Gallic Wars
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| - | :''[[Gaul Killing Himself and His Wife]], [[Dying Gaul]]'' | ||
| - | '''Gaul''' ([[Latin]]: ''Gallia'') was a region of [[Western Europe]] during the [[Iron Age Europe|Iron Age]] and [[Roman civilization|Roman]] era, encompassing present day [[France]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Belgium]], most of [[Switzerland]], [[Northern Italy]], as well as the parts of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Germany]] on the west bank of the [[Rhine]]. According to the testimony of [[Julius Caesar]], Gaul was divided into three parts, [[Gallia Celtica]], [[Gallia Belgica|Belgica]] and [[Aquitania]]. | + | The '''Gallic Wars''' were a series of [[military campaign]]s waged by the [[Roman Republic|Roman]] [[proconsul]] [[Julius Caesar]] against several [[Gauls|Gallic tribes]]. Rome's war against the Gallic tribes lasted from 58 BC to 50 BC and 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]] (mainly present day [[France]] and [[Belgium]]). The wars paved the way for Julius Caesar to become the sole ruler of the Roman Republic. |
| - | Archaeologically, the Gauls were bearers of the [[La Tène culture]], which extended across all of Gaul, as well as east to [[Rhaetia]], [[Noricum]], [[Pannonia]] and southwestern [[Germania]] during the 5th to 1st centuries BC. | + | Although Caesar portrayed this invasion as being a preemptive and defensive action, most historians agree that the wars were fought primarily to boost Caesar's political career and to pay off his massive debts. Still, Gaul was of significant military importance to the Romans, as these had been attacked several times by native tribes both indigenous to Gaul and farther to the north. Conquering Gaul allowed Rome to secure the natural border of the river [[Rhine]]. |
| - | During the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, Gaul fell under Roman rule: [[Gallia Cisalpina]] was conquered in 203 BC and [[Gallia Narbonensis]] in 123 BC. Gaul was invaded by the [[Cimbri]] and the [[Teutons]] after 120 BC, who were in turn defeated by the Romans by 103 BC. [[Julius Caesar]] finally subdued the remaining parts of Gaul in his [[Gallic Wars|campaigns]] of 58 to 51 BC. | + | |
| - | [[Roman Gaul|Roman control of Gaul]] lasted for five centuries, until the last Roman [[rump state]], the [[Domain of Soissons]], fell to the [[Franks]] in AD 486. | + | The Gallic Wars are described by Julius Caesar in his book ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]'', which is the most important historical source regarding the conflict. |
| - | While the Celtic [[Gauls]] had lost their tribal identities and language during [[Late Antiquity]], becoming amalgamated into a [[Gallo-Roman culture]], | + | |
| - | ''Gallia'' remained the conventional name of the territory throughout the [[Early Middle Ages]], until it acquired a new identity as the [[Capetian]] [[Kingdom of France]] in the high medieval period. ''Gallia'' remains a name of [[France]] in [[modern Latin]] (besides the alternatives ''Francia'' and ''Francogallia''). | + | |
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[Ambiorix]] | + | *[[Ambiorix's revolt]] |
| - | *[[Asterix]]—a French comic about Gaul and Rome set in 50 BC | + | |
| - | *[[Bog body]] | + | |
| - | *[[Braccae]]—trousers, typical Gallic dress | + | |
| - | *[[Cisalpine Gaul]] | + | |
| - | *[[Galatia]] | + | |
| - | *[[Gallia Narbonensis]] | + | |
| - | *[[Gallo-Roman culture]] | + | |
| - | *[[Gaulish language]] | + | |
| - | *[[Gauls]] | + | |
| - | *[[Lugdunum]] | + | |
| - | *[[Roman Republic]] | + | |
| - | *[[Roman Gaul]] | + | |
| - | *[[Vercingetorix]] | + | |
| - | *[[Roman Villas in Northwestern Gaul]] | + | |
| - | + | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 07:49, 9 August 2013
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The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the Roman proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gallic tribes. Rome's war against the Gallic tribes lasted from 58 BC to 50 BC and 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 (mainly present day France and Belgium). The wars paved the way for Julius Caesar to become the sole ruler of the Roman Republic.
Although Caesar portrayed this invasion as being a preemptive and defensive action, most historians agree that the wars were fought primarily to boost Caesar's political career and to pay off his massive debts. Still, Gaul was of significant military importance to the Romans, as these had been attacked several times by native tribes both indigenous to Gaul and farther to the north. Conquering Gaul allowed Rome to secure the natural border of the river Rhine.
The Gallic Wars are described by Julius Caesar in his book Commentarii de Bello Gallico, which is the most important historical source regarding the conflict.
See also
