Sabinus and Crassus

Sabinus and Crassus de Bello Gallico III.17-29 Q. Barbilla

III.17 • Caesar is in a campaign against the Veneti. • Quintus Titurius Sabinus arrives in the Venelli with forces. • The Venelli, led by Viridovix, has command over all warring states and forced. • “Also there assembled from all over Gaul a huge mob of criminals and brigands who were diverted from farming and daily tasks by the hope of plunder and by their enthusiasm for fighting.” • Despite many opportunities to do so, Sabinus refuses to fight with the enemy “in the absence of his supreme commander.”

III.18-19 • (3.18) Sabinus sent an auxiliary man to pose as a deserter and misguide the Veneti. • The “deserter” informs the Veneti that (1) Caesar is in trouble because he is “hard pressed by the Veneti” and (2) that Sabinus would secretly lead his troops to Caesar’s aid at night. • The Gauls jump at the opportunity to defeat Sabinus and his forces, in part because “men are generally ready to believe what they want to believe.” • (3.19) But Sabinus’ forces are on top of the hill; so, when the Gauls finally reach the peak, they are out of breath and weakened. • The Gauls’ vulnerable state make them sitting ducks for the Roman forces, who proceed to mercilessly slaughter the militants. • “All the states at once surrendered to Sabinus. For the Gallic temperament is ready and eager to start wars, but their minds are soft and lacking in determination when it comes to enduring defeats.”

III.20-21 • (3.20) Publius Crassus reached Aquitania, where previous Roman notables (Lucius Valerius Praeconinus and Lucius Mallius) died or encountered near-death experiences. • Knowing that “he needed to exercise no small degree of care,” he (1) made sure he had ample corn supply, (2) “raised a force of auxiliaries and calvary,” and (3) “called up individually a number of brave men” from nearby Gallic states. • From there, Crassus led his forces to the territory of the Sontiates. • Aware of the Romans’ arrival, the Sontiates attacked the Romans with their cavalry and then their infantry, with a large battle ensuing. • (3.21) Though both sides put up a fight, ultimately the enemy surrendered to Crassus.

III.22-23 • (3.22) Under commander Adiatunnus, a group of “soldurii” (under pledges of friendship) attempted to battle the Roman forces, ultimately surrendering to Crassus. • (3.23) Crassus and his forces made way for the territory of the Voactes and Tarusates. • Because of extenuating circumstances, Crassus decides it best to wage war with the tribes and has his plan approved by a council.

III.24 • However, the Gauls “decided it was safer to continue blocking the roads and cutting off supplies,” perhaps so that they could attack the Romans if the Romans had to make a retreat to find supplies. • This action prompted the Roman army incited the belligerent Roman forces to advance towards the enemy’s camp.

III.25-27 • (3.25) Crassus’ men put up a solid fight and Crassus equips his auxiliary forces with reinforcement positions. • With the enemy also demonstrating strength, Crassus’ calvary reports back to Crassus that a gate at the back of the camp would make an easy point of entry. • (3.26) With attention on the battle, Crassus’ cavalry broke through the poorly-fortified rear gate and - once positioned in the enemy’s camp - began a full and renewed attack. • As “the enemy were encircled on all sides,” many tried to flee, only to be killed by Roman forces; “out of the total of 50,000 men known to have assembled from Aquitania and Calabria, barely a quarter was left.” • (3.27) Once this news had spread, most of the Aquitani surrendered to Crassus, and only a few dissidents “trusted to the onset of winter and failed to surrender like the rest.”

III.28 • With most of Gaul subdued, Caesar attempted to wage a quick war on the Morini and Menapii. • However, these tribes utilized tactics other tribes had not; additionally, the tribes knew the woody and marshland-heavy land into which they “shifted all their property.” • With the enemy nowhere to be seen in the nearby forest, Caesar’s forces began to build their camp, only to be ambushed by the tribes; while the Romans were largely able to fend off the enemy, some soldiers lost their lives.

III.29 • Caesar ordered the area deforested to avoid reiterations of the ambush. • Weather harried this deforestation and disabled the Roman forces from being able to sleep in tents; consequently, the Romans “devastated the enemy’s fields and set fire to their villages and buildings.” • With this done, Caesar stationed his forces for winter with the Aulerci and Lexovii.

Bibliography http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_Gallia_Tribes_Towns.png and Carolyn Hammond’s translation of the text

Sabinus and Crassus