Roman conquests. Gaul

262 Pages·2011·3.62 MB·English

by  Caesar

For Laura

First Published in Great Britain in 2011 by
PEN & SWORD MILITARY
An imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS
Copyright © Michael M. Sage, 2011
ISBN 978-1-84884144-4
ePub ISBN: 9781848849860
PRC ISBN: 9781848849877
The right of Michael M. Sage to be identified as the author of this work has
been asserted
by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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Contents
Acknowledgements
List of Plates
Maps
Introduction
Chapter 1. First Steps
Chapter 2. Caesar and Gaul: The Prelude
Chapter 3. 58: The Helvetii and Ariovistus
Chapter 4. 57: Caesar and the Conquest of the North
Chapter 5. 56: Consolidation
Chapter 6. 55: Britain and Germany
Chapter 7. 54: Gallic Resistance Grows
Chapter 8. 53: Troubles at Rome and Growing Threats in Gaul
Chapter 9. 52: Vercingetorix and the Great Rebellion
Chapter 10. 51: Caesar’s Final Campaign
Chapter 11. Epilogue: After Caesar
Appendix: The Development of the Roman Army of the
First Century BC
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
I would especially like to thank my editor Philip Sidnell for suggesting the
subject of this book and for all of his help in seeing it through the press. Thanks
are also due to Ian Hughes for his help with maps and to Graham Sumner and
Franck Mathieu for the illustrations.
A year’s leave from the Classics Department at the University of Cincinnati
and the generous support provided by the Louise Taft Semple Classics Fund
were instrumental in giving me the time to complete my research and to begin
writing. As always any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the author.
List of Plates
1. Caesar, the Tusculum Bust.
2. The Vercingetorix Monument at Alise-Sainte Reine.
3. An aerial view of Bibracte, the capital of the Aedui.
4. A view of Alesia from the west from the Plain of Laumes.
5. Drawings of Roman siege equipment.
6. The so-called Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus.
7. Caesar enters the fray, painted by Graham Sumner, 2011.
8. Roman legionaries engage Gallic infantry, painted by Graham Sumner,
2011.
9. A Gallic cavalryman duels with a German horseman, painted by Graham
Sumner, 2011.
10. A Gallic army prepares to charge, painted by Graham Sumner, 2011.
11. A reconstruction of Caesar’s first bridge over the Rhine.
12. The Ardennes, where Caesar compaigned against the Eburones and other
Belgic tribes.
13. A view of the Jura Mountains.
14. Vercingetorix surrenders to Caesar, painted by Lionel Noel Royer, 1899.
15. Gold stater with stylized head of Vercingetorix, from Pisonat, Puy-de Dôme,
France.
16. ‘The Dying Gaul of Pergamum’. A Roman copy of a Hellenistic statue.
Maps
List of Maps
Map 1: Roman Empire
Map 2: Celtic Settlement until 150
Map 3 Transalpine Gaul in the Late-Second Century BC
Map 4 Gaul in the Time of Caesar
Map 5 Caesar’s Campaigns
Map 6 British Invasions 55-54
Map 7 Alesia