An Introduction to Caesar's The Gallic Wars

Marble Bust of Julius Caesar

     Written around the year 50BCE,  Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico is a fountain of knowledge and insight on the War; the habits and cultures of the Gauls and Germans, and an inside look at a conflict from the general who actually waged the war. Caesar uses his gift of prose to produce a piece of literary significance that has been the subject of study and debate for the 2000 years proceeding it’s publication. It was written in the 3rd person perspective, with Caesar referring to himself as such throughout the book.

     Caesar wrote his Commentaries in seven consecutive books, during the time when he set out to quash the rebellious Gallic tribes in what is now modern day France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The triumvirate he formed with Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus had collapsed; Crassus being killed during the Parthian Campaign in 53BCE, and Pompey having taken sides with Caesar’s political enemies in Rome[i]. Caesar needed a boost, or perhaps an excuse, for certain actions he has committed, whether legally or illegally. His Commentaries may have been a political ploy to enhance his public image in Rome, knowing that upon his return, he may be indicted on bribery or corruption charges.

     Throughout the book, Caesar introduces the reader to various names of Gallic and Germanic tribes, being one of the first persons of antiquity to do such. He went so far as to describe the customs and laws of both groups, of which future historians such as Tacitus and Cassius Dio picked up on and embellished. Names of entire groups of people that once inhabited the European continent that have been lost to the ears of modern man; the Helvetii[ii]and Parii[iii], the Cimbri[iv] and Treveri[v], play such an important role in Caesar’s writings, and the past history of Europe, that the modern scholar is awed by the fact that during his campaigning, Caesar had the time to write about these various groups, whose names may have been lost forever without Caesar’s accounts of them.

     Not only are tribes names mentioned and described, the key players of the Gallic War are discussed in detail. Orgetorix[vi], the leader of the Helvetii, and the first leader of a Gallic tribe to make an appearance in the Commentaries; Ambiorix[vii], the Belgic leader who so daringly defeated Caesar’s generals, Sabinus and Cotta[viii], and then disappeared across the Rhine into German lands, never to be heard from again; Titus Pullo and  Lucius Vorenus[ix], two centurions of the 11th legion who were in such steep competition with each other, that they each leaped over the rampart during a siege being waged by the Gauls on a Roman fortress, and attacked the Gauls single handedly, one not wanting to be outdone by the other. Their fierce bravery touched upon Caesar, and respect was paid to them by having them mentioned by name in the Commentaries.

     Though Caesar’s accounts of various peoples and events may be considered fairly accurate, there are some flaws in Caesar’s writings. For example, during his description of an elk found commonly in Gaul and Germany :

…….their shape and dappled coat are like those of goats,
But they are rather larger, have stunted horns, and legs
Without joints……[x]

Vercingetorix' Surrender to Caesar

Modern scholars are of the consensus that Caesar either received this information second hand, or misinterpreted native information provided to him.

     It is obvious is some aspects of the book that Caesar had taken his campaign a little too far in respect to civilian populations. Take for example of an account of the defeat of the Ubii, a Germanic people, and the following comments by Caesar:

……the Germans had deprated from their homes, and crossed
The Rhine with all their possessions. The crowd of women and children
which remained began to flee in all directions. Caesar sent the
Calvary to hunt them down….[xi]

Caesar was obvious and to the point, that the women and children of the Ubii were ran down by the Roman calvary and slaughtered. Caesar was condemned by Cato in the Senate, who went so far as to suggest giving Caesar up to the Germans. Caesar defended his actions, claiming the Germans would not put up any resistance after what had befallen the people of the Ubii. His gamble paid off.

    The Commentarii de Bello Gallico is a timeless classic written over two-thousand years ago by one of the world’s most renowned characters of history. The prose and use of well formulated Latin is required reading by many educational institutions in their Latin departments. Caesar kept the names alive of many tribes of Gauls, Germans and Britons that may have passed into obscurity, had he not taken the time to describe them. Written at a time of crises in Rome, with enemies of Caesar within the Republics borders and without, Gauis Julius Caesar proved not only his prowess in battle and politics, but also his skill in the literary arts.

   


[i]  Cassius Dio, Roman History. 37.54-58
[ii]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 1.1-15
[iii]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 6.3
[iv]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 1.33,40
[v]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 1.37
[vi]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 1.2
[vii]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 5.24-41
[viii]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 6.37
[ix]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 5.44
[x]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 6.27
[xi]  Julius Caesar, The Gallic War. 4.14