ROMEFormation, activities and breakdown of the Second

Triumvirate

Political Developments in the Late Republic

The Story of

the Second Triumvirate

The story of Caesar’s military campaignsIn this period, there was nearly a hundred different tribes in Gaul (roughly modern day France). The following were the largest and strongest tribes:*The Aedui, the Arveni and the Sequani of central Gaul.*The Helvetians of Switzerland.*The Nervii of Belgium*The Veneti of Brittany.The Aedui had an alliance with Rome. They made war on and defeated the Sequani, who in 61BC invited the Germanic king Ariovistus to cross the Rhine River and help them defeat the Aeudi

Once this was completed Ariovistus refused to go home and more of his Germanic followers continued to cross over the Rhine.*The Gallic tribes did not have a stable government.*They continued to be involved in feuds and petty wars.*The resulting confusion and disorder made the Gauls vulnerable to conquest by the Germans or Romans.When Caesar arrived in Gaul, the Helvetians had decided to move across Gaul to the west in an effort to get away from Ariovistus. Caesar saw this as his chance to display his military prowess. His own account of the Gallic Wars gives no indication of a campaign to conquer Gaul as a whole, but justifies each campaign separately.

58BC – Subdues the Helvetti at the Battle of Bibracte.Stops German Suebi tribe, led by King Ariovistus, moving and settling in Gaul.57BC – defeats the Belgae and the Nervii tribes56BC – Veneti and Veneli revolt in western Gaul and are defeated.55BC – defeats the Germanic Usiptes and Tencteri tribes after they cross into Gaul.Builds a bridge across the Rhine River; stays for 18 days then returns to Gaul. Invades Britain but achieves little.54 BC – Returns to Britain with 30, 000 men Receives the submission of Cassivellanus and returns to Gaul. The Nervii Treveri and Eubones tribes revolt. Caesar finally stamps out the rebellion.52BC –Vercingetorix, leader of the Arveni tribe, unifies Gaul.Caesar meets Vercingetorix at Alesia and besieges him; Vercingetorix submits51-50BC – Subdues remnants of rebels and organises provincial government in Gaul.

The dying Gaul

The conquest of Gaul was very important.For Caesar it helped him build up a great military reputation equal to that of Pompey and had the support of a devoted army. It provided him with the wealth needed to buy political supporters in Rome and it also meant that he had the support of Gaul during the subsequent civil war.

Obverse: Female head right, wearing oak-wreath and diadem; behind, ∞|| downwards. Border of dots.

Reverse: Trophy with Gallic shield and carnyx; on right, axe; below CAE SAR. Border of dots.

For the Romans, it increased Rome’s strength by adding to it an area twice the size of Italy, with a greater population that Spain and offering vast resources.It was also good for the Gauls – It promised future peace and protection from the Germans and it opened the land of the Gauls to the Roman population.

The Roman successes in Gaul were partly due to:• The lack of unity, discipline

and determination among the Gauls;

• The German cavalry employed by Caesar during the great revolt led by Vercingetorix;

• Caesar’s genius in military tactics and strategy, swift action and superior leadership; and

• The leniency shown by Caesar in his organisation of Gaul.

The Legacy of Sulla

Formation, activities and breakdown

of the Second

Triumvirate