Synopsis of Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars

     The three major parts to the Gallic wars is the campaign  against the Helvetii, The war against the Suebi, and the Punitive expeditions. In 61 B.C. the Helvetii were planning a mass migration, because their lands were being encroached by their northern neighbors. As they moved south their leader made many alliances with other barbaric factions. Orgetorix their leader had summoned up a size able force of 10,000 men. Orgetorix was later slain in a dispute in his own encampment. They departed for the long planed for migration on the 28th of march. When caesar heard of this he quickly went to oppose them, and meet them at the Rhone river bridge. The Helvetii sent over an emissary promiseing they would do no harm. Caesar used this to stall so that his men could build up fortifications. When they finished Caesar refused their requests and told them that any forceful atempt to cross would be opposed. Caesar Quickly left for Gaul and took command of three legions and enlisted two more. He used the quickest route to get there. When he arrived he surprised the Helvetii and defeated one quarter that hadn't crossed the river. The Halvetii disrupted the romans supplies and turned the table. The romans chose a hill near the town of Bibracte to make their stand. Romans eventually won and sent them back to their homes as a buffer to prevent the Germanic tribes from heading down south.
     After that their was a conflict between the Audui and the Arvern. there were Germanic mercenaries that had been hired, but they turned on their employers. They had gotten heavily reinforced and the situation was getting out of control . So Caesar intervened and beat them at the battle of Vosges. In 57 B.C. Caesar intervened again with Gallic affairs and came close to defeat from a surprise attack at the battle of the Sabis.
     In 56 B.C. a sea fairing people had built a fleat which required the Romans to build galleys. Caesar again defeated the tribes. In 55 B.C Caesar took his men on a Punitive Expeditions. F irst he went against the Germans, but never engaged in battle. The a similar onee was mounted against the Britons. When He arrived the meat an unexpected sight of massed Chariots. He would leave and come back in 54 B.C. with a much larger force. He successfully defeated them making them pay tribute to Rome.