CAESAR AIDS THE AEDUI

AEDUI, AN ALLY OF ROME

• Alllied themselves with Rome
• Were victims of the helvetiann migration
• Rival neighboring tribes (Arverni and the Sequani)
• Begged Caesar for intervention

A NEW OPPONENT

• The Sequani and the Arverni hire 15,000 Germanic Mercenaries
• The leader of the mercenaries is known as Ariovistus
• Ariovistus is also seen by the senate as a friend of Rome
• Is called "Rex Germanorum" (king of germans)
• [leader of the Sebui]

TRUE PLANS

• After supressing the Aedui:
• He takes over the Sequani and the Alverni lands
• Immigrates 120,000 more Germans into Gaul
• Holds noble tribesmens' children as hostages
• Threatens cruelty and their lives if they rebel or seek help

DIVITIACUS THE AEDUAN

• Divitiacus and Sequani and Alverni representatives flee to Caesar
• he tells Caesar of how the Aedui are slowly losing
• The condition of the Sequani and Alverni people
• Alverni and Divitiacus beg for intervention
• Sequani silently and ashamedly look down

CAESAR MAKES A PROMISE

• He assures them that he will bring an end to Ariovistus' Tyranny
• After an uplifting speech, Caesar dismisses the council
• Writes that the germans crossing the Rhine is a threat to the people
• He wishes to liberate the hostages and push the germans out

Caesar moves his troops to Vesontio (modern Besançon), the capital city of the Sequani. Ariovistus and Caesar conduct many negotiations, including an unusual face-to-face conference.

ARIOVISTUS AN EQUAL?

• Caesar requests Ariovistus' presence
• Ariovistus replies that Caesar should come to him
• (Too much time and effort wasted on amassing his army)

Caesar replies: quoniam tanto suo populique Romani beneficio adfectus...Haeduos ceterosque amicos populi Romani defenderet, se Haeduorum iniurias non neglecturum.

Ariovistus challenges Caesar: Llius esse belli ut qui vicissent...Cum vellet, congrederetur: intellecturum quid invicti Germani, exercitatissimi in armis, qui inter annos XIIII tectum non subissent, virtute possent.

COMING TO HIS SENSES?

• Caesar sets up camp at Vesontio
• Ariovistus requests that the two rediscuss terms
• believes that his reputation of offering last chances are the reasons
• Caesar Appoints his 10th legion to be his calvary body guard

Caesar repeats:"...He then made the same demands which he had commissioned the embassadors to make, that [Ariovistus] should not make war either upon the Aedui or their allies, that he should restore the hostages; that if he could not send back to their country any part of the Germans, he should at all events suffer none of them any more to cross the Rhine."

Ariovistus: "that he had crossed the Rhine not of his own accord, but on being invited and sent for by the Gauls; that he had not left home and kindred without great expectations and great rewards; that he had settlements in Gaul, granted by the Gauls themselves; that the hostages had been given by their good-will; that he took by right of war the tribute which conquerors are accustomed to impose on the conquered..."

Threatens Caesar: "..I must feel suspicious, that Caesar, though feigning friendship as the reason for his keeping an army in Gaul, was keeping it with the view of crushing him. And that unless he depart and withdraw his army from these parts, he shall regard him not as a friend, but as a foe; and that, even if he should put him to death, he should do what would please many of the nobles and leading men of the Roman people; he had assurance of that from themselves through their messengers, and could purchase the favor and the friendship of them all by his [Caesar’s] death."

NON-PEACEFUL END TO NEGOTIATIONS

• Ariovistus' Calvary began to throw stones and even spears at caesar
• Caesar retreats back to his calvary and orders them to not return fire
• (He wishes to report that the end of the discussion was due to interference)
• He instills more anger in his[Caesar's] army by telling them of the outcome
• Caesar and his 10th legion return to camp

ANOTHER MEETING REQUESTED

• Ariovistus asks caesar to join him for another meeting
• Caesar sees no interests in having another meeting
• Sends an officer who is fluent in the Gaulish language to the meeting
• C. Valerius Procillus, the officer, is captured

SIEGE BEGINS

• Caesar, deeply angered by ariovistus' treachery, begins to prepare for battle
• Ariovistus begins to lightly skirmish his outer army camps
• After two days he cuts off his supply route and completely surrounds the camp
• Ariovistus wishes to starve caesar into surrender
• Caesar is forced to make a decision

BATTLE FINALLY COMMENCES

• Caesar observes the left wing to be the weakest side
• After he rushes, the left side of ariovistus' forces begin to route
• The right was the most enduring side to fight against
• A young officer ordered the auxiliary troops to aid the right flank
• The outcome resulted in many causalties, but overall victorious for Caesar

ARIOVISTUS FLEES

• Most of his forces were slain by caesar's cavalry
• Both his wives and one of his daughters also perished
• Caesar found and freed the captured officer.
• The remaining Germans fled all the way to the Rhine

After the battle:
Caesar having concluded two very important wars in one campaign, conducted his army into winter quarters among the Sequani, a little earlier than the season of the year required. He appointed Labienus over the winter-quarters, and set out in person for Hither Gaul to hold the assizes.