Book V explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Betrayal and Alliance

  Indutiomarus betrays his son-in-law Cingetorix for siding with Caesar, while the Remi and Aedui remain loyal to Rome amidst widespread Gallic defection.

• Warfare and Strategy

  Labienus uses deception and feigned fear to lure Indutiomarus into a trap, and Caesar employs a strategic retreat to draw the enemy into a disadvantageous battle.

• Leadership and Ambition

  Indutiomarus seeks to expand his influence by raising troops, procuring horses, and courting exiles, while Caesar works to maintain control through a mix of intimidation and diplomacy.

Characters to notice

• Indutiomarus

  Leader of the Treviri who declares Cingetorix an enemy, holds an armed council, and is slain by Labienus's cavalry after daily provocations.

• Titus Labienus

  Roman lieutenant who devises a plan to kill Indutiomarus by feigning fear and launching a surprise cavalry attack, successfully ending the immediate threat.

• Cingetorix

  Son-in-law of Indutiomarus who remains loyal to Caesar and informs Labienus of Indutiomarus's plans.

• Quintus Cicero

  Roman commander whose camp was besieged by the Nervii and other Gauls; Caesar relieves him and commends his and the legion's courage.

• Julius Caesar

  Roman proconsul who relieves Cicero, addresses the soldiers about the loss of Sabinus and Cotta, and spends the winter managing Gallic unrest.

• Cavarinus

  King of the Senones appointed by Caesar; forced to flee when the Senones plot to kill him.

• Quintus Titurius Sabinus

  Mentioned as having died in a previous disaster; Caesar attributes his loss to misconduct and rashness.

• Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta

  Mentioned as having died alongside Sabinus in the earlier disaster.

Key passages

• “Labienus, since he was confining himself within a camp strongly fortified by the nature of the ground and by art, had no apprehensions as to his own and the legion's danger, but was devising that he might throw away no opportunity of conducting the war successfully.”

  Labienus, secure in his well-fortified camp, focused on seizing every chance to win the war rather than worrying about his own safety.

  Highlights Labienus's strategic mindset and confidence.

• “The issue justifies the policy of the man, and, since all aimed at one, Indutiomarus is slain, having been overtaken at the very ford of the river, and his head is carried to the camp.”

  The plan succeeded: all cavalry targeted Indutiomarus, who was caught at the river crossing, killed, and his head brought back to camp.

  Describes the successful execution of Labienus's plan to eliminate Indutiomarus.

• “Caesar, fearing to pursue them very far, because woods and morasses intervened, and also because he saw that they suffered no small loss in abandoning their position, reaches Cicero the same day with all his forces safe.”

  Caesar chose not to chase the fleeing enemy far due to forests and swamps, and instead arrived safely at Cicero's camp that same day.

  Shows Caesar's caution and priority on relieving Cicero.

• “So far did it operate among those barbarian people, that there were found some to be the first to wage war; and so great a change of inclinations did it produce in all, that except the Aedui and the Remi, whom Caesar had always held in especial honour, the one people for their long standing and uniform fidelity towards the Roman people, the other for their late service in the Gallic war, there was scarcely a state which was not suspected by us.”

  Such was the shift in sentiment that nearly every Gallic state became suspect, except the loyal Aedui and Remi.

  Illustrates the widespread unrest and Caesar's reliance on a few loyal tribes.