Book III: The Alpine Campaign, the Venetic War, and the Conquest of Aquitania explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Military Conquest and Imperialism

  Caesar's systematic subjugation of Alpine, Venetic, and Aquitanian tribes demonstrates Rome's relentless expansion and the imposition of control over strategic territories.

• Warfare and Strategy

  The chapter highlights diverse military tactics: Galba's desperate defense, the naval battle against the Veneti, Sabinus's psychological ruse, and Crassus's disciplined campaign in Aquitania.

• Betrayal and Alliance

  The Gauls' sudden renewal of war against Galba after a truce, and the shifting alliances among Aquitanian tribes, underscore the fragility of peace and the constant threat of betrayal.

Characters to notice

• Servius Galba

  Sent by Caesar to secure the Alpine passes; his legion is besieged at Octodurus but he successfully leads a breakout.

• Julius Caesar

  Sets out for Italy, dispatches Galba, and later leads the campaign against the Veneti and coordinates operations in Aquitania.

• Decimus Brutus

  Appointed over the fleet against the Veneti; commands the decisive naval battle that destroys the Venetic ships.

• Publius Crassus

  Sent into Aquitania with twelve cohorts; defeats the Sotiates and later overcomes a coalition of Aquitanian tribes.

• Quintus Titurius Sabinus

  Sent with three legions against the Unelli, Curiosolitae, and Lexovii; uses a ruse to defeat the Unelli.

• Adcantuannus

  Chief of the Sotiates who leads a sally with his 600 soldurii but is driven back and surrenders to Crassus.

Key passages

• “When Caesar was setting out for Italy, he sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry against the Nantuates, the Veragri, and Seduni...”

  As Caesar prepared to depart for Italy, he dispatched Servius Galba with the Twelfth Legion and some cavalry to subdue the Alpine tribes.

  Opening of the chapter; sets the stage for the Alpine campaign.

• “He permitted him, if he thought it necessary, to station the legion in these places, for the purpose of wintering.”

  Caesar authorized Galba to winter the legion there if needed.

  Caesar's strategic flexibility in allowing Galba to decide on winter quarters.

• “The sites of their towns were generally such that, being placed on extreme points of land and on promontories, they neither had an approach by land when the tide had rushed in from the main ocean... nor by ships, because, upon the tide ebbing again, the ships were likely to be dashed upon the shoals.”

  The Venetic towns were built on headlands and promontories, making them inaccessible by land at high tide and dangerous by ship at low tide.

  Description of the Veneti's defensive geography.

• “For their ships were built and equipped after this manner. The keels were somewhat flatter than those of our ships... the benches, which were made of planks a foot in breadth, were fastened by iron spikes of the thickness of a man’s thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables, and for sails they used skins and thin dressed leather.”

  The Venetic ships had flat keels, oak construction, iron-fastened benches, iron anchor chains, and leather sails.

  Detailed description of Venetic naval technology.

• “Adcantuannus, who held the chief command, with 600 devoted followers, whom they call soldurii... endeavouring to make a sally with these, when our soldiers had rushed together to arms... was driven back into the town, yet he obtained from Crassus the indulgence that he should enjoy the same terms of surrender as the other inhabitants.”

  Adcantuannus and his 600 soldurii attempted a breakout but were repelled; Crassus granted him the same surrender terms as the others.

  The soldurii were elite warriors bound by a suicide pact; their leader's surrender highlights Crassus's clemency.