Book I Section I: The Helvetian War
Conflict:
The Helvetii people (as well as their neighboring tribes, the Rauraci, Tulingi, and Latovici) undertook a massive migration across Gaul, with the hopes of resettling in Santones in Southern Gaul. This brought them into contact with Roman Gallic allies and the Roman Province itself, leading Caesar to attack them ruthlessly. After small skirmishes and a decisive battle, the Helvetians were defeated and butchered. Starting their migration with 368,000 men, women and children, the final Helvetian count after Roman interference was 110,000 people (prisoners).
Characters:
- Caesar — commander of the legions and Roman governor of Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul
- Orgetorix — the Helvetian mastermind behind the entire migration. He formed a gallic Triumvirate with the Sequani chief, Casticus, and Dumnorix, a noble in the Aedui tribe. His conspiracy to take over Gaul was uncovered and Orgetorix was tried in court. He brought along 10,000 serfs and debtors to defend him and he was released by the judges. However, he most likely killed himself because of the dishonor.
- Dumnorix — noble of the Aedui tribe and brother to Divitiacus, “at that time the acknowledged ruler of the Aeduan country.” He got super rich by buying up tolls in Gaul and was popular with the Helvetians because of his marriage to Orgetorix’s daughter. His plot of a coup d’état and overthrowing his brother was revealed, but Caesar spared his life out of respect for Divitiacus.
- Divitiacus — ruler of the Aedui tribe and personal friend to Caesar. He called for Caesar’s help when the Helvetii were rampaging throughout their lands and somewhat sparked the entire Gallic War.
Quotes:
“When heaven was preparing vengeance for past crime, she not unfrequently gave the guilty a longer lease of prosperity and impunity, simply to deepen the remorse raised by a contrast with their previous lot.” (page 10)
“….it should be clearly understood that the destruction of the Helvetian power by Rome would be quickly followed by the loss of Aeduan independence, and would open the way to the universal subjugation of Gaul…” (page 12)
“Dumnorix was the real author of all the mischief.” (page 12)
Words:
- bivouac — a temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers.
- reconnoiter — make a military observation of (a region).
- ambuscade — an ambush.
Summary:
The narrative opens up by Caesar describing, in third person, the overall terrain and dominant tribes of Gaul. There were three main dominant tribes occupying modern day France: the Belgae, the Aquitani, and the Gauls/Celts. Caesar also describes the physical geography of the land, from the Rhine River in the North (separating the Gauls from the Germans) to the Garonne River in the South. The drama begins with Orgetorix, who orchestrated the Great Migration of the Helvetian peoples. I’m not still 100% sure why they migrated, but it could’ve been because of the German threat, dissatisfaction with the size of their territory or the simple lust for loot and riches. As stated before, Orgetorix was a shady guy who ultimately died before the migration started. Not wanting to waste all their time preparing though, the Helvetians burned down their villages and towns and began their exodus West on March 28, 58 BC.
Once Caesar heard that the Helvetians might force their way through Roman territory while migrating, he got pretty pissed and headed to Geneva, a border town between the Roman Province and the Gallic lands of the Allobroges. He brought several legions, built this huge ditch and told the Helvetians they couldn’t pass through Roman territory. Some Helvetians tried to get across the river on makeshift boats and rafts, but the Romans hunted them down without mercy.
The Helvetii decided to go through the Sequani territory instead, but Caesar again freaked out and found pretext to rally up a few more legions to the area. Caesar’s war lust only increased when the Aeduan tribe sent an urgent dispatch to him asking for help. The Helvetii were “rampaging” their lands and the Aeduan needed the protection of Rome. Caesar, frothing at the mouth, tailed the Helvetians and found them by the Arar River, a tributary of the Rhone. 3/4 of the tribes had crossed the water, while 1/4 were still on the other side. Caesar mercilessly hacked these people to death. He then built a huge bridge across the Arar to follow the Helvetians further. A spokesman of the Helvetii, Divico, came to Caesar and said,
“If there was one thing which the Helvetii had inherited as a tradition from their fathers, it was to fight in the open like men, and not to rely on trickery or ambuscade.” (page 9)
As you can imagine, Caesar was incensed and offered poor terms for the Helvetians for peace (i.e. give Rome hostages, indemnify the Aeduans & Allobroges for all the damage you caused, etc.) The Helvetians declined, obviously, so Caesar proceeded to harass the tail end of their migration column with his cavalry.
During this time, something fishy was happening with the Aeduan tribe — they kept promising corn and other grain to Caesar’s army, but they were finding excuses and delaying the delivery. Getting the Aeduans together and reprimanding them, Caesar then uncovered a conspiracy of the Aeduan prince, Dumnorix, to take over all of Gaul. Dumnorix reasoned it was better for Gauls to be subjugated to other Gauls (i.e. him) instead of the iron rule of the Romans. He was probably also drunk on power, having used his brother Divitiacus’ name to gain clout and strategic marriage alliances all across Gaul. Caesar was going to indict him, but his personal respect for Divitiacus (and the spectacular display of Divitiacus’ tears on Caesar’s hands) kept his fury at bay. Dumnorix was held under surveillance and that was that. 🤷
Caesar tried to face the Helvetians in battle, but his general fumbled and the battle never happened. So, Caesar stopped tailing the Helvetians and marched to a friendly neighboring town to get food and supplies — but the Helvetians started tailing his army and a bloody battle took place.
When the Romans threw their spears at the Gallic tribes, the soft spear heads would sink into the wooden shields. The Helvetians couldn’t rip the spears out — nor could they fight with these poles sticking out — so they were forced to fight without protection. The Romans destroyed the Helvetians and their allies within hours. Hostages were given to Rome and Caesar made the Helvetians go back to where they came from, the ancestral lands they had recently razed to the ground. 😕
Macc Reacc:
Dan Carlin had an interesting perspective on the Helvetians — he posited that they were refugees rather than war-hungry lust monsters. Caesar was basically tracking down and killing people (most of whom were not fighting warriors) who were escaping either the Germans or horrible living conditions in their tribal homes. I don’t know how much Caesar is exaggerating the Helvetian destruction of Gallic lands, but it probably wasn’t that extreme. I’m amazed by Caesar’s ingenuity and the cool, detached way he writes, but his acts of killing (coupled with pointed instances of mercy) are unsettling. He wiped out nearly 2/3 of an entire tribe and sent them packing home. He instigated warfare on tenuous claims and suspicions that he crafted into war-worthy causes. My admiration for Julius’ abilities still stands, but you also have to consider the suffering he inflicted on hundreds of thousands of people.
