Caesar: A Biography by Christian Meier & David McLintock

Author:Christian Meier & David McLintock [Meier, Christian & McLintock, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography, Ancient, History, Europe, Rome, Leaders & Notable People, Military, Ancient Civilizations, Italy & Rome, War
ISBN: 9780465008957
Google: b-mPFZLWYeoC
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 1078824
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 1982-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Caesar's description of the fight against Ariovistus is not quite as brief as the summary given here, but there is a striking disproportion between it and the account of the negotiations, which is about twice as long.

What is curious about Caesar's account is the way in which Ariovistus successfully counters his arguments. The much-vaunted friendship with the Haedui had indeed played no significant role up to this point, and in respecting only this friendship and not the one with Ariovistus, Caesar was acting quite arbitrarily. His account leaves out only the strongest argument that Ariovistus could have used (and must have used), namely that when he made war on the Haedui Rome did nothing for them, and that not long after he had defeated them Rome honoured him with the title of friend, thus acknowledging his victory.

It is probable that Caesar deliberately exaggerated the threat posed by the Germans. The manner in which he weaves reports about it into his account is evidence of extremely skilful composition.

Especially puzzling at first sight is the fact that on the one hand Caesar rehearses all the arguments over the legitimacy of the demands he made of Ariovistus and the war waged against him, whereas according to his chosen criteria it seems clear that he is in the right. However, the manner in which he propounds his view of the Gallic war and presents himself to the reader deserves to be treated as a whole.

At the beginning of 57 Caesar received word of an alliance among all the Belgic tribes. `First, they feared that after the pacification of the whole of Gaul our army would be led against them; secondly, they were stirred up by certain Gauls.' According to Caesar, these people were indignant that the Romans were wintering in the country and planning to stay. This, Caesar adds, would deprive them of the opportunity to seize power in their communities. Caesar the popularis had serious objections to such ambitions, being generally opposed to the policy of nobles who relied on popular support to gain their ends.

This is the first mention of the pacification (which implies also the subjection) of the whole of Gaul (Gallia omnis pacata). True, Caesar is not reporting his own opinion, but that of others, and it is not clear whether the pacification in question had already been achieved or was still to come.

With war threatening, he raised two more legions, doubling the number provided by Senate and people. In Gaul he then ordered the tribes occupying the territories next to the Belgae to spy out what was afoot. Having made sure that adequate rations were available, he set off with his army against the Belgae. The first tribe he encountered, the Remi, submitted without a fight. As the Belgic tribes were very strong and courageous - and also reinforced by Germans - he persuaded the Haedui to mount a relief attack and so divert part of the huge enemy forces. Soon after this he seems to have come into contact with the enemy.

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