Galia is a country conquered by Caesar

Galia is a country that is distant from us for two thousand years. Usually its name is written as Gallia. In ancient times, the Celtic tribes of the Gauls settled in the warm and humid climate of modern southern France. Fertile lands gave them the opportunity to engage in agriculture, and forests rich in game, became a haven for hunters. Not surprisingly, the ancient Gauls were constantly under pressure from neighboring tribes and were forced to regularly defend their territories. Especially long was the confrontation of the Gallic tribes to the Roman legionaries.

Ancient Galia

The country of the Gauls, according to ancient historians, was divided into three parts. The northern territories were given to the belgians, the western territories to the aquitans, and to the south and the east the Celts lived, which for Roman historians were called galls. Three areas were separated by language barriers.

In addition, the Celtic tribes shared the natural boundaries: the rivers Garona, Matrona and Sekvan became natural barriers on the paths of the movement of these peoples. And the Romans were more than happy with such a division, because the principle of "divide and conquer" was already erected in the credo of this empire. From the point of view of borders and accessibility, the southern galls were the most unlucky, and for the Romans these territories became a priority.

The Conquest of Gaul

Neighborhood with Rome is the last test that fell to the lot of the Celtic tribes. As the Roman state strengthened, repeated attempts were made to seize the territories, but the Gauls steadfastly repulsed the invaders' attacks. Only at the beginning of the new era, in the epoch of the reign of Julius Caesar, the recalcitrant Galia surrendered. The country became part of the Roman Empire, became one of its richest provinces. But the Gallic triumph was quite difficult for the empire. Only the Gallic wars, which went on these lands for three years, brought Rome a long-awaited victory.

The Gallic War

The outbreak of hostilities occurred in 58 BC. The military art of Julius Caesar helped him to withstand the struggle against the Helvetians and throw them far into the depths of Europe. The second battle of the same year brought a heavy victory over the Arevist, the leader of one of the Germanic tribes. During the winter, Caesar withdrew his legions on the territory of the allied tribes, and himself went to nearby Galia for legal proceedings.

In fulfilling his direct duties as proconsul, Caesar did not miss the opportunity to recruit new supporters. Plutarch once observed that Caesar possessed his enemies with weapons, and his fellow citizens - with the help of money captured in battle.

The winter of 56 was alarming. Intelligence reported that the Belgae, occupying the north of Gaul, seek to repel the onslaught of the Romans, conclude secret alliances and exchange hostages. Caesar assembled two more legions in addition to the six that he had, and made a campaign. He threw the Belgians far to the north, subdued the nerves, morays and menapes, and when the frost came, he led his troops south. Successfully won the Gallic war and numerous victories brought Julius Caesar huge wealth, which the future emperor generously endowed his supporters. To the glory of the clever rhetor, the halo of the victorious commander was added, in whose hands the real power was gradually concentrating.

In the interior, Caesar pursued a policy of soft subordination, formally allowing tribal leaders to lead their subordinates, but in fact overseeing the entire process of leadership as a whole. In the course were diplomatic intrigues, huge bribes and promises, which, incidentally, are often carried out. Gradually proconsul Caesar concentrated in his hands full power over this region and was able to return to Rome fully prepared for a coup d'état.

Results

The main cause of the defeat of the Gauls was the disunity of the actions of individual tribes in the fight against the enemy. Open military operations were conducted only on the borders of the empire. The internal territories (and Galiya eventually joined them) were governed by bribes, intrigues and diplomacy.

Galia - a country through which Caesar received fame, wealth, and then power over the entire Roman Empire. She was the first step on the road to fame, fully revealing the talents of the military commander, orator and diplomat in Yulia. Much later, there will be military campaigns to the north of Italy, the Rubicon River, and then - a civil war that transformed Caesar from a simple patrician to an emperor.