(ORDO NEWS) — When in 58 BC. e. Julius Caesar began his military campaign in Gaul, no one expected that in just two years he would conquer almost the entire region.
At the news of the great victory of Caesar, the Senate, at the request of Crassus and Pompey, two triumvirs who were in the capital, announced two weeks of thanksgiving prayers and games.
Caesar, despite the conquest and great wealth, still had to constantly fight against numerous uprisings that broke out in different regions of the conquered lands.
One of the most rebellious tribes were the so-called Venetians who inhabited Armorica, a historical region in the northwest of present-day France.
The Venetians were powerful mainly due to their impressive navy and close trade relations with Dumnonia, the British kingdom in southern Britain, and with the Durotrig tribe, which were located further east, in what is now Hampshire.
In 56 BC. e. the aforementioned Venetians (called “children of the sea”) declared war on Rome; the Gauls were supported by many neighboring tribes. Caesar, wanting to defeat enemies not only on land, built a navy that allowed him to completely defeat the Venetians.
Realizing that many Gallic refugees had taken refuge in Britain, and that the locals were constantly supporting the subjugated tribes, Caesar considered invading Britain.
First of all, he wanted to show that the power of Rome extends very far and the enemies will be defeated in any place, wherever they hide. It was also believed that the mysterious island was a source of valuable goods such as: iron, silver, copper, lead, gold, leather, wool and meat.
n addition, Caesar wanted to acquire a mass of new slaves and strengthen his position in the still divided Senate.
Also, perhaps, Caesar was just curious about what is on the previously unvisited island, what peoples inhabit it and what places you can meet there.
At first, Caesar was unable to convince his legions to invade Britain, but eventually fear of the unknown gave way to the prospect of great booty and glory. In 55 BC. e. Caesar, at the head of his army, landed on British soil.
Ultimately, neither of the two expeditions was successful. It wasn’t until nearly a century later that the emperor Claudius undertook another expedition that provided Rome with a new province, Britain.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.