2 of 3

Write now Article Tools

Julius Caesar was an ordinary mortal, yet he had every intention of becoming a God. He strove to be better than any mortal man and eventually he was honoured as the first Roman Emperor who, though not directly descended from the noble Roman Emperor lineage (Nero was the last of the Roman Emperors of divine lineage) he achieved his objective and was proclaimed a God.

'Omnia Galliae es in tres partes divisiae', is Julius Caesar's first entry in his journal of the Gallic Wars, de Bello Gallico, completed in 55BC. Caesar's journal survived intact and is required reading on the Latin language curriculum in secondary schools. All of Gaul (modern France) is divided into three parts, armed with this knowledge Caesar proceeded to divide and conquer Gaul. Julius Caesar was determined to enlarge the Roman Empire in order to be declared a God, his imperious style of writing (military propoganda) confirms his thinking. Caesar wrote in the detached third person singular.

Caesar set out in 58BC with a 40,000 member Roman Army. Initially, a series of battles against Gallic tribes proved successful, captured soldiers were sold into slavery and their villages destroyed. Caesar describes the battles in a high handed manner, clearly denigrating the fighting qualities of minor tribes in their fight for survival against a seasoned and battle experienced Imperial Roman Army.

The Gauls changed their tactics, they avoided engaging the Roman Army in open battle, instead they harassed the Roman Army and tracked their movements until they expected to annihilate them. The Gauls found their saviour in the courageous national Gallic Warrior Chief Vercingetorix. Caesar descried him as a rebel when he was clearly a national hero taking on the Roman invaders and saving his people from slavery and destruction. Caesar finally laid siege to Vercingetorix at his reinforced redoubt at Alesia, central Gaul. Vercingetorix with 30,000 warriors refused to come out and fight Caesar's 40,000 man Roman Army. Caesar promptly built a 10km earth wall with pallisade fencing fully enclosing the Gauls and their leader. This was an unexpected tactic by Caesar, the Gauls were doomed when food ran short. Vercingetorix expelled the women and children in order to save food, the Romans were unmoved they slowly starved to death in no-man;s land. Caesar describes this incident in a cruelly detached manner, the ultimate propogandist.

This extraordinary siege galvanised the Gauls, 250,000 Gallic warriors attacked the Roman defences whilst Vercingetorix attacked from the inside. Unfortunately, they did not co-ordinate their attacks and Caesar was able to destroy Vercingetorix inside Alesia. The Gauls sued for peace. Vercngetorix was chained and paraded in Rome, the Gauls became slaves, their property and towns confiscated.

Caesar's Gallic wars 58-54BC destroyed the proud and moral Gauls. Their Druidic and Brehon Law customs were destroyed and Gallic culture and history was absorbed and suppressed by Roman rule. Caesar's written accounts were sheer biased propoganda. Pax Romana (Roman Peace) meant the wholesale destruction of tribal societies in order to enlarge the Roman Empire and further the personal Imperial ambitions of Julius Caesar. The numbers of Gauls killed, injured and enslaved is unknown. Caesar was able to conquer a country and people with a highly disciplined Roman Army of only 40,000 men. Gaul was pacified and Caesar moved on to conquer Britain, he never visited Hibernia (Ireland).

Vercingetorix was kept prisoner in Rome for five years, finally he was given a dagger and he killed himself. Vercingetorix a symbol of resistance against Roman rule could not remain alive.

Learn more about this author, Hibernianscribe.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The literary significance of Julius Caesar's The Conquest of Gaul?
We want to hear your view. Write now!