Essay --

Before the conquest of Gaul consulship was yet to be decided as the senate were being secured by massive bribery from Marcus Bibulous as a part of an anti- caesarean election although failed to prevent Caesars election. Caesar had than succeeded in organising an irresistible coalition of political bosses which included (Pompey and Crassus) which became the first triumvirate. The alliance was affectively sealed by Pompey marrying Caesars only child Julia. The Gallic war (58-51 BC) was the conflict in which Julius Caesar emerged as a great military leader after an earlier career as a politician. A conflict that began with an attempt to preserve stability on the borders of Roman province Transalpine Gaul soon turned into a war of conquest. Only after putting down three major Gallic revolts. Caesar described Gaul as being split into three sections â€Å"Omniun Gallo in tres partes divisa est†- Commentarri de Bello Gallico. The north east of the country was populated by the Belgae, the centre of the country was inhabited by the Celts and the area beyond the Garonne River was populated by the Aquitani. As Gaul was split up Caesar effectively able to divide and conquer. Rome’s new province was officially called Transalpine Gaul to distinguish it from Cisalpine Gaul in northern Italy. Transalpine Gaul governed separately from Cisalpine Gaul but in 59 BC the governor of Transalpine Gaul died and the province was assigned to Caesar. Cisalpine Gaul also owned by Caesar gave him a military recruiting ground which gave Caesar a springboard for the conquest beyond Romeâ₠¬â„¢s North West frontier. In 58 BC Rome’s northwest frontier, ran from the Alps down the left bank of the upper Rhone River to Pyrenees, skirting the south eastern foot of the Cevennes.... ...and gave the name for the month July. Although it was said the invasions were pre-emptive it is believed they were fought primarily to boost Caesars political career and pay of his massive debts. His achievements over the defeat of Gaul regardless still amazing as the Romans didn’t possess any great superiority in the military equipment over the north European barbarians. The Gallic Calvary was far superior to Rome but Rome’s military superiority lay in its master of strategy in tactics, discipline and military engineering. In Caesars mind his conquest of Gaul was probably carried out as a means to his ultimate end. He was acquiring the military manpower; the plunder and the prestige that he needed to secure a freehand for the prosecution of the task of reorganizing the roman state and the rest of the Greco- Roman world. â€Å"I came, I saw, I conquered†- Julius Caesar.