Caesar’s Campcraft And Siegecraft During The Gallic Wars

1. Caesar’s Campcraft And Siegecraft During The Gallic Wars Ernest Watford LATN 6030 Roman Historians June 28, 2010

2. Outline Part 1 – CastraRomana Part 2 – OppidumGallicum Part 3 – ObsideoRomana

3. CastraAestiva

4. Castra Exterior Turris Vallum Fossa • Vallum • 6-10 ft. high • strengthened with fascines • 4 ft. Breastwork on top • steps/incline inside • Fossa • 9 ft across by 7 ft deep

5. LILIA CIPPI STIMULI 5 ft

6. Cross-section of Alesia Fortifications

7. Reconstruction of Caesars’ cam p at the River Aisne in 57 BCE • march starts at dawn • scouts sent ahead • to locate & lay out • always square-ish • on a hill near wood • & water • 4 porta • after 6/8 hours march • front half, soldiers • rear half, officers • 100 ft pomerium • praetorium in center

8. Tabernaculum tents sleeping 8 Trajan’s Column Antonine Column

9. Part 2 - Gallic Oppidum

10. Construction Of A MurusGallicus 3 1 2 5 4 7 6 8 INTERNAL DIRT MOUND 5. DIRT BLOCKING THE WALL BASE FRONT FACING 6. POST HOLE INTERNAL WOOD BEAMS 7. GLACIS WALKWAY 8. DITCH

11. OPENED VIEW OF MURUS GALLICUS

12. FRONT VIEW OF MURUS GALLICUS

13. Part 3 - Caesar’s Obsideo • Surprise or Betrayal preferred • All-out assault was attempted sometimes • Siege was a last resort, but … • Rome excelled at sieges

14. Roman Siegecraft And Works TURRIS AMBULATORIA TESTUDO PLUTEUS AGGER ONAGER VINEA BALLISTA CATAPULTA

15. 40-50 ft MURUS GALLICUS 50-60 ft 8-10 ft 400-500 ft

38. TURRIS AMBULATORIA

39. ARIES

40. Vinea

42. VINEA

43. SAPPERS

44. Ballista

45. Scorpio

46. Scorpio TOP SIDE FRONT VIEW VIEWVIEW

47. Catapulta

48. Onager