Page 26 - History of War - Issue 05-14

JULIUS CAESAR

Melchior Feselen’s painting Alesia
mesmerising the people, and had Besieged By Julius Caesar captures
bankrolled his political campaigns. A man the event in breathtaking detail
like that, they figured, could be useful to
them, and two of the most powerful were
willing to let him go further. In 60BC,
Caesar entered into a pact with Crassus
and Pompey the Great. The former was
the wealthiest man in Rome, a corrupt
slum landlord keen to abuse the Senate
for further financial gain. The latter was
Rome’s greatest living General, a man
with immense military power at his
fingertips, who wanted land and gold
for his legions. Caesar promised to
supply these mob bosses with what they
wanted in exchange for their support in
delivering him consulship of the Senate
– the highest elected office in Rome.
A deal was struck and all three men had Rex Features Rex Features
their wishes fulfilled. For Caesar, though,
it wasn’t enough. Nothing, it seemed,
ever could be.
Caesar served his year-long term and,
at its end, was awarded the province of
Roman Gaul to the north of the Rubicon
to govern. The boy from the Subura had
what amounted to a principality, but what
he really wanted was a kingdom. Getty Images
Genocide in Gaul
Claiming that the frontiers of his province
were under threat from marauding Gallic
tribes, Caesar launched an invasion
of what we now know as France. His w PAYING in the city, and was meticulous in ensuring It was yet another staggering gamble.
intentions were twofold – to match TRIBUTE that his version of the history he was With his army effectively walled in,
Pompey’s reputation as a great General, ROMAN COINS making would paint him as an irresistible there could be no escape. Caesar would
but also to become as wealthy as Crassus. FEATURED leader in the eyes of the people. either defeat the Gauls here and now,
Over the next eight years, Caesar THE FACE OF As well as an accomplished spin or die in the attempt. Once again, though,
waged war across Gaul. He defeated JULIUS CAESAR, doctor, the Gallic Wars revealed Caesar his punt paid off spectacularly. After two
WHICH WOULD
some 300 tribes, destroyed around 800 DOUBTLESS to be a military genius, leading his troops months of the besiegers themselves
cities, killed in the region of a million HAVE APPEALED to victory after victory. The final one being besieged, the Gauls were beaten
people and enslaved another million. How TO HIS EGO. came at the Battle of Alesia in 52BC. when they simultaneously attacked
he achieved all of this was documented, Caesar and his three legions encircled from both within the citadel and outside
in all its gory detail, in frontline dispatches the Gallic leader Vercingetorix and his Caesar’s barricade. They were routed,
written by Caesar himself. “I came, I saw, 80,000-strong army in the hilltop citadel with losses possibly as high as 130,000.
I conquered,” he wrote in one, for the of Alesia, near Dijon, where they lay siege.
benefit of his adoring fans back in Rome. As part of the plan, Caesar surrounded War crimes
He knew how his victories would play out the city with a series of fortifications, By the time Gaul fell, Caesar had
which suggest not only the scale of surpassed his aims. He now boasted
It was yet another his vision but also the commitment more wealth and glory than any man in
Rome – Crassus and Pompey the Great
of his men. The barricade consisted
staggering gamble. of mantraps, watchtowers, 12-foot included. The eight years of warfare
ramparts and two 15-foot-wide, 15-foot-
had provided him with something else,
With Caesar’s army deep ditches. It took 15,000 of his too. They had transformed him into
60,000-strong force just three weeks to
a worshipped leader with an army of
e ectively walled in, construct the lot. When Caesar received fanatically loyal soldiers at his command.
When civil war came, these elite
news that a huge Gallic relief army was
there could be no escape headed his way, he had another similar legionnaires – the best in the Roman
barricade constructed facing outwards.
army – would fight for Caesar, not Rome.
TIMELINE continued

67BC 65BC 62BC 60BC 59BC 59BC 59BC
Caesar marries The 35-year-old Caesar Caesar’s marriage Caesar enters into He becomes Pompey marries Caesar marries his
the second of his is elected to a minor to Pompeia ends a pact with Crassus Consul of Rome. Caesar’s third wife, Calpurnia
wives, Pompeia, role in the government in divorce. and Pompey the daughter, Julia. Pisonis, sister of
granddaughter of the of Rome. He soon Great, designed to the Pontifex Lucius
Roman dictator Sulla. begins a campaign to reap huge benefits Calpurnius Piso.
increase his popularity for all three men.
among the people
and rise up through
the ranks of power.

26 HISTORY WAR
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