Julius caesar, who appeared on the scene when things were going. In his gallic war and civil wars caesar 10044 bce provided vigorous, direct, clear, thirdpersonal, and largely unemotional records of his own campaigns. All these differ from each other in language, customs and laws. Gaius julius caesar commentaries on the gallic war translated by w. Labienus, as he had been ordered by caesar not to come to an engagement unless caesars own forces were seen near the enemys camp, that the attack upon the enemy might be made on every side at the same time, was, after having taken. Julius caesar biography cliffsnotes study guides book. Seven commentaries on the gallic war with an eighth commentary by aulus hirtius julius caesar the gallic war, published on the eve of the civil war which led to the end of the roman republic, is an autobiographical account written by one of the most famous figures of european history. The gallic wars by julius caesar, part of the internet classics archive. Caesars gallic war consists of seven parts books, each devoted to. The gallic wars is julius caesars firsthand account of the gallic wars, written as a thirdperson narrative. Get free homework help on julius caesars gallic wars. Pdf caesar s gallic wars download read online free. 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.
Julius caesars war commentaries marquette university. Grant daniell, commentary on caesars gallic war, ag bg 3. 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. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the gallic wars. This new 2017 edition of the gallic wars from enhanced media. 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. 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.
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. After the formation of the triumvirate in rome, julius caesar spent seven years fighting in gaul, germany, and britain. All gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the belgae inhabit, the aquitani another, those who in their own. The only chronicle by an ancient general of his own campaigns, this historical treasure is also a work of profound literary merit. 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. The gallic wars has been divided into the following sections.
Caesars brilliance as a tactician also made a large contribution to his military successes. 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. Book 8 was written by aulus hirtius, after caesars death. Gallic wars cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. Iulius, 10244 bce, statesman and soldier, defied the dictator sulla. 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. 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. In 58 bce, caesar headed for gaul, a region roughly encompassing presentday france and belgium and parts of the netherlands. 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. The gallic wars by julius caesar the internet classics archive. Unfortunately many people think it is a scholarly work, which it is not, it is a war diary, carefully edited for political consumption. 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.
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. 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. Allen and greenoughs new latin grammar for schools and colleges, syntax of the verb. 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. In it caesar describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting. The internet classics archive the gallic wars by julius. The works of julius caesar, parallel englishlatin tr. Rome didnt control the entirety of the territory, so. 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. The gallic war is julius caesars autobiographical diary of the wars in what is now france, belgium, and parts of britain, germany, and switzerland, in which he describes the battles that took place from 58 to 51 bce when he fought the germanic and celtic peoples that opposed roman conquest. Book vi, the shortest of the hooks in the gallic wars, relates caesars adventures during 53 b. Works of julius caesar parallel englishlatin, full text etext. 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.
Caesar knew that a tie of hospitality subsisted between them and ambiorix. 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. 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. 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. Caesars gallic wars essays chronicle the history of his military engagements during the years 5851 b.
Despite his extensive background in politics, caesar expresses. Gallic wars, 5850 bce, campaigns in which the roman proconsul julius caesar conquered gaul. Allen and greenoughs new latin grammar for schools and colleges, construction of cases. While caesar was in winter quarters in hither gaul, as we have. 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.
As for the battle narrative itself, it concerns an early revolt of several tribes, quelled by caesar and labienus. When he is faced by larger forces, common in most of the major battles, he deliberately. Grant daniell, commentary on caesars gallic war, ag bg 6. A brief description of the great divisions of gaul, and of their inhabitants.
Julius caesar took official command of his provinces of illyricum, cisalpine gaul and transalpine gaul in 59 bc. 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. Caesars commentaries on his gallic wars provide us with the most detailed surviving eyewitness account of a campaign from antiquity. The conquest of gaul is julius caesars firsthand account of the gallic wars, fought between 58 and 50 b. This text has been carefully proofread and i believe it. His book gives us a glimpse of life in western europe more than 2,000 years ago 51 b. Commentaries on the gallic war is julius caesars firsthand account of the gallic wars, written as a thirdperson narrative. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 present day france and belgium. Caesars gallic wars are his own reports of these military efforts to expand the roman empire and bring peace to. The gallic wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the roman proconsul julius caesar against several gallic tribes.