Beneath the perpetually gray winter skies, the town of Vesontio nestled on the banks of the Dubis River. To the south, the Jura Mountains emerged from the mist and rain, revealing the majestic Alps beyond and the closest Roman province, Gallia Cisalpina. The year was 57 BC, and within Vesontio and the surrounding villages of east-central Gaul, the legions of Gaius Julius Caesar were stationed.
In the preceding year, Caesar, Proconsul of Gallia Cisalpina and Illyricum (located on the Balkan Peninsula), had come to the aid of local Gallic tribes suffering under the rule of German Prince Ariovistus and the incursions of the Helvetii from Switzerland. Caesar had successfully defeated both threats, establishing Roman dominance in the region. To many Gauls, Caesar seemed an invincible savior, but the Belgae saw him as an interloper.
The Unyielding Belgae
The Belgae, one of Gaul’s three large tribal groups, lived in the northeast along the North Sea coast and west of the Rhine. This group comprised German tribes that had overrun the older Celtic population but had adopted many aspects of Celtic culture. Distanced from Rome’s borders, the Belgae maintained their ancient monarchies and rural lifestyles, unlike the more urbanized Gallic tribes near Roman provinces. The Belgae prided themselves on having repelled the powerful Germanic Cimbri and Teutones from their lands half a century earlier. Their tribes also extended influence over southeastern Britain. Perpetually at war with their Germanic neighbors to the east, their bravery was legendary, earning even Caesar’s respect as he deemed them the bravest of all Gauls.
The Belgae distrusted Caesar’s intentions in their region, believing Rome would not stop until it conquered all of Gaul—a suspicion that proved accurate. In response, the Belgae held councils, exchanged hostages, and prepared for war.
Rumors of these activities reached Legate Titus Labienus, Caesar’s most capable general in Vesontio. Labienus informed Caesar, who was attending to his duties as Proconsul in Gallia Cisalpina. Caesar, ever the opportunist, saw this as a chance to further his conquests and bolster his political standing in Rome. The Belgae’s defiance provided a perfect pretext for war, allowing Caesar to secure Gaul’s border with Germania before turning his attention to the remaining tribes.
Caesar’s Military Preparations
For the upcoming campaign, Caesar enlisted two additional legions in Gallia Cisalpina: the Thirteenth and Fourteenth. In the spring, these legions joined his other six legions in Vesontio. Caesar arrived later, just as the fresh grass began to grow, providing forage for his army.
The arrival of Caesar was undoubtedly welcomed by his troops. At 43 years old, tall, gaunt, and physically fit, Caesar was a charismatic leader. He referred to his men as “comrades” rather than “soldiers” and had proven himself a shrewd and courageous commander. His army’s loyalty was pledged directly to him, not the state, making him the focal point for their pay, rewards, and provisions after their service.
Caesar’s army was formidable, with eight legions each comprising over 4,000 men, supported by auxiliary Numidian light infantry, Cretan archers, and Balearic slingers, totaling around 40,000 combatants. His cavalry, numbering 4,000, mainly consisted of allied Gauls who had dispersed for the winter but now rejoined the Romans. Additionally, smaller permanent detachments of Gallic, Spanish, and “bodyguard” German cavalry accompanied the main force. Following the soldiers were thousands of camp attendants.
From Vesontio, Caesar instructed allied Gallic tribes along the Belgic border to keep him informed about the Belgae. When reports confirmed the Belgae’s war preparations, Caesar secured his wheat supply and marched his army toward the Matrona River (the Marne). Arriving at the Belgae frontier within a fortnight, he was ready to confront the enemy.
Initial Encounters and Preparations
At first, the Belgae’s reputation for bravery seemed exaggerated. Caesar’s swift advance caught the nearest tribe, the Remi, off guard. They quickly surrendered, pleading for peace and offering hostages, grain, and open towns to the Romans. They informed Caesar that the rest of the Belgae, led by King Galba and including the Suessiones, the powerful Nervi, Bellovaci, and German mercenaries, were ready for war.
The exact number of Belgic troops is uncertain. Unlike other barbarian armies burdened by families and belongings, the Belgae were fighting on home ground, allowing them to muster a large force. Caesar claimed they promised 306,000 warriors, likely an exaggeration, but Galba’s army might have been over 75,000 strong, twice Caesar’s numbers.
Understanding the risk of an open battle, Caesar convinced Diviciacus, the pro-Roman chief of the Aedui, to attack the Bellovaci from the west, hoping to split the Belgic forces. However, Diviciacus needed time to mobilize. Meanwhile, Caesar faced Galba’s approaching army alone.
Caesar crossed the Axona River (the Aisne) and established a fortified camp on a hill near the river, with a secondary redoubt on the south bank to protect the bridge. Galba, meanwhile, laid siege to Bibrax, a town of the Remi. Caesar sent auxiliary troops to reinforce the town’s defenders. Angered, the Belgae burned Remi villages and farms as they marched to confront Caesar, setting up camp less than two miles from the Roman position. The Belgae’s campfires stretched for over eight miles, a stark reminder of the imminent clash.
Caesar Fortifies His Position
With the Belgae’s overwhelming numbers, Caesar strategically avoided a direct confrontation. Instead, he deployed his cavalry to keep the enemy occupied. Similarly, Galba, reluctant to engage directly, sent his cavalry for skirmishes across the swamp.
During this period of maneuvering, Caesar focused on fortifying his camp. He constructed two parallel lines of trenches along the left and right flanks of the main camp, each trench extending 650 yards and capped with fortified artillery positions. These fortifications were equipped with Roman artillery, including the javelin-throwing catapulta, the stone-shooting ballista, and the formidable boulder-launching onager.
Once the defenses were in place, Caesar stationed the newly enrolled Thirteenth and Fourteenth legions at the main camp. He then positioned his remaining six legions along the swampy banks of La Miette, provoking the Belgae to assemble for battle.
The Belgae warriors were a varied group, their arms and armor reflecting both Celtic and Germanic influences. Their shields, often oblong or hexagonal, were vividly decorated with animal and geometric designs. While some warriors had iron helmets and mail corselets, many relied solely on their shields for protection. Their arsenal included spears, long swords, javelins, and possibly bows and slings.
Cavalry from both sides engaged in fierce but inconclusive skirmishes across the swamp, with the Romans generally gaining the upper hand. Caesar likely hoped the presence of his legions would tempt the Belgae into a full-scale attack. However, Galba hesitated to commit his forces, unwilling to cross the swamp and face the Roman legions directly. With no significant engagement by day’s end, Caesar withdrew his troops back to camp.
The Belgae’s Nighttime Maneuver
That night, the Belgae devised a clever plan. They stealthily crossed the swamp, bypassed the Roman fortifications, and aimed to attack the redoubt on the south bank of the Axona. Their goal was to destroy the bridge, cutting off Caesar’s supply line and crippling his connection to allied tribes.
Sabinus, ever vigilant, spotted the Belgae fording the Axona and swiftly alerted Caesar. Caesar mobilized his Numidian infantry, slingers, archers, and cavalry to intercept the Belgae. Despite being outnumbered, the Roman forces unleashed a barrage of stones and arrows, decimating the Belgae as they waded through the river. The survivors who reached the far bank were cut down by Roman cavalry.
The failed attack left the Belgae in a dire situation. Their grain reserves were dwindling, and their disorganized supply lines were inadequate. Hearing of Diviciacus’s approach, the Belgic tribes decided to return to their lands, promising to aid any tribe attacked by the Romans—a promise more for appearance than practical support.
Before midnight, the Belgae retreated in disarray. Caesar, initially skeptical of the reports, confirmed the retreat at dawn. He then sent his cavalry, followed by Labienus and three legions, to harass the retreating Belgae. The pursuit was relentless, with the Romans annihilating isolated groups of warriors.
The campaign quickly shifted to a triumphant march for Caesar. At Noviodunum, the Suessiones, intimidated by Roman siege engines, surrendered and offered King Galba’s sons as hostages. In the Bellovaci territory, the town elders submitted before Caesar reached Bratuspantium. Women and children lined the walls, pleading for peace, supported by Diviciacus. Caesar confiscated their weapons and took 600 hostages to ensure compliance. The Ambiani surrendered unconditionally.
The Resolute Nervii
However, in Nervii territory, resistance remained strong. Fiercely independent, the Nervii rejected southern civilization and trade, even forbidding wine to maintain their courage. Disgusted by the Belgae’s capitulation, the Nervii, along with the Atrebates, Viromandui, and the Aduactuci, prepared to confront the Romans.
Belgae hostages informed the Nervii of the Roman army’s vulnerability during the march, when legions were strung out and separated by baggage trains. Though the Nervii lacked cavalry, they excelled in ambush tactics, hiding within woods and thickets.
For three days, Caesar advanced into Nervii territory, learning from prisoners that the Nervii awaited him near the Sabis River. Adopting a cautious approach, he restructured his marching order, placing six legions in “field order” and the baggage in the rear, guarded by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth legions. Reconnaissance units scouted for a suitable campsite on the north side of the Sabis.
The Sabis, a shallow but broad river, was flanked by slopes with sparse trees on the north and dense woodlands on the south. Caesar unleashed his cavalry and missile troops across the stream, driving the Belgae horsemen into the woods. Though the Roman cavalry did not pursue deeply into the forest, they successfully repelled repeated Belgae charges, holding their ground with a barrage of missile fire.
As Caesar’s legions prepared for a decisive encounter, the stage was set for a significant clash with the determined Nervii, eager to defend their homeland against the advancing Roman forces.
A Human Avalanche of Unstoppable Fury
Caesar, confident in his cavalry, slingers, and archers to protect his legions, led his troops down the valley, focusing on setting up camp. The Belgae cavalry’s presence should have warned him of the entire Nervii coalition lurking nearby, but Caesar underestimated the threat, believing his cavalry sufficient for covering his toiling soldiers. Hidden beneath the emerald foliage of the woods on the far bank, some 30,000 Nervii, Atrebates, and Viromandui watched the oblivious Romans with anticipation.
As soon as the Roman baggage train crested the hillside, the entire Belgae army surged from the woods. The Nervii took the left wing, the Atrebates the right, and the Viromandui the center. They charged down the hillside like an unstoppable avalanche. The Roman cavalry and light troops were overwhelmed and scattered, barely slowing the enemy’s advance. Caesar noted, “Almost at the same moment they were seen at the woods, in the river, and then at close quarters!” The three-foot-deep river posed little obstacle to the barbarians, who swiftly reached the Romans.
The Romans Rally
The sudden barbarian ambush would have doomed most armies, but Caesar’s legions, at their prime and under his expert command, responded with remarkable resilience. The red battle flag, the vexillum, was raised, and the drone of trumpets echoed through the air. Soldiers dropped their tools and rushed to their positions. Caesar had wisely ordered his generals to stay with their troops, allowing for quick assembly. Legionaries, half-armed, grabbed their nearest standards, regardless of their unit.
Caesar was everywhere, first with the Tenth Legion, then the others, shouting orders and inspiring his men. With no time for regular formations, clumps of legionaries formed a rough line against the barbarian onslaught.
The Ninth and Tenth legions, led by Legate Titus Labienus, formed the Roman left wing. As the Atrebates warriors closed in, the optiones (centurions’ aides) struck unruly legionaries with their staves to maintain order. At 30 yards, the Roman cornu horn signaled the legionaries to unleash a deadly volley of javelins. The pila, with their weight concentrated behind a small point, pierced the barbarian shields and the men behind them. The Atrebates’ momentum broke. The legionaries drew their swords and countercharged, pushing the Atrebates back into the river, where the water turned crimson with blood. The Romans pursued them up the far bank, routing them.
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The Battle in the Center
In the center, the Eleventh and Eighth legions repelled the Viromandui and drove them to the riverbank. This created a gap between the Eighth and Twelfth legions. The Nervii, led by Boduognatus, exploited this, pouring through the gap toward the Roman camp and baggage. Other Nervii warriors flanked the Twelfth and Seventh legions. The remnants of the Roman cavalry and auxiliary light troops fled in panic, spreading fear among the camp followers, who scattered in all directions. The auxiliary Treveri cavalry did not stop fleeing until they reached their homeland, declaring the Romans defeated.
The Twelfth Legion huddled around their standards, attacked from front and flanks. Jammed together, they struggled to fend off the Nervii. Protected by their curved, oval shields and armor, they were still vulnerable to the yard-long swords of the tall Belgae warriors. Many centurions lay slain, including the chief centurion Publius Sextius Baculus, who could no longer stand.
Caesar, snatching a shield from a soldier in the rear, pushed through to the front lines, rallying the centurions and encouraging the troops. His presence spread through the ranks, reinvigorating the men. He called for the lines to advance slightly, providing more space, and ordered the tribunes to close the gap between the Twelfth and Seventh legions. Slowly, the legions formed a square, with their rear and flanks protected. Caesar then called for the front lines to charge, stabilizing the defense and setting the stage for a counterattack.
Roman Cavalry Redeems Itself
Just as the Thirteenth and Fourteenth legions of the Roman rear guard appeared over the crest of the hill, Titius Labienus, leading the victorious Tenth and presumably the Ninth Legion, observed the fierce battle on the Roman right wing from the captured Belgae camp. Quickly, he ordered the Tenth Legion to aid their commander in chief.
With remarkable speed, the Tenth Legion descended the hillside, crossed the river, and bolstered the faltering Romans. Even the wounded Roman soldiers rose to rejoin the battle, while the Roman cavalry, eager to atone for their earlier cowardice, rode down enemy stragglers.
Caesar’s account of the battle becomes muddled at this point, but it is evident that the Romans managed to surround the Nervii. Caesar, with the Twelfth and Seventh legions, attacked the Nervii’s left flank. The newly arrived Thirteenth and Fourteenth legions engaged them from the front, while the Eleventh and Eighth legions, positioned on the river’s bank, threatened the Nervii’s right flank. Most devastating of all, the Tenth Legion charged directly into the Nervii’s rear.
Unmatched Valor and Defeat
Outnumbered and surrounded, with their allies either slain or routed, the Nervii displayed unparalleled courage. When the front ranks fell, others took their place, fighting atop the bodies of their fallen comrades. Warriors stood defiantly on mounds of corpses, hurling spears and missiles back at the Romans. Yet, their desperate fury could not stave off defeat. Caesar recorded, “The battle brought the name and nation of the Nervii almost to utter destruction.” When the fighting ceased, only 500 Nervii survived.
Following the battle, Nervii elders, women, and children, who had sought refuge in nearby marshlands, surrendered to Caesar. Proving merciful, Caesar allowed the Nervii to retain their lands and settlements and commanded neighboring tribes not to wage war on them.
The Aduatuci’s Last Stand
The battle of the Sabis marked the climax, but not the end, of the Belgae campaign of 57 BC. The Aduatuci, learning of the Nervii’s disaster, retreated to their homelands, fortifying a stronghold either at Namur or Mont Falhize. This fortress, with steep cliffs on all sides but one, boasted a lofty double wall and sharp stakes lining the parapet.
Caesar surrounded the Aduatuci stronghold with five miles of 12-foot-high earthworks. As the Romans constructed a siege tower, the Aduatuci mocked their efforts, believing the Romans too small to move such a mighty tower. However, as the tower advanced toward their walls, the Aduatuci surrendered, delivering their weapons in exchange for Roman “protection.”
Underestimating the Aduatuci, Caesar forbade his troops from looting the town, unaware of a hidden stockpile of weapons. The Aduatuci launched a surprise night assault, hoping to catch the Romans off guard. Yet, the Roman ramparts and towers held firm, resulting in 4,000 Aduatuci casualties. The next morning, the Roman battering ram breached the gate, leading to the town’s looting and the populace’s enslavement.
Caesar’s Rising Star
With the Belgae campaign concluded, Caesar’s fame soared. He had defeated the Helvetii, the Suebi, and the Belgae—Gaul’s most formidable warrior nations. As Caesar’s forces went into winter quarters, the Twelfth Legion and a cavalry detachment secured a trade route through the Alps against local hill tribes. Afterward, Caesar departed for Illyricum, his mind brimming with thoughts of invading Britain.
In Rome, Caesar’s victories sparked unprecedented jubilation, despite the ire of his political enemies. Merchants boasted of 53,000 Aduatuci slaves sold at auction. Caesar’s partner in the Triumvirate, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, sponsored a 15-day thanksgiving, five days longer than his own and three times the usual duration. The Senate granted Caesar additional funds and extended his command in Gaul for another five years.
Despite his triumphs, storm clouds gathered. The Triumvirate, though momentarily stable, would soon unravel, leading to Rome’s most famed civil war. In Gaul, conquered tribes stirred with revolt, while across the Rhine, Germanic tribes prepared to seize their chance. Although Caesar considered Gaul pacified at the end of 57 BC, the war was far from over.
