Book V Section II: Attack on the Winter Camps
Conflict:
It’s #fightingseason in Gaul! The Roman legions usually settled down in Gallic towns during the winter months and rebellions were kept to a minimum (after all, who wants to fight in snow and 0 degree weather)? This winter however, the Gauls, headed by their ringleaders Ambiorix and Indutiomarus, were raising hell against the separate Roman legions spread out across the countryside.
Ambiorix attacked the garrison in Southern Gaul but later asked to “parley” with the Roman commanders in charge, Q. Titurius Sabinus and L. Aurunculeius Cotta. Ambiorix used cunning and fear tactics to get the Romans to leave camp, their belief being that Caesar was assaulted by Gauls and that a general uprising was happening across the nation. Ambiorix was lying, of course, and proceeded to cut down the Romans as they were traveling to the nearest legion (including the commanders Sabinus and Cotta).
The Gauls, fueled by their success, next surrounded the winter camp of Cicero (who was stationed in Nervii territory). Cicero didn’t take the bait though — he eventually got word to Caesar, who rescued him and his starving legion. Indutiomarus wasn’t done though; he rallied the neighboring tribes and proceeded to storm the camp of Labienus in Central Gaul. This siege also failed and when Indutiomarus had his back turned, he was pursued by the Romans and beheaded.
Characters:
- Ambiorix — rabble-rouser of the Eburone tribe, leader of the (semi) united tribes who attacked the Roman legions under Sabinus and Cotta
- Indutiomarus — chieftain of the Treveri tribe, fomenter of Anti-Roman sentiments in Gaul and commander in the fights against T. Labienus
- Q. Sabinus — Roman co-commander of the troops wintering in Eburone territory, ultimately a “failed” general because he led his troops to disaster
- L. Cotta — Roman co-commander of the troops wintering in Eburone territory, viewed as a brave, thoughtful leader who rallied men in the hour of desperation
- Cicero — Roman commander of troops stationed in Nervii territory, didn’t take the Gallic bait to leave camp (and no, not that Cicero)
- T. Pullo — non-commissioned officer of the legion wintering in the Nervii territory; had a rivalry with L. Vorenus but ended up being BFFs with him
- L. Vorenus — non-commissioned officer of the legion wintering in the Nervii territory; had a rivalry with T. Pullo but ended up being BFFs with him
- Crassus — paymaster of the Roman army who was staying in Bellovaci lands for the winter
- T. Labienus — trusty general of the Roman army who always seemed to be Caesar’s go-to man; his camp in Central Gaul was under attack from Indutiomarus, but Labienus crushed (and killed) him
- Vertico — Nervian chief who was loyal-ish to the Romans and Cicero; he assisted in communications between different Roman legions who were caught between the enemy
Quotes:
“You need not imagine that to a soldier like myself death has any special terrors.” (page 122)
“With agreement and harmony of view, it mattered nothing whether they went or stayed — either course was equally practicable; dissension, on the other hand, must extinguish even the last ray of hope.” (page 122)
“It was then the hour that proclaimed the man…on all sides, the air was rent with shouts and cries of disappointment.” (page 123)
“The seventh day of the siege was ushered in by a violent hurricane…but in all alike the hour served only to call forth the deepest springs of resolution and the loftiest embodiment of courage.” (page 129)
“…and the two men (Pullo and Vorenus), after accounting for numbers of the enemy, and covering themselves with glory, fell back unscathed to the fortifications of the camp, fighting side by side. Thus, in endeavoring to terminate their dispute upon the field of battle, each of the two rivals, by successive turns of Fortune’s wheel, was made the means of helping and rescuing the other; and the question , which of the two was the better man, had perforce to remain unsettled.” (page 131)
Words:
- enfilade — a volley of gunfire directed along a line from end to end
- hors de combat — out of action due to injury or damage
- wellnigh — “almost”
- circumvallation — surrounded by or as if by a rampart
- perforce — adverb used to express necessity or inevitability
- inveigle — persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery
- truculent — eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant
- turves — a piece of grass and the surface layer of earth underneath it, cut from the ground; plural of “turf”
- contumaciously — obstinately disobedient or rebellious; insubordinate
- cynosure — a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration
- melee — a confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle
- sapper — a soldier responsible for tasks such as building and repairing roads and bridges and laying and clearing mines; combat engineer
Summary:
What an action packed chapter! The Gauls were in full-scale rebellion, uniting their forces and common hatred of the Romans wintering on their lands. Ambiorix, the leader of the Eburone tribe, and Indutiomarus, the slighted leader of the Treveran tribe, were the main firebrands in this narrative. Uniting the tribes and organizing military strategy, Ambiorix and Indutiomarus caused irreparable damage (both physically and psychologically) to the wintering Romans.
The story starts with Ambiorix attacking the Roman legion, led by Q. Sabinus and L. Cotta, who were wintering in Eburone territory. Ambiorix sent a message to the generals, basically saying “I’m just one tiny tribe — why would I attack you unless all of Gaul was up in arms?” He fooled Sabinus into thinking the Gauls were coordinating attacks against the other Roman camps and that Caesar was done for. Sabinus wanted to leave camp immediately to join the other Roman legions nearby while L. Cotta (and most of the other generals) were hesitant and unwilling to make military moves on the word of a Gallic insurgent. However, Sabinus’ rousing speech and heated words won the day and at daybreak, the troops headed towards the nearest legion — but of course, Ambiorix was lying and setting up the Romans in a trap.
“The place they [the Gauls] had selected was a deep gorge, into which the greater part of the column had no sooner plunged than, suddenly disclosing their presence at either end, one party pressed hard upon the Roman rear, while the other strove to prevent their van from climbing clear at the opposite end.” (page 123)
It’s a trap!
So yes, Sabinus was totally wrong and he paid the price with his life. L. Cotta, “ a born leader of men and a gallant soldier,” also perished in the battle. It was a disastrous day for the Romans and the Gauls were high off plunder, slaughter and the prospect of a free society again.
Ambiorix, meanwhile, was “flushed with his first success” and headed straight for the Roman camp in the Nervii territory, which was commanded by Cicero (no, not that Cicero). Ambiorix and the Nervians raised large amounts of troops to their cause and attacked the Roman camp with “impetuous fury.” The Nervian leaders then tried the same trick on Cicero that Ambiorix played on Sabinus & Cotta, viz. “that the present armed rising extended throughout Gaul, that the Germans had crossed the Rhine, that Caesar…was at the moment under investment.” (page 128).
Cicero didn’t buy this “tissue of lies” though and stayed put, choosing a siege over exposing himself and his troops in the open country. The Nervians built siege works around the Roman camp, and it’s worth noting that “the military skill required for so considerable a work had been gathered by their increasing familiarity with Roman methods throughout the previous year.” The siege was an arduous one, and Cicero’s troops were barely hanging on when Caesar came to their aid.
“With the first streak of dawn,” Caesar struck camp and marched towards Cicero and the treacherous Gauls. To lure the Gauls towards preferable fighting ground, however, he feigned fear and ordered his troops to fall back to camp. The Gauls fell for the wily Roman trick and advanced towards the Roman camp (which was on advantageous ground) to fight. At last, Caesar gave the word to attack and the Romans streamed out from behind their walls, butchering and slaughtering the surprised Gauls. Caesar marched into Cicero’s beleaguered camp and rallied the men, commending them for their bravery and also warning against the folly displayed by Sabinus.
“In the light of subsequent success, therefore, they might view with calmness the errors of the past.” (page 135)
While Caesar was busy chastising the remaining Gallic tribes and brokering Gallic politics, Indutiomarus was in Germany “making every effort to stir up the Germans beyond the Rhine.” The Germans weren’t stupid though — they saw the humiliating defeat of Ariovistus and the Tencteri and Usipetes and weren’t keen on a third failure. Undeterred, Indutiomarus then mustered up soldiers from his fellow Gallic tribes (i.e. Senones, Carnutes, Nervii, Aduatici) and summoned an “Armed Council.” Basically, all the tribes bound themselves together and pledged loyalty during the war.
He then attempted to storm the Roman camp of Labienus — but Labienus was cold, calculating and cool as a cucumber. Like his commander dearest, Labienus “fostered the belief in his own timidity” and provoked Indutiomarus into coming closer and closer to the Roman death trap. At his word, the Roman troops rushed from the gates and cut down the bewildered Gauls. The Romans had special orders to find and murder Indutiomarus…who happened to be fording a river, defenseless, when the Romans found him. He was beheaded and his head brought back to camp…and with this utter defeat, Caesar was left to “enjoy a period of comparative tranquility throughout Gaul.” Happy Days?
Macc Reacc:
Holy Saturn, this chapter was a rollercoaster of bloodshed, deceit and Roman cold-bloodedness. This large-scale coordination of Gallic tribes was actually a real threat to the Romans, as seen in the decimation of L. Cotta and Sabinus’ troops. The Gauls weren’t mickey mouse players — they used Roman military tactics (i.e. duplicity), Roman engineering in their siege works and even adopted the disciplined mien that the Roman troops were infamous for.
This uprising (along with the later rebellion of Vercingetorix) were the last chances the Gauls had at ousting the Romans once and for all — but in the end, Caesar was too formidable. Why were the Romans, with the exception of the slaughter in the Eburone territory, so great at fighting and winning? It’s hard to tell since history is written by the victors, but it seems like the Gauls let their impatient, emotional side get the best of them. Their emotional highs and lows flipflopped wildly, and this affected their ability to fight the Roman machine.
My favorite passage was the anecdote about T. Pullo and L. Vorenus. They were rival non-commissioned officers who were always one-upping each other, clawing their way to the Roman political and military top (“…year after year a fierce competition had taken place for priority of rank…” page 130). When they were fighting side by side, however, they saved each other’s lives and settled their immature rivalry by becoming BFFs in combat. The story was a little cheesy, but it also brought Roman humanity to this conflict. The Romans were real humans, not just pawns in Caesar’s grand political game.
Overall, the Romans remind me of the tan, tall, smart, egregiously pleasant, beautiful blonde girl in high school that every female classmate hates but can never top. They’re always slightly better than their opponent in skill and cunning, despite adverse conditions and smaller fighting numbers. Winter is usually a time of beer and peace, but the Gauls tried once again to be free men and women. Caesar would die before letting that happen — Happy Saturnalia. 😈
