Commentarii de Bello Gallico Commentarii de Bello Gallico ( ) is Julius Caesar ' s firsthand account of the Gallic Wars , written as a third - person narrative . In it Caesar describes the battles and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting local armies in Gaul that opposed Roman domination . The " Gaul " that Caesar refers to is sometimes all of Gaul except for the Roman province of " Gallia Narbonensis " ( modern day Provence ) , encompassing the rest of modern France , Belgium and some of Switzerland . On other occasions , he refers only to that territory inhabited by the Celtic peoples known to the Romans as Gauls , from the English Channel to Lugdunum ( Lyon ) . The work has been a mainstay in Latin instruction because of its simple , direct prose . It begins with the frequently quoted phrase " " Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres " " , sometimes quoted as " " Omnia Gallia in tres partes divisa est " " , meaning " All of Gaul is divided into three parts " . The full work is split into eight sections , Book 1 to Book 8 , each varying in size from approximately 5 , 000 to 15 , 000 words . Book 8 was written by Aulus Hirtius , after Caesar ' s death . Title . The Latin title , literally " Commentaries about the Gallic War " , is often retained in English translations of the book , and the title is also translated to " About the Gallic War " , " Of the Gallic War " , " On the Gallic War " , " The Conquest of Gaul " , and " The Gallic War " . Contents . " De Bello Gallico " consists of eight books : seven written by Caesar himself , and the eighth book added later by Aulus Hirtius , one of Caesar ' s generals . Book I . Caesar describes a conflict with the Gallic tribe known as the Helvetii . The wealthiest man of the Helvetii , Orgetorix , convinced his countrymen that they should leave their homeland ( modern day Switzerland ) because they are too constricted by the surrounding rivers and mountains ( the Jura Mountains , the Rhône and Lake Geneva , and the Rhine ) . They concoct a plan to burn their homes and then make a mass exodus out of their homeland . When Caesar learns of their plan to cross over a Roman province , a conflict arises , pitting the Romans against the Helvetii . The Helvetii are defeated by the Romans , and return to Helvetia , their numbers greatly reduced . Later , more problems arise surrounding a tribal conflict in Gaul . The Aedui ( allies of Rome ) are engaged in a power struggle with two other tribes called the Arverni and the Sequani . The Arverni and Sequani decide to get help in their struggle from Germanic mercenaries from across the Rhine , led by a king named Ariovistus . At first the plan works because the Germanic mercenaries help the Arverni and Sequani to oppress their enemy , the Aedui . But , the plan backfires as Ariovistus begins a violent takeover of the territory of the Arverni and Sequani , exercising a cruel tyranny over them . Caesar then takes military action against Ariovistus , both because the Aedui are allies of Rome , and because he wants to stop the flow of Germanics from across the Rhine into Gaul , which neighbors upon Rome . Caesar moves his troops to Vesontio ( modern Besançon ) , the capital city of the Sequani . Ariovistus and Caesar conduct many negotiations , including an unusual face - to - face conference . Two days later , when Ariovistus requests to speak with Caesar again , Caesar instead sends C . Valerius Procillus who is ambushed and taken captive by Ariovistus . When battle between the Germanics and the Romans finally commences , there is fierce hand - to - hand combat . The Romans defeat Ariovistus , and Caesar is overjoyed to find and rescue C . Valerius Procillus , the envoy who had earlier been captured by Ariovistus . Book II . The Belgae , fearing the expansion of Roman military power in Gaul , begin to form a huge army to fight the Romans . The Remi , one of the Belgic tribes , breaks away from the Belgic conspiracy and offers its help to the Romans . This help from the Remi proves useful , as well as help from the Aedui ( allies of Rome ) in the form of cavalrymen . The military conflict that follows culminates in a huge battle with the toughest of all the Belgae , the Nervii . After bloody fighting , the Romans are victorious . Book III . Some Roman troops under Servius Galba are wintering peacefully in the Alps between Italy and Gaul . Suddenly , the occupied tribes strike at the vulnerable Romans , posing a grave threat . But the Romans fight back , defeating the tribesmen . Later , the Veneti , a seafaring tribe on the western coast of Gaul , begin a rebellion against Rome . Breaking an important tradition , the Veneti capture and imprison the Roman envoys sent to them . This infuriates Caesar . The Veneti , because of their great experience as sailors , exercise great advantage over the Romans in naval battle . But the Romans eventually adapt and defeat the Veneti . Caesar , wishing to make an example of the Veneti for violating the customs of diplomacy by imprisoning the envoys , executes their chief nobles and sells the rest of them into slavery . Book IV . The Suebi , an enormous Germanic tribe , have a reputation for physical toughness and military prowess . Two other smaller tribes , the German Usipetes and Tencteri , are tired of being oppressed by the Suebi so they decide to go west , crossing the Rhine and moving into the territory of the Belgae ( more specifically the Menapii ) . Caesar quickly arrives with Roman troops . The Suebi try repeatedly to bargain with Caesar but to no avail . After settling on a temporary truce , the Germans unexpectedly attack the Romans , causing casualties . Caesar considers this to be an act of treachery , and decides to break off any further negotiations with the Germans . The next day , the Germans send a large number of their leaders and elders to negotiate with Caesar . Caesar , expecting further treachery , takes these Germans prisoner . He attacks and defeats the remaining Germans who are disadvantaged by the absence of their leadership . As a show of force , Caesar constructs a sturdy wooden bridge across the Rhine and crosses into Germania , alarming the Germans . Later , Caesar makes arrangements for an assault on Britain . Although the Roman infantry successfully cross the English channel , the cavalry fail to cross , putting the Romans at a disadvantage . After being routed by the Romans , the Britons agree to submit to Caesar and disperse back into the countryside . But after a storm damages the Romans ' ships and leaves them stranded in Britain without adequate supplies , the Britons decide to attack the Romans in their vulnerable state . The Britons initially catch the Romans off guard , but the Romans regroup and rout the Britons . When the Roman troops begin to cross back over to the continent , they are attacked by the Morini , who are then defeated by the Romans . Book V . Caesar commands that as many boats as possible be prepared during the winter for a campaign against Britain in the Spring . He orders all boats to assemble at Portus Itius ( near modern day Boulogne - sur - Mer ) . Caesar ’ s attention is momentarily diverted to Gallia Belgica as Indutiomarus and Cingetorix struggle for power over the Treveri . Back at Port Itius , Caesar prepares to take many Gallic hostages with him to his British campaign so as to prevent revolts while he is gone . Among them is Dumnorix , a rebellious noble of the Aedui . Dumnorix violently opposes being taken over to Britain , and flees back to his homeland . Caesar stops all preparations while Dumnorix is hunted down and slain . The Romans sail to Britain to begin their campaign . There are some skirmishes between the Romans and the Britons , and a storm destroys many of the Roman boats . The British tribes , although previously at war with one another , band together to face the Roman threat with Cassivellaunus as their commander in chief . Caesar discovers the stronghold of Cassivellaunus near the Thames river and routs the Britons there . The Trinovantes , a powerful tribe , offer to become Rome ' s allies , and several other British tribes follow suit . From these tribes Caesar learns the location of Cassivellaunus and successfully attacks him there . Cassivellaunus orders the tribes in Kent to attack the British ships , but they are defeated . Cassivellaunus surrenders to Caesar , enabling Caesar to quickly return to the continent before Winter arrives . Because a drought has affected the grain supply , Caesar ' s troops must winter among the rebellious Belgic tribes . Roman troops , led by Q . Titurius Sabinus and L . Aurunculeius Cotta are wintering among the Eburones when they are attacked by the Eburones , led by Ambiorix and Cativolcus . Ambiorix deceives the Romans by saying that the attack was made without his consent , and furthermore advises them to flee because a huge Germanic army is coming from across the Rhine . After much discussion and disagreement , the Romans decide to trust Ambiorix and leave the next morning . As the Romans are marching away the next morning , the Eburones ambush them , killing most of the Romans . A few Roman survivors make it back to their winter quarters where they commit suicide that night . Other Roman troops are wintering among the Nervii under Quintus Tullius Cicero ( brother of the famous orator ) . Ambiorix convinces the other Belgic tribes to immediately attack Cicero ' s camp . Cicero ' s troops are trapped , outnumbered , and blocked from help as their messengers are intercepted . The situation gets progressively more desperate for the Romans , but finally they are able to get a message to Caesar . Caesar summons the other Roman legions and rushes to Cicero ' s aid . When Caesar approaches Cicero ’ s camp , the Belgae abandon their siege of Cicero ' s camp and head toward Caesar ’ s troops . Caesar , vastly outnumbered , creates a ruse , ordering his troops to appear confused and frightened . The ruse works and entices the Belgae to attack on ground favorable to the Romans . Caesar ' s troops counterattack and put the Belgae to flight . That same day Caesar ’ s troops reach Cicero ' s camp finding most of the men wounded . Meanwhile , Indutiomarus , a leader of the Treveri , begins to harass the camp of Labienus daily , until Labienus sends out cavalry for the express purpose of killing Indutiomarus . After killing Indutiomarus , the Roman cavalry routs the rest of Indutiomarus ' army . Caesar personally stays in Gaul all winter due to the risk of unrest among the Gallic tribes . Book VI . Caesar enlists a large number of new troops to replace the ones lost the previous year when the forces of Q . Titurius Sabinus and L . Aurunculeius Cotta were slain by the forces of Ambiorix . Meanwhile , the Treveri , angry over the death of Indutiomarus , fervently try to arouse the Belgic and Germanic peoples around them to fight the Romans . In response to this , Caesar lays waste to the territory of the Nervii , neighbors of the Treveri . Caesar holds a council of Gaul , but the Senones , Carnutes , and Treveri do not send representatives . Caesar quickly marches to the territory of the Senones . Acco , their leader , is forced to ask for pardon and give hostages to Caesar as collateral . This arrangement is acceptable to Caesar because he does not wish to pursue war with the Senones . Instead , he turns his attention to the Treveri and Ambiorix . Caesar lays waste to the territory of the Menapii , and they sue for peace . After warning them not to help Ambiorix , he heads toward the Treveri . The Treveri prepare to attack the camp of Labienus . Labienus , wishing to tempt the Treveri to attack in a situation favorable to the Romans , orders his men to break camp as though they are retreating . The ruse works , and the Treveri are drawn into battle and routed by the Romans . Caesar decides to cross the Rhine again so that Ambiorix might not be able to receive help or quarter there . At this point in his commentary , Caesar gives a thorough description of Germanic culture , customs , and animals . After crossing the Rhine back into Gaul , Caesar sends troops ahead of him to surprise Ambiorix , but Ambiorix escapes . Ambiorix warns all the Eburones to flee to safety . Cativolcus , the aged king of one half of the Eburones curses Ambiorix and commits suicide because he wishes neither to engage in war nor flee from his home . Caesar establishes fortifications in several places within the territory of the Eburones . Engaging the Eburones is difficult because the terrain of the area provides the Eburones with numerous opportunities to hide from the Romans . Caesar invites neighboring tribes to pillage and plunder the Eburones . The Sigambri , a Germanic tribe , come and take a large amount of cattle . Learning that all the Roman supplies and equipment are stored at Atuatuca , the Sigambri head there to try to capture it . Cicero , in charge of Atuatuca , is not supposed to let anybody out of the camp for the sake of security . But on the seventh day , thinking that it would not be dangerous , Cicero allows some troops to exit the camp to forage for food . At that very moment , the Sigambri arrive , throwing the Roman camp into a panic . Hampered by fear and surprise , the Romans suffer losses but eventually mount a defense . The Sigambri retreat , and Caesar arrives , complaining that the troops had not been kept within the camp , as he had ordered . Caesar marches out again , gathering a large number of auxiliaries . They exert much effort to find Ambiorix , but he evades their grasp . After devastating the territory of the Eburones , Caesar holds a council of Gaul in which he investigates the rebellion of the Senones and Carnutes mentioned at the beginning of book six . Acco , the leader of the rebellion , is found guilty and put to death by Caesar . Book VII . While Caesar is in Italy , he decides to enlist more troops because of political disturbances in Rome . When the Gauls hear of this , they conspire to rebel and prevent Caesar from returning to his troops stationed in Gaul . The Carnutes take the lead in this endeavor , slaughtering and plundering the Roman citizens at Cenabum . Vercingetorix , a young nobleman of the Arverni , gathers troops , and with the support of neighboring tribes is given supreme command of the Gallic armies . At first the Bituriges resist , but then join forces with the Arverni . As more and more Gallic tribes join the rebellion , Caesar reaches his armies in Narbo and begins to move them toward the territory of the Arverni . Caesar surprises the Arverni by arriving in their territory unexpectedly after clearing a path through deep snow . Caesar moves quickly to rendezvous with his legions wintering among the Lingones before Vercingetorix can realize what is happening . Vercingetorix decides to attack Gergovia , a town of the Boii who are allies of Rome . Caesar pillages and burns Cenabum , the town attacked earlier by the Carnutes . Vercingetorix tells his troops that they must adopt a new strategy : burn all the towns and crops in the area so as to starve the Romans . The Gauls burn all the towns of the Bituriges except Avaricum , which they decide to defend . Near Avaricum , Vercingetorix camps near Caesar and inflicts heavy losses on Romans as they forage for food . The Romans ask their Gallic allies for food , but this accomplishes little and the Romans suffer from lack of food . The Romans lay siege to Avaricum . After twenty - five grueling days of constructing siege works under great stress , the Romans attack and trap the Gauls in the town . The Romans slaughter almost all of the Gauls within the town , causing a huge loss for the Gauls . Caesar then sets out for the town of Gergovia . He builds elaborate siege works with the intention of completely encircling and starving the Gauls inside . Caesar is distracted from the siege by betrayal from his Gallic allies the Aedui , led by Litaviccus whom he fought and defeated after a desperate struggle . Caesar then went back to Gergovia and realised that his siege would fail . He creates a false retreat to lure Vercingetorix into battle , but this fails and the Romans are defeated by Vercingetorix . Labienus battles the Parisii , and the entire Gallic war becomes more dangerous as the Aedui , Rome ' s longtime allies , revolt and try to induce other tribes to revolt as well . After Vercingetorix ' s cavalry is defeated in a skirmish with the Romans , he moves his forces to the town of Alesia . Caesar builds a circumvallation around the town to lay siege to it but Vercingetorix had summoned his Gallic allies to attack the besieging Romans , so Caesar built another outer fortification , a contravallation , against the expected relief armies ( resulting in a doughnut - shaped fortification ) . Since Vercingetorix was inside Alesia , the Gauls attacking from the outside were without his leadership . However , the attacks did reveal a weak point in the fortifications and the combined forces on the inside and the outside almost made a breakthrough . Only when Caesar personally led the last reserves into battle did he finally manage to prevail , leading to the surrender of Vercingetorix . Book VIII . While in winter quarters in Bibracte , Caesar learns that several tribes are planning a revolt . After quelling a rebellion among the Bituriges , Caesar rewards his troops with large monetary bonuses . The Romans stop the Carnutes from waging war against the Bituriges . The Bellovaci , a Belgic tribe , raise an army and begin to wage war against the Suessiones who are under the patronage of the Remi , allies of Rome . The Bellovaci try to get other tribes to join in their rebellion . Caesar campaigns against them and defeats them . Caesar lays waste to the territory of the Eburones . Labienus wages war against the Treviri . The Romans quell a revolt among the Pictones . Drapes , a Senonian , gathers troops , joins with Luterius , a Cadurcian , and tries to attack the Roman province in the southern part of Gaul called Gallia Narbonensis . Drapes and Luterius stop at a town called Uxellodunum which is strongly fortified by its geography . After a bloody conflict , the Romans defeat them by cutting off the supply of water to the town . Labienus defeats the Treveri and captures their leaders . Caesar goes to Aquitania to assure the loyalty of the tribes there . Caesar puts his legions in winter quarters among various tribes of Gaul . While Caesar is in winter quarters among the Belgae , Commius the Atrebatian begins to harass the Romans by attacking their convoys . The Romans defeat Commius . Since Caesar ' s term of office in Gaul is almost over , he does not wish to get involved in another war just as he is finishing his term . Therefore he tries to ensure peace by treating all the Gauls respectfully and giving gifts to the leading men of Gaul . Caesar travels to Italy in order to encourage the people to vote for Mark Antony , his close associate , for the office of augur . Some of Caesar ' s political opponents want to prevent Mark Antony from being elected simply as a way to oppose Caesar . While en route to Italy , Caesar hears that Mark Antony has already been elected as augur , and the townspeople give Caesar a generous and celebratory welcome . Within the senate there is division between the supporters of Caesar and supporters of Pompey . Some worry about Caesar and Pompey having such powerful armies . The Senate passes a decree that Pompey and Caesar should each contribute one legion to the Parthian war in the East . But in reality Caesar actually ends up contributing both of them . The legion that Pompey contributes is his in name only , because it was enlisted in Caesar ' s territory , and then Caesar contributed another legion that had been with him previously in Gaul . So the levy of troops in reality took away two legions from Caesar . When these two legions were delivered to Italy , instead of being sent to fight against the Parthians , they remained in Italy and were handed over to Pompey . This act made it obvious that Caesar ' s opponents were planning to wage war against him . Motivations . The victories in Gaul won by Caesar had increased the alarm and hostility of his enemies at Rome , and doubt and suspicion were beginning to spread among the plebeian s , on whom he chiefly relied for help in carrying out his designs . When many were evidently taking the side of the Gauls and Germanics , the time had come for him to act on public opinion . A major aim of the book was to gain the Romans ' suffrages . Truthfulness . The work is a hasty compilation made from notes jotted down in the tent or during a journey . If Caesar made mistakes in the respect of truthfulness , it was rather by omission than by commission . He avoids talking about what Romans would prefer to keep quiet , such as the massive amount of plunder . Nonetheless , the work is , apart from a certain bias , a paradigm of proper reporting and stylistic clarity . Influence . Educational use . It is often lauded for its polished , clear Latin . This book is traditionally the first authentic text assigned to students of Latin , as Xenophon ' s " Anabasis " is for students of Ancient Greek ; they are both autobiographical tales of military adventure told in the third person . The style is simple and elegant , essential and not rhetorical . It contains many details and employs many stylistic devices to promote Caesar ' s political interests . Also , the books are valuable for the many geographical and historical claims that can be retrieved from the work . Notable chapters describe Gaulish costume ( VI , 13 ) , their religion ( VI , 17 ) , a comparison between Gauls and Germanic peoples ( VI , 24 ) and other curious notes such as the lack of Germanic interest in agriculture ( VI , 22 ) . Astérix . Since Caesar is one of the characters in the Astérix and Obélix albums , René Goscinny included gags for French schoolchildren who had the " Commentarii " as a textbook . One example is having Caesar talk about himself in the third person as in the book . Some English editions state that Astérix ' s village of indomitable Gauls is the " fourth part " of Gaul , not yet having been conquered by Caesar . Vorenus and Pullo . In Book 5 , Chapter 44 the " Commentarii de Bello Gallico " notably mentions Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo , two Roman centurion s of the 11th Legion . The 2005 television series " Rome " gives a fictionalized account of Caesar ' s rise and fall , featuring Kevin McKidd as the character of Lucius Vorenus and Ray Stevenson as the character of Titus Pullo of 13th Legion . Vincent d ' Indy . During World War I the French composer Vincent d ' Indy wrote his Third Symphony , which bears the title " De Bello Gallico " . D ' Indy was adapting Caesar ' s title to the situation of the current struggle in France against the German army , in which he had a son and nephew fighting , and which the music illustrates to some extent .