Book VII Section III: Labienus and the Parisii
Conflict:
While Caesar was hunkering down at Gergovia and getting betrayed by the Aedui, Labienus was dealing with his own woes in the north. Labienus was attempting to attack the Parisii capital of Lutetia but the terrain was too marshy and watery to penetrate, Lutetia being an island in the Seine River. Labienus evacuated his troops farther south to Metiosedum and regrouped for another attack on Lutetia.
However, news of the Aedui defection finally reached this part of Gaul and the Bellovaci, a fierce tribe close to the Parisii, openly declared their support for the cause and were bearing down on Labienus. Labienus abandoned his plan of attacking Lutetia and instead divided up his troops and headed south to Agedincum, a Roman stronghold. Labienus and his troops massacred the Gauls that opposed them, made their way safely to Agedincum and eventually linked up with Caesar.
Characters:
- Labienus — Roman commander of four legions in the Senones and Parisii territory
- Camulogenus — an aged chieftain of the Aulerci tribe who was leading the military campaign against Labienus
Quotes:
“To the north the powerful race of the Bellovaci, universally acclaimed the bravest of Gallic peoples, hung like a thundercloud.” (page 209)
“Addressing his men, he [Labienus] urged them to be true to their great traditions, and to keep before their minds the brilliant work so far effected by the army of Gaul. Caesar himself, they should imagine, under whose banner they had so often marched to victory in the past, was that day present with them in spirit.” (page 211)
“…the leading files of the enemy went down like mown grass before the deep-cutting Roman spears…” (page 211)
Words:
- picket — a small detachment of troops or warships positioned towards the enemy to give early warning of attack
Summary:
This section was barely four pages long, but it debriefed the reader on the drama and activities of Labienus in the north. Remember, Caesar sent four legions under Labienus to harass the Parisii and Senones tribes. Labienus was marching on Lutetia, the capital of the Parisii but was met with geographical roadblocks like marshes and the Seine. He retreated back to the town of Metiosedum and built vessels to transport his army to the other side of the Seine. From there, he planned to launch another ground attack on Lutetia — until the news of Aeduan defection to the Gallic cause reached the ears of the Parisii and Bellovaci tribes.
“He [Labienus] now saw that it was no longer a question of extending his area of control, or of taking the initiative in war, but solely one of extricating himself from his predicament by a safe retreat to Agedincum.” (page 209)
Labienus divided his troops into three sections and rowed at different intervals down the Seine River towards Agedincum. A violent storm conveniently sprung up, which cleared out the Gallic pickets that were lining the River and harassing the Romans. The Parisii quickly caught up though and were hot on the Roman trail.
Labienus gave the signal and Roman troops “crashed through the opposing ranks and scattered the Gauls before it…the enemy went down like mown grass before the deep-cutting Roman spears.” Camulogenus and his soldiers expired in the fray and Labienus arrived at Agedincum, victorious. After three days rest, Labienus rejoined Caesar, “with his forces intact and his stores unharmed.”
Macc Reacc:
Thanks for checking in Labienus! There wasn’t much meat to this section, and it mostly revealed Labienus kicking Parisii butt. Reading this 2,000 years later, it’s fascinating to see what Paris was like before it was Paris. And who knew there was a Parisii tribe? Labienus, through quick thinking and classic Roman ruses, made it out of the hot Gallic water just in time to link up with Caesar.
