This account of the “Gallic Wars” (“De Bello Gallico”) written by Julius Caesar was skillfully translated by S.A. Handford
and Jane Gardner, with a useful introduction covering the Roman politics around the time Cesar lived, the territory of Gaul and its inhabitants, the course of the war, and Cesar himself, both as a man and as an author.
The “Gallic Wars,” recounting the conquest of Gaul between 58 and 50 B.C., is divided into eight sections, or “books,” the first seven written by Cesar, and the eighth one by his friend and companion-of-arms Aulius Hirtius.
Apart from the historical interest of reading the detailed account of Cesar’s campaigns and military strategies in his usual, concise style, the book gives us a glimpse into the laws, customs, character and attack methods of the Gauls at the time of the Roman conquest. Comprised roughly of the Belgae in the North, the Aquitani located in the Pyrenees and the South of the Atlantic coast, and the Celts, whom the Romans called Gauls, they had complex relationships with each other, characterized by alliances, intrigues, rivalries, oaths of loyalty, and skirmishes. They were brave, according to Cesar, but also erratic, unruly, superstitious and quick-tempered. They were divided into three
classes, the ruling classes being the druids -- who dealt with religious matters, dispensed instruction, and acted as judges -- and the knights, who were required to fight the many wars the Gauls were always engaged in. Even before the Roman conquest, the Gauls had to fight the numerous German tribes crossing the river Rhine to try and settle in their territories.
During his campaign, Cesar’s successes were constantly put to the test with the revolts of a number of tribes, led by such men as the Eburonians Ambiorix and Catuvolcus, the Treveran Indutiomarus, the famous young Arvernian chief Vercingetorix, who
defeated Cesar in Gergovia, in 52 B.C., before he was himself defeated in Alesia that same year, and surrendered to Cesar. He was eventually put to death in Rome several years later.