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The Roman Army: Supremacy and Organization Caesar’s Campaign in Gaul

Oughton 2011. The Roman Army: Supremacy and Organization Caesar’s Campaign in Gaul. Life of Caesar. Born 100BCE Julian family Aunt married to Marius Military service in Asia Minor Civic crown for saving life of fellow citizen Office Quaestor – 68 Aedile- 65 Praetor- 62.

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The Roman Army: Supremacy and Organization Caesar’s Campaign in Gaul

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  1. Oughton 2011 The Roman Army:Supremacy and OrganizationCaesar’s Campaign in Gaul

  2. Life of Caesar • Born 100BCE • Julian family • Aunt married to Marius • Military service in Asia Minor • Civic crown for saving life of fellow citizen • Office • Quaestor – 68 • Aedile- 65 • Praetor- 62

  3. Reasons for Conquest • Security • Protection of ‘provincia’ • Checking the advance of the Germans • Promotion for Caesar

  4. Caesar • First triumvirate- 59 • Pompey- land reform for veterans in the East • Crassus- tax benefits for equestrian interests • Caesar – consulship in 59, governor of Gaul • Caesar goes to Gaul- 58

  5. Caesar’s Campaign in Gaul • The Great Revolt • Phase V (52): Gallic revolt unified under Vercingetorix, various conflicts which set the stage for the Siege of Alesia!!! (Caesar’s greatest moment) • Closing Exchanges • Phase VI (51-50): Mopping up remaining tribes and setting up the oncoming conflict with the Senate

  6. Rome and the Gauls • Rome and the Gallic tribes had fought one another since ca. 4th cent. BCE • Gallic sack of Rome in 390 BCE • By the late 3rd cent., Rome had subdued and organized the province of Cisalpine Gaul • Centered in and around the Po Valley (No. Italy), leading to the establishment of Roman colonies there and further conflict in this area • Rome expands into Transalpine Gaul to connect Italy with Spain via land route in late 2nd cent.

  7. Caesar’s Campaign in Gaul • Migration of the Helvetii against the Aedui forces Caesar to defend the Roman allies • Phase I (58): Campaigns against Orgetorix and Ariovistus • Caesar turns against Belgae • Phase II (57-56): Defeat of Belgae, Lts. attack maritime tribes in the West • Crossings and Revolts • Phase III (55): Crossing the Rhine and the Channel, interrupted by small revolt • Phase IV (54): Second Invasion of Britain and Belgic Revolt, mop up of smaller revolts (53)

  8. Caesar’s Campaign in Gaul (simplified) 55 B.C. 57 B.C. 57 B.C.

  9. Commentarii de bello gallico • Written 52-51BC • Political purpose

  10. The Gauls • Came from East of the Rhine • 390 took Rome and burned it • 123-118BC- Rome conquers part of Gaul (transalpine) calls it Provincia • 113-102- invasion of a group of Gauls called Cimbri/Teutones; Marius beats them • Factions in Gaul • Many small, independent states • Loose confederations • No strong governments

  11. Italian “Hoplite” Phalanx • Citizen farmer-soldier • Short campaign season • Greek-Influenced Tactics employed on flat terrain • Group cooperation over Individual Exploits, but Timocratic organization • Military service compulsory on all male citizens of age

  12. Early Roman Republican Military Organization • Based upon the economic “classes” which were established by property ownership • Equites, 5 “infantry” classes, proletarii • Each class subdivided into “centuries” • Early Republican Hoplite Army: Equites as cavalry; 1st 2 Classes as heavy “hoplite” infantry; 3rd/4th Classes lighter infantry; 5th Class as skirmishers/ supernumeraries; proletarii in support roles

  13. Roman Military Supremacy • Determination • Ex: Siege of Veii (ca 405-396 BC) • Reserves of Manpower • Based on conquest and successful organization of Italian peninsula • Nearly continuous wars between 6th and 3rd Centuries BC • Crushing defeats at Lake Trasimene (25K dead) and Cannae (50K) and they raise still another army • Inventiveness and Adaptability

  14. corvus

  15. Expanding Horizons

  16. Expanding Horizons (again)

  17. Conflict in the East • Contact with the Hellenistic Kingdoms in the East forces Rome to restructure and adapt its Military system yet again • Long term conflicts abroad complicate and call into question the “soldier-farmer” ideal • Gradual movement away from structure based on economic classes, leads to the eventual removal of property qualifications

  18. “Marian” Reforms • These changes are traditionally credited to Gaius Marius, but they were more likely a prolonged series of slight alterations • Property qualifications removed so all citizens could enlist -> leads to volunteer army, not the general conscription of the past • Stipendium regularized and equipment provided to all enlistees

  19. “Marian” Reforms • Regularized Equipment: • All infantry classes carry two pila (redesigned), a gladius, and a scutum slightly more oval in shape • They usually wore mail armor and a semi-spherical bronze helmet • New training emphasized the use of the gladius

  20. Marian Cohort-Based Legion

  21. Legionary • Tunic • Trousers • Sandals • Heavy cloak • Helmet- galea • Coat- lorica • Shield- scutum • Javelin- pilum • Sword- gladius

  22. Organization • century [centum, hundred] = 80 men • 2 centuries = 1 maniple = 160 men • 3 maniples = 1 cohort = 480 men • 10 cohorts = 1 legion = 4800 men

  23. Officers • Legatus- deputies, assistants • Caesar introduced putting one legate in charge of every legion during the battle • Quaestor- financial officer • Praefectus fabrum- chief engineer • Tribunus- each legion had six; some good military officers, others rich youth • Centurio- commanded centuries; 60 in each legion; fought in the ranks; must be brave

  24. Other people • Aquilifer- carried the eagle; carried by first centurion of first cohort • Signifer- standard carrier; gathering point • Tubicen- trumpet player • Baggage train (impedimenta) • Auxilia- infantry; not roman; funditores (slingers); sagitarii (archers) • Cavalry- no Roman cavalry but did employ Gauls

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