Gallic Wars Summary Flashcards
I
Ceasar sends Servius Galba to Nantuates, Veragri, and Seduni (from Allobroges, Lake Geneva, and the River Rhone) to clear a route for merchants and to stay in the area for winter. Galba achieved peace and stationed the cohorts in Octodurus - Gauls at one side of the river and his men on the other, then fortified with ramparts and a trench
II
Galba orders corn to be brought. In the middle of the night, it is discovered the Gauls have left the village and are now at the top of the mountains. The Gauls decided to attack because there were so few Roman soldiers, because they would have the high ground and because they resent that their children are being held, hostage. They also believe the Romans want to seize the Alps to secure permanent occupation not just to secure a temporary route for trade.
III
This info reaches Galba. Realising that the winter camp was not completed and fortified, that there was not enough food and supplies, and that since peace had been achieved with hostages exchanged he decided war was not an option. He calls a war council. Taken by surprise with no help or supplies on the way, many think they should retreat but they decide to put this off and defend the camp
IV
The romans have little time to plan before the gauls descend. The Romans fight them off admireably but there are too few of them even for injured men to be replaced, even though they tried their best to cover weakspots
V
Their strength begins to fail, ramparts broken down and trench filled, Publius Sextius Baculus and Gaius Volusenus tell Galba their only hope is t a last-ditch effort attack, telling the troops to save their energy and make a final attack
VI
the Romans turn the situation around successfully defeating a force of 30 000 men, slaying 1/3 of them, and return to the camp that the Gauls thought they would capture.
Galba is concerned by the lack of supplies and doesn’t want to tempt fate so they burned down to town and moved out for the winter
VII
At this point Caesar believes there is peace in Gaul until suddenly fighting breaks out again. This begins because Publius Crassus, who is at the coast, decides he needs more grain and supplies and so sends several legions under different commanders to find it
VIII
The Veneti mentioned above have the greatest authority in the region - their ships routinely sailed to Britain and they are the best at sea in theory and practice. The Veneti detain Silius and Velanius in hopes of getting their hostages from Crassus and ask locals to join the fight for freedom from Roman slavery. The whole coastline joins the cause
IX
Caesar was told by Crassus what was happening, but was too far away to do anything and ordered men-of-war to be constructed on the river Loire, for rowers to be drafted and sailors and navigators. The season then allowed him to join the army hastily. The Gauls realised the magnitude of their choices and prepared for war. They believed they would win because the Romans lacked knowledge of the local area, there was a scarcity of ports, they didn’t have enough corn, they were only acquainted with navigation in a landlocked sea (not open sea) and they had no supply of ships. They fortified the town and gathered their allies
X
Despite the difficulties, Caesar undertook the war because Roman knights were taken hostage, the renewal of war after the surrender, the revolt after hostages given, the conspiracy of so many states—and the fear that if this district were not dealt with the other nations would revolt
XI
Caesar gathers his forces and sends his lieutenants to drum up loyalty in various regions, others gathered the navy as he moved with the land army to meet them
XII
The strongholds were positioned on peninsulas routinely cut off by the tide so no approach could be made by land or by sea because the water was too shallow. Even when one was overcome the inhabitants could simply get on their ships and move to another - they had so many ships damage wasn’t bad. This worked for most of the summer with the Romans stuck in bad weather and having trouble navigating with too few ports.
XIII
The Gauls’ ships were better made to suit the open ocean, the keel was flatter, the prows were high, and the stern could withstand the waves and storms. Their ships were made of thick oak with leather and iron too. The Romans were only faster and with better oarsmen. The Romans couldn’t ram them and cause damage or throw pikes successfully as they were taller. They also were in worse shape after storms
