Gallia before the gallic War
lasted from 58 BC to 51 BC. The Gallic 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. The wars paved the way for Julius Caesar to become the sole ruler of the Roman Republic.
In 58 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar ended his consulship in Rome. Due to the costs of consulship, he was heavily in debt. However, as a member of the First Triumvirate- the political alliance composed
of himself, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Pompey. Caesar had secured the governorship of two provinces, Cisalpine Gaul and Illyricum. When the governor of Transalpine Gaul died unexpectedly, this
province was also awarded to Caesar. Caesar's governorships were extended to a five-year period, a novel idea at the time. Caesar had initially four veteran legions under his direct command:
Legio VII, Legio VIII, Legio IX Hispana, and Legio X.
...Now, as a Man over 40, he was in a perfect Position for his great Plan.... looking out for a "Causus Bellum"......
....He found one, when the Helvetii try to leave their Land under the Pressure of some other Tribes...
...let Caesar speak for himself: ( Comentarii de bello Gallico, Book I,XII.)
XII.--There is a river [called] the Arar (=Saone), which flows through the territories of the Aedui and Sequani into the Rhodanus (=Rhone) with such incredible slowness, that it cannot be determined by the eye in which direction it flows. This the Helvetii were crossing by rafts and boats joined together. When Caesar was informed by spies that the Helvetii had already conveyed three parts of their forces across that river, but that the fourth part was left behind on this side of the Arar, he set out from the camp with three legions during the third watch, and came up with that division which had not yet crossed the river. Attacking them, encumbered with baggage, and not expecting him, he cut to pieces a great part of them; the rest betook themselves to flight, and concealed themselves in the nearest woods.....
...and here starts the Caesar-Campaign... at Arar et Dubis....
Enjoy!
* Comentarii de Bello Gallico
- In english:
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1477498&pageno=11
- Auf deutsch:
http://www.latein.at/index.php?au=caesar&me=