes fought to defend their homelands against the aggressive Roman campaign. These achievements and the support of his veteran army threatened to eclipse the standing of Pompey, who had realigned himself with the Senate after the death of Crassus in 53 BC.The Gallic Wars were waged between 58 and 50 BC by the Roman general Julius Caesar against the peoples of Gaul (present-day France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland). During this time he both invaded Britain and built a bridge across the Rhine river. Caesar rose to become one of the most powerful politicians in the Roman Republic through a string of military victories in the Gallic Wars, completed by 51 BC, which greatly extended Roman territory. Their attempts to amass power as Populares were opposed by the Optimates within the Roman Senate, among them Cato the Younger with the frequent support of Cicero. In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed the First Triumvirate, a political alliance that dominated Roman politics for several years. ![]() He played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating Pompey in a civil war and governing the Roman Republic as a dictator from 49 BC until his assassination in 44 BC. Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman.
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