GAIUS IULIUS CAESAR COMMENTARII DE BELLO GALLICO

CEZAR I ILIRI (III, 7; V, 1)

http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/caesar/gallic_e5.html
III, 7 His rebus gestis cum omnibus de causis Caesar pacatam Galliam
existimaret, [superatis Belgis, expulsis Germanis, victis in Alpibus Sedunis,] atque
ita inita hieme in Illyricum profectus esset, quod eas quoque nationes adire et
regiones cognoscere volebat, subitum bellum in Gallia coortum est. 2 Eius belli
haec fuit causa. P. Crassus adulescens cum legione VII. proximus mare Oceanum
in Andibus hiemabat. 3 Is, quod in his locis inopia frumenti erat, praefectos
tribunosque militum complures in finitimas civitates frumenti causa dimisit; 4 quo
in numero est T. Terrasidius missus in Esuvios, M. Trebius Gallus in Coriosolites,
Q. Velanius eum T. Silio in Venetos.
III, 7 These things being achieved, while Caesar had every reason to suppose
that Gaul was reduced to a state of tranquillity, the Belgae being overcome, the
Germans expelled, the Seduni among the Alps defeated, and when he had,
therefore, in the beginning of winter, set out for Illyricum, as he wished to visit
those nations, and acquire a knowledge of their countries, a sudden war sprang up
in Gaul. The occasion of that war was this: P. Crassus, a young man, had taken up
his winter quarters with the seventh legion among the Andes, who border upon the
[Atlantic] ocean. He, as there was a scarcity of corn in those parts, sent out some
officers of cavalry, and several military tribunes among the neighbouring states,
for the purpose of procuring corn and provision; in which number T. Terrasidius
was sent among the Esubii; M. Trebius Gallus among the Curiosolitae; Q.
Velanius, T. Silius, amongst the Veneti.
Book III, I. Caesar, a the close of the late campaign, sent Servius Galba into the territories of
the Nantuates, Veragri, and Seduni, with permission to winter there, if expedient; his reason
for this. Galba resolved to winter at Octodurus.II. The Seduni and Veragri combine against
him.III. And attack his camp.IV.-VI. A fierce battle ensues; in which, as well as in several
other engagements, Galba is successful.VII., VIII. An unexpected war in Gaul; the occasion
of it. The Veneti are the principal instigators.IX. Caesar gives orders for the equipment of a
fleet. The Veneti and other states augment their navy, and extend their alliances.X.-XII.
Caesars difficulties; arising chiefly from the position of the Venetic towns.XIII. The
structure of the Venetic ships accommodated to that position.XIV., XV. Caesar surmounts
these disadvantages; and in a naval engagement obtains a victory.XVI. Which terminated
the war with the Veneti.XVII.-XIX. Titurius Sabinus is sent into the territories of the Unelli.
Conduct of their king, Viridovix. Sabinus is compelled to resort to stratagems; he defeats the
Unelli.XX., XXI. P. Crassus enters Aquitania, and is attacked by the Sotiates, who are
signally worsted.XXII. The Soldurii.XXIII. Crassus proceeds into the territories of the
Vocates and Tarusates; who engage in measures of opposition.XXIV. He draws up his forces
for a battle; which the enemy decline.XXV., XXVI. He then attacks their encampment, and
is victorious.XXVIII. Caesar advances against the Morini and Menapii; his motives for this:
the enemy make a sudden assault on the Roman forces, and are repelled with great loss.
XXIX. Caesars provision against such attacks: his operations interrupted by the inclemency
of the season: the army is led into winter quarters.

V, 1 L. Domitio Ap. Claudio consulibus, discedens ab hibernis Caesar in Italiam, ut

quotannis facere consuerat, legatis imperat quos legionibus praefecerat uti quam
plurimas possent hieme naves aedificandas veteresque reficiendas curarent.
Earum modum formamque demonstrat. 2 Ad celeritatem onerandi subductionesque paulo facit humiliores quam quibus in nostro mari uti consuevimus,
atque id eo magis, quod propter crebras commutationes aestuum minus magnos
ibi fluctus fieri cognoverat; ad onera, ad multitudinem iumentorum transportandam paulo latiores quam quibus in reliquis utimur maribus. 3 Has omnes
actuarias imperat fieri, quam ad rem multum humilitas adiuvat. 4 Ea quae sunt
usui ad armandas naves ex Hispania apportari iubet. 5 Ipse conventibus Galliae
citerioris peractis in Illyricum proficiscitur, quod a Pirustis finitimam partem
provinciae incursionibus vastari audiebat. 6 Eo cum venisset, civitatibus milites
imperat certumque in locum convenire iubet. 7 Qua re nuntiata Pirustae legatos ad
eum mittunt qui doceant nihil earum rerum publico factum consilio, seseque
paratos esse demonstrant omnibus rationibus de iniuriis satisfacere. 8 Accepta
oratione eorum Caesar obsides imperat eosque ad certam diem adduci iubet; nisi
ita fecerint, sese bello civitatem persecuturum demonstrat. 9 Eis ad diem adductis,
ut imperaverat, arbitros inter civitates dat qui litem aestiment poenamque
constituant.
Book V - I. Caesar orders a large fleet of peculiarly constructed ships to be built; proceeds
against the Pirustae; they submit.II. Returns into Hither Gaul; marches against the
Treviri.III. Indutiomarus and Cingetorix.V. Caesar goes to port Itius; his policy in taking
certain Gallic chieftains with him to Britain.VI. Dumnorix, who was to have been in that
number, by craft and violence, escapes attending Caesar, but is slain.VII. Caesar proceeds
on his second expedition against Britain.IX. The bold resistance of the Britons; they are
defeated.X. The Roman fleet suffers severely in a storm.XI. Caesar gives orders to
Labienus to build more ships; Cassivellaunus.XII.-XIV. Description of Britain and its
inhabitants.XVII. The Britains again prepare for war, and receive a signal defeat.XVIII.
Caesar advances into the territories of Cassivellaunus as far as the Thames; an engagement
with that prince.XIX. The stratagem of Cassivellaunus.XX. The Trinobantes send
ambassadors to Caesar respecting the conduct of Cassivellaunus towards Mandubratius.
XXII. The latter induces four princes of Cantium to attack the Romans, by whom they are
defeated.XXIII. Caesar receives hostages, and leads back his army into Gaul.XXIV. He
quarters his forces contrary to his custom, in several divisions.XXV.Tasgetius.XXVI. The
revolt of Ambiorix and Cativolcus.XXVII. Ambiorix defends himself in reference to his
share in the Gallic combination.XXVIII.-XXXI. Dispute between Titurius and Cotta.
XXXII. The valor and conduct of Cotta.XXXVIII.-XLII. The quarters of Cicero attacked by
the Eburones; he sends intelligence to Caesar.XLIV. The noble conduct of Pulfio and
Varenus.XLVIII.-LII. Caesar marches to the relief of Cicero; defeats the Eburones.LIII.
Indutiomarus is thereby deterred from attacking the camp of Labienus.LVI.-LVIII. Reenforced, Indutiomarus attacks Labienus; his forces are routed, and he is slain; Gaul becomes
more tranquil.

V, 1 Lucius Domitius and Appius Claudius being consuls [54 B.C.], Caesar, when
departing from his winter quarters into Italy, as he had been accustomed to do
yearly, commands the lieutenants whom he appointed over the legions to take care
that during the winter as many ships as possible should be built, and the old
repaired. He plans the size and shape of them. For dispatch of lading, and for
drawing them on shore, he makes them a little lower than those which we have
been accustomed to use in our sea; and that so much the more, because he knew
that, on account of the frequent changes of the tide, less swells occurred there; for
the purpose of transporting burdens and a great number of horses, [he makes
them] a little broader than those which we use in other seas. All these he orders to
be constructed for lightness and expedition, to which object their lowness
contributes greatly. He orders those things which are necessary for equipping
ships to be brought thither from Spain. He himself, on the assizes of Hither Gaul
being concluded, proceeds into Illyricum, because he heard that the part of the
province nearest them was being laid waste by the incursions of the Pirustae.
When he had arrived there, he levies soldiers upon the states, and orders them to
assemble at an appointed place. Which circumstance having been reported [to
them], the Pirustae send embassadors to him to inform him that no part of those
proceedings was done by public deliberation, and assert that they were ready to
make compensation by all means for the injuries [inflicted]. Caesar, accepting
their defense, demands hostages, and orders them to be brought to him on a
specified day, and assures them that unless they did so he would visit their state
with war. These being brought to him on the day which he had ordered, he
appoints arbitrators between the states, who should estimate the damages and
determine the reparation.
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