De Bello Gallico (literally "On the Gallic Wars" in Latin) is an account written by Julius Caesar about his nine years of war in Gaul. English translations of the book often retain the Latin title; sometimes, various translations of the book's Latin title are used, including About the Gallic War, Of the Gallic War, On the Gallic War, The Conquest of Gaul, and The Gallic War. Jump to: navigation, search Map of Gaul circa 58 BC The Gallic Wars were a series of wars fought between the Romans and the people of Gaul during the mid-first century BC, culminating in the Battle of Alesia in 52 BC which resulted in the expansion of the Roman... Jump to: navigation, search Latin is an Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Jump to: navigation, search Painting of Gaius Julius Caesar Bust of Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (Classical Latin: IMP·C·IVLIVS·CAESAR·DIVVS¹) (b. ... War is a state of widespread conflict between states, organisations, or relatively large groups of people, which is characterised by the use of lethal violence between combatants or upon civilians. ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (from Latin Gallia, c. ...

In De Bello Gallico, Caesar vividly describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting local armies that opposed Roman domination. The "Gaul" that Caesar refers to is sometimes all of Gaul except for the Provincia Narbonensis (modern day Provence), encompassing all of modern France, Belgium and some of Switzerland. On other occasions he refers only to that territory inhabited by the Celts (that Romans called Gauls), from the Channel to Lugdunum (Lyon). Jump to: navigation, search Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476. ... Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis, 120 AD Gallia Narbonensis was a Roman province located in what is now Provence in southern France. ... Provence is a former Roman province and is now a region of southeastern France, located on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to Frances border with Italy. ... A Celtic cross. ... Jump to: navigation, search City motto: Avant, avant, Lion le melhor. ...

The first book deals primarily but not exclusively with the Helvetian war in 58 BC. In it, Caesar describes Gaul and the campaign against the Helvetii, a conglomeration of peoples numbering in excess of 300,000, who decided to migrate by force of arms from the Alpine regions through the centre of Gaul to the west to alleviate population pressures. This would require the crossing either of Provence, or of areas held by tribes allied to Rome. When Caesar made it clear he would not allow this, the Helvetians formed an alliance of tribes to fight him. This drew the Romans out of Provence. Later books are about the campaigns against Veneti, Aquitani, Germans and Bretons; Caesar's invasions of Britain; the insurrection of Gaul (VII, 4) and the defeat of Vercingetorix at Alesia (VII, 89). Julius Caesar, leader of Roman forces in Gaul The Helvetian War was described by Julius Caesar in his De Bello Gallico. ... A map of Gaul showing the northern Alpine position of the Helvetii. ... Jump to: navigation, search City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1290 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,546,807 almost... The Veneti were an ancient people who inhabited todays northeastern Italy (near Venice). ... The Aquitanii (Latin for Aquitanians) were a people of horsemen living in what is now SW France, between the Pyrenees and the Garonne. ... Armorica or Aremorica is the name given in ancient times to the part of Gaul that includes the Brittany peninsula and the territory between the Seine and Loire rivers, extending inland to an indeterminate point and down the Atlantic coast. ... Roman invasion of Britain: Britain was the target of invasion by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire several times during its history. ... Jump to: navigation, search Vercingetorix (72 BC - 46 BC), (French: Vercingétorix) chieftain of the Arverni, led the great Gallic revolt against the Romans in 53-52 BC. His name in Gaulish means super-warrior-king (wer-kingeto-rÄ«ks). ... Battle of Alesia Conflict Gallic Wars Date September 52 BC Place Alesia, near modern Alise-Sainte-Reine (France) Result Roman victory The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia was a conflict fought in September 52 BC around the Gallic oppidum of Alesia, a major town centre and hill fort...

Campaigns typically started in late summer with the provisioning of grain and construction of fortresses, and ended late in the year when Caesar returned to Italy for the winter. He campaigned with a number of legions in his army, sometimes as many as eight. He faced a variety of tribal armies, often hasty alliances of them, some numbering – or at least claimed to number – over 100,000 strong. Many of the campaigns end with the Roman cavalry running down thousands of fleeing tribesmen, and often their women and children as well. In one instance he defeated a tribe and immediately sold all 53,000 survivors into slavery. See also Legion software and Legion forummer. ... Italian cavalry officers practice their horsemanship in 1904 outside Rome. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ...

After the second year of campaigning many of the hostile tribes had been defeated and much of Gaul was under some degree of Roman control. By this point any threat to the province, or to Rome itself, was dubious at best. It has been noted that the book may also have been intended as an answer to Caesar's political opponents, who questioned the real need for this costly war, at the time one of the most expensive in Roman history. Many of the reasons provided clearly stretch the credulity of its readers. For instance, his reasons for invading Britain came down to noting that while fighting in north-west Gaul, local armies were often supported by mercenaries from Britain. Jump to: navigation, search City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) Area  - City Proper  1290 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,546,807 almost...

It is often lauded for its polished, clear Latin. This book has traditionally been the first authentic text assigned to students of Latin, as Xenophon's Anabasis was for students of Greek. It is therefore not always remembered with affection. On the other hand, a literary classic in an ancient language that can be read by high-school students is a rare thing. On re-reading it in later life, many people can perceive the clarity of syntax and beauty of style of which an early Latin teacher tried to convince them. The style is indeed simple and elegant, essential and not rhetorical, dry as a chronicle, yet rich in details. Jump to: navigation, search Latin is an Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Xenophon (In Greek , c. ... Anabasis is the most famous work of the Greek writer Xenophon. ... Generally a chronicle (Latin chronica) is historical account of facts and events in chronological order. ...

Also, the books are valuable for the many geographical and historical facts (Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres...) that can be retrieved from the work, which was also one of the earliest to be written in third person. Notable chapters describe Gaulish costume (VI, 13), their religion (VI, 17), a comparison between Gauls and Germans (VI, 24) and other curious notes such as the lack of German interest in agriculture (VI, 22).

See also

• Literary works of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar (100 BC-44 BC) was considered during his lifetime to be one of the finest orators and authors of prose in Rome—even Cicero spoke highly of Caesars rhetoric and style. ...

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

De Bello Gallico

• English translation by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn (1869)
• De Bello Gallico, Latin, English, Italian, German
• The Gallic war