Next year (n.c. 57) occurred the Belgie 1Var, in which Caesar successively routed the Suessiones, Bellovaci, Ambiani, and Nervii, who, alarmed at the progress of the Roman arms, had entered into an alliance with each other against the in vaders. When the Senate received Caesar's ofli eial dispatches. it decreed a thanksgiving of fifteen days—an honor never previously granted to any other general. During the winter and the spring following, Cesar stayed at Lucca; and, after spending large sums of money in hospitality and for other less praiseworthy pur poses, he departed for Gaul, where the flames of war had burst out in the northwest. The Vencti, a maritime people of Brittany, who possessed fleets of large vessels, were the chief instigators of the insurrection. Caesar's plans were laid with consummate skill, and were crowned with the most splendid success. The Veneti were totally defeated, and most of the other Gallic tribes were either checked or subdued. Cesar wintered in the country of the Aulerci and l,exovii (Normandy). having, in the course of three campaigns, conquered Gaul. Next year (a.c. 55) Cassius went to the East (where he was slain by the Parthians in B.C. 53). and Pompeius to Spain, while Caesar's provincial gov ernment was prolonged for five years. He now undertook a fourth campaign against two Ger man tribes who were about to enter Gaul. He was again successful: and, pursuing the fleeing enemy across the Rhine. which he had bridged, spent eighteen days in plundering the district inhabited by the Sigambri. He next invaded Britain, about the autumn; but after a brief stay in the island returned to Gaul. The Roman Sen ate. astonished at )His hardihood and his successes in regions where no Roman army had ever been before, accorded him a public thanksgiving of twenty days. In me. 54 Caesar opened his fifth campaign by a second invasion of Britain. On his return to Gaul, lie was compelled—on ac count of the scarcity of corn, arising from drought—to winter his army in divisions. This naturally aroused the hopes of the Gauls, who thought the time had come for recovering their independence. An insurrection broke out in the northeast of Gaul, which was at first partially successful, hut was ultimately crushed. Cesar resolved to winter at Samarobriva (Amiens), in the vicinity of the malcontents. In B.C. 53 he commenced his sixth campaign. It was chiefly occupied in erushing a second insurrection of the Gauls.
Caesar then returned to northern Italy, that lie might he able to communicate more easily and securely with his friends in Rome. That city was gradually becoming more anarchic, the evils of weak government more apparent; the hour for decisive action seemed to be approaching. and doubtless Caesar's heart beat with expecta tion of the mighty future reserved for his bound less ambition, when all at once the prospect was darkened by a tremendous rebellion extend ing over the whole of Gaul, headed by a young warrior named Vercingetorix. It was in the dead of winter when the news came to Caesar, who in stantly saw that, at all hazards. he must preserve his fame and his army. Leaving, therefore, his rival Pm mpeilis to succeed at Rome. he hurried to meet the insurgent hordes. His great difficulty was to collect his scattered legions. First cross ing, with some Cisalpine and provincial troops, the mountains of Auvergne, though they lay six feet deep in SHOW. he suddenly appeared among
the Arverni, who. terrified at his unexpected ap proach. sent for their chief, Vercingetorix, to come to their assistance. 'I his was precisely what Caesar wished. After some wonderful exhibitions of military skill and numerous successes by the Romans. Vercingetorix was shut up in Alesia (Alice in Burgundy), with all his infantry. Cesar besieged him, and though harassed by nearly 301000 Gauls without, who attempted, inn in vain, to break through the well-defended Roman lines, he forced Vereingetorix to capitu late. Many of the tribes now hastened to submit to Cesar, who prudently determined to winter among the vanquished. The Sen ate voted him another public thanksgiving. in the next, year (B.c. 51) Cesar proceeded to quell the tribes who still held out. This he suc cessfully accomplished, and having, in addition, reduced the whole of Aquitania, passed the win ter of his eighth campaign at Nemetocenna, in Belgium. where he spent the time in a manner both politic and magnanimous. The Gallic prin ces were courteously and generously treated: the common people were spared the imposition of further taxes: and everything was done to ren der it possi61e for him to visit Italy with safety in the spring. This he did, and took up his residence at Ravenna, where he was informed of everything that was going on by the tribune C. Curio. There can be no doubt that at this moment he was the most popular man in the State, while his soldiery were devoted to him with a loyalty as enthusiastic as that which Bonaparte inspired when fresh from his Italian victories.
Meanwhile, Pompeius, whose vanity could not endure the greatness of Cesar, had been gradu ally inclining again to the aristocracy, whose dread of the new conqueror was hourly increas ing,. After much futile diplomatic finesse on all sides. the Senate carried a motion "that Caesar should disband his army by a certain day; and that if he did not do so he should be regarded as an enemy of the State." The trib unes Marcus Autonius and Q. Cassius put their veto on this motion: but they were violently driven out of the Senate chamber, and, fearing for their lives, they fled to Caesar's camp. The Senate, in the madness of their terror, now de clared war, and intrusted the conduct of it to Pompeins, whose pride in the invincibility of his military prowess hindered him from taking the necessary measures for the defense of the State, lie fancied that his name would bring thousands to his standard, and he was even led to believe that. Ctesar's troops were willing to desert their general; the result of which delusion was that when hostilities formally commenced, lie lied hardly any soldiers except two legions which had recently been in the service of his rival. Cesar, on the other hand, perceiving that the time for decisive action had at length come, harangued his victorious troops, who were willing to follow him anywhere; crossed the Rubicon (a small stream which separated his province from Italy proper), and moved swiftly. amid the acclama tions of the people, toward Rome. Pompeins fled to Brundisium, pursued by Cesar. but con trived to reach Greece in safety. March 17, B.C. 4”. The Italian cities had everywhere gladly opened their gates to the conqueror as a deliver er, Within three mouths Cesar was master of all Italy.