The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - PREVIEW： Epochs #187

00:00:00.080 Hello and welcome to another episode of Epochs, where once again I shall be continuing my story,

00:00:05.000 the narrative of the decline of all of the Roman Republic,

00:00:08.700 especially looking at the career of Caesar and especially looking at his years fighting in Gaul.

00:00:14.060 Now, if you remember last time, we left off in the year 54 BC,

00:00:18.620 where Caesar had come back from Britain, his second incursion into Britain,

00:00:22.120 and was facing all sorts of revolts all across Gaul,

00:00:25.480 and had one or two of his first reverses, or not even him, but the Roman armies, not under him, personally.

00:00:32.140 And the situation just gets worse. In the autumn and winter of 54 going into 53 BC, it just keeps getting worse.

00:00:39.740 So I'll let Caesar continue the narrative when he talks about widespread revolts in northern and central Gaul.

00:00:45.800 And again, this is right at the end of 54 BC. So Caesar tells us this, quote,

00:00:49.600 The news of Caesar's success was brought to Labienus by the Remy with extraordinary speed.

00:00:54.740 He was more than 55 miles from Cicero's camp. Again, that's not THE Cicero, it's another of his commanders called Cicero.

00:01:01.400 And it was after two o'clock in the afternoon that Caesar reached it.

00:01:04.680 Yet before midnight, some of the Remy were shouting at the camp gates,

00:01:08.220 announcing the victory and offering their congratulations.

00:01:11.100 When the news reached the Trevery, Indutio Marus, who had intended to attack Labienus's camp on the following day,

00:01:17.920 fled home in the night with all his forces.

00:01:20.040 Caesar sent Fabius back to his camp with his legion,

00:01:22.660 and decided to winter himself with three legions in separate camps near Samurobe River,

00:01:28.140 and in view of the serious circumstances that had occurred, to remain with the army throughout the winter.

00:01:33.560 Since the disaster in which Sabinus met his death became generally known,

00:01:37.460 nearly all the tribes had been discussing warlike projects,

00:01:40.320 sending messengers and embassies in all directions,

00:01:42.900 trying to find out one another's plans and see who would take the initiative,

00:01:46.660 and holding meetings at night in deserted spots.

00:01:49.140 All through the winter, Caesar had scarcely a moment's respite from anxiety.

00:01:53.840 He was continually receiving some report about plans for revolt.

00:01:57.580 The creastor, Roscius, for example, whom he had placed in command of the 13th Legion,

00:02:03.080 reported that large forces belonging to the tribes, called Aramorican,

00:02:06.940 had assembled to attack him, and had been within eight miles of his camp.

00:02:10.900 But on hearing of Caesar's victory, had made off with a haste that suggested an army in flight.

00:02:16.160 Caesar summoned the leading men of each tribe, and partly by intimidation,

00:02:20.720 letting them know that he was aware of what was going on,

00:02:23.380 partly by persuasion, succeeded in keeping a large part of the country obedient.

00:02:27.660 The government of the Senones, however, a very powerful tribe with great influence over the others,

00:02:32.840 tried to kill their king, Caverinus, whom Caesar had set on his ancestral throne

00:02:37.440 in succession to his brother, Moritascus, who occupied it at the time of Caesar's arrival in Gaul.

00:02:43.620 When Caverinus got wind of their intention and fled,

00:02:47.280 they pursued him as far as the frontier, dethroned him and banished him.

00:02:51.260 On receiving a deputation sent to justify their action,

00:02:54.260 Caesar ordered the whole of the tribal council to appear before him,

00:02:57.180 but they disregarded his command.

00:02:58.920 The fact that someone had been bold enough to take the initiative in hostile action

00:03:02.700 made a deep impression on the ignorant natives,

00:03:05.700 and produced such a profound change in their attitude

00:03:07.760 that nearly every tribe was suspected by Caesar of disloyalty.

00:03:11.420 Almost the only exceptions were the Adiwai,

00:03:14.220 whom he always held in special esteem for their long-standing record of unbroken loyalty,

00:03:19.120 and the Remy, who had earned similar regard by their recent services in the Gallic campaigns.

00:03:24.600 Perhaps there is nothing very surprising in their readiness to revolt.

00:03:27.720 Among other reasons, tribes which were considered the bravest and most warlike in the world

00:03:31.800 naturally felt bitter resentment at the complete loss of this reputation,

00:03:35.820 which submission to Roman rule entailed.

00:03:37.880 In Dutio Marus and the Treveri were particularly active.

00:03:41.980 All through the winter, they never ceased sending embassies across the Rhine,

00:03:45.600 intriguing with the German tribes, promising them money,

00:03:48.920 and assuring them that the great losses which the Roman army had sustained

00:03:52.320 had left only a small part of it in existence.

00:03:55.240 Not a single German tribe, however, could be induced to cross the river.

00:03:59.000 They said that they had twice had experience of the Roman arms,

00:04:02.220 in the campaign of Ariovistus, and at the time of the migration of the Tenctori,

00:04:06.200 and did not intend to tempt fortune again.

00:04:09.320 In spite of this disappointment,

00:04:10.920 In Dutio Marus proceeded to raise and drill troops,

00:04:13.940 to procure horses from the neighbouring states,

00:04:16.600 and by large rewards to entice exiles and condemned criminals from all over Gaul to join him.

00:04:22.220 Indeed, he soon acquired such prestige in the country by these measures

00:04:25.780 that embassies poured in from all quarters,

00:04:28.680 requesting his favour and alliance, either for tribal governments or for individuals.

00:04:32.820 So a full-blown revolt starting to materialise.

00:04:37.500 From these unsolicited overtures,

00:04:39.620 he inferred that he would have no lack of volunteers

00:04:42.000 when he began to advance beyond his own frontier.

00:04:44.560 In one direction were the Sinones and Carnutes,

00:04:47.840 incited to revolt by their consciousness of guilt,

00:04:51.180 while on another side, the Nervi and Actuotucci were preparing to attack the Romans.

00:04:56.800 So he gave notice of a muster in arms.

00:04:58.880 This is the customary method of opening hostilities in Gaul.

00:05:02.960 A law, common to all the tribes alike,

00:05:05.500 requires all adult males to arm and attend the muster,

00:05:08.940 and the last to arrive is cruelly tortured

00:05:11.000 and put to death in the presence of the assembled host.

00:05:13.760 At this meeting,

00:05:15.140 In Dutio Marus declared his son-in-law,

00:05:17.800 Syngeterix, a public enemy,

00:05:20.020 and confiscated his property.

00:05:21.940 Syngeterix was the leader of the rival party

00:05:24.260 and had remained faithful to Caesar

00:05:26.160 since putting himself under his protection,

00:05:28.360 as described above.

00:05:29.580 In Dutio Marus next announced to the assembly

00:05:32.060 that his aid had been invoked by the Sinones,

00:05:35.160 the Carnutes,

00:05:36.180 and several other tribes.

00:05:37.700 He intended in due course to march to their country,

00:05:40.780 ravaging the territory of the Remy on his way,

00:05:43.420 but would first attack Labienus' camp.

00:05:45.560 He then gave the necessary orders.

00:05:47.780 Okay, so once again, it's on.

00:05:49.520 How will the outnumbered Romans and Caesar once again

00:05:53.500 fare against this particular threat?

00:05:56.600 Labienus was safe in a camp well protected

00:05:58.600 both by its situation and by fortifications,

00:06:01.340 and felt no anxiety for himself or his legion.

00:06:04.200 His only concern was not to lose any opportunity

00:06:06.700 of scoring a success against the enemy.

00:06:09.080 Accordingly, when Syngeterix and his relatives

00:06:11.880 told him what In Dutio Marus had said in the assembly,

00:06:15.780 he sent messages to all the neighbouring tribes,

00:06:17.880 calling upon them to supply a contingence of cavalry

00:06:20.600 by a certain date.

00:06:22.060 Meanwhile, In Dutio Marus came prowling round the camp

00:06:25.220 nearly every day with all his cavalry,

00:06:27.660 either to reconnoitre its position

00:06:29.280 or to get into conversation with the soldiers.

00:06:31.860 And usually all the horsemen tried to frighten them

00:06:33.940 by throwing javelins over the rampart.

00:06:36.100 Labienus kept his men within the entrenchment

00:06:38.660 and did all he could to confirm the enemy's belief

00:06:41.220 that they were afraid.

00:06:42.560 Each day as he moved up to the Roman lines,

00:06:45.500 In Dutio Marus showed greater contempt

00:06:47.340 for his adversary.

00:06:48.640 Eventually Labienus brought into the camp

00:06:50.880 in a single night the cavalry which he had summoned

00:06:53.440 from all the neighbouring tribes

00:06:54.800 and by setting a guard succeeded so well

00:06:56.980 in keeping all his men inside

00:06:58.320 that there was no means by which the news

00:07:00.220 could get abroad or be carried to the trevery.

00:07:03.160 In Dutio Marus came up to the camp as usual

00:07:05.420 and spent the greater part of the day there,

00:07:07.700 his cavalrymen throwing javelins

00:07:09.560 and shouting insults to provoke the soldiers to fight.

00:07:12.400 They got no reply and towards evening

00:07:14.780 when they felt like it, went off in scattered groups.

00:07:18.120 Suddenly Labienus sent out all his cavalry

00:07:20.180 through two of the gates.

00:07:22.140 He gave strict orders that as soon as the enemy

00:07:24.340 were scattered off and put to flight

00:07:25.800 as he saw they would be,

00:07:27.700 every man was to look for In Dutio Marus

00:07:29.660 and not strike a blow at anyone else

00:07:31.660 until they saw him killed.

00:07:33.220 For he was anxious that they should not give him time

00:07:35.220 to escape by going in pursuit of the others.

00:07:37.680 He set a big price on his head

00:07:39.640 and to make doubly sure

00:07:40.980 sent some cohorts to support the cavalry.

00:07:43.540 Fortune aided the plan that human foresight had devised.

00:07:46.680 With every man after him and him alone,

00:07:48.980 In Dutio Marus was caught and killed

00:07:50.480 in the very act of folding a river

00:07:52.320 and his head brought back to camp.

00:07:54.400 On their way back,

00:07:55.420 the cavalry pursued and killed as many as they could

00:07:57.700 and all the forces which had assembled

00:07:59.860 from the Ebrones and the Nervi

00:08:02.280 departed when they heard the news.

00:08:04.220 This success made Gaul a little quieter for the time being.

00:08:07.160 End quote.

00:08:08.520 So once again the Romans and Labienus

00:08:10.500 seeing off a very serious threat

00:08:12.660 through superior training and timing

00:08:15.800 and tactics,

00:08:17.400 out-thinking, out-generaling their enemy

00:08:19.840 every time.

00:08:21.160 Almost men against boys it seems, doesn't it?

00:08:24.020 Okay, so into the next year

00:08:25.620 we're now on book six

00:08:26.760 and this is the year 53 BC

00:08:28.980 and Caesar decides he needs to give the trevery

00:08:31.660 a bit of a kicking.

00:08:33.380 So this is what he tells us in 53 BC.

00:08:35.720 Quote,

00:08:35.940 Caesar had many reasons however

00:08:37.540 for expecting still more serious disturbances before long.

00:08:40.720 He therefore charged three of his generals

00:08:43.700 Marcus Silinus,

00:08:45.240 Gaius Antisticus Reginus

00:08:47.080 and Titus Sextius

00:08:48.360 with the duty of raising fresh troops.

00:08:51.020 He also sent a message to Pompey,

00:08:52.920 the Pompey,

00:08:53.780 who, though vested as pro-consul with military command,

00:08:57.140 was remaining for political reasons

00:08:58.760 in the neighbourhood of Rome,

00:09:00.220 requesting him to mobilise the recruits

00:09:02.080 from northern Italy

00:09:02.960 whom he had sworn in during his consulship

00:09:05.460 and to send them out to him.

00:09:07.420 Caesar considered it very important

00:09:08.860 with a view to making a permanent impression

00:09:11.180 upon the tribesmen

00:09:12.300 to let it be seen

00:09:13.340 that the manpower of Italy

00:09:14.700 was sufficient not only to repair

00:09:16.440 speedily any loss sustained in the field,

00:09:19.620 but actually to increase the size

00:09:21.420 of the expeditionary force.

00:09:23.340 Pompey acceded to this request

00:09:24.800 from motives of patriotism

00:09:26.860 as well as of friendship

00:09:28.040 and Caesar's officers promptly enlisted

00:09:30.580 further recruits

00:09:31.580 so that before the end of the winter

00:09:33.380 three legions were formed

00:09:34.820 and brought to Gaul,

00:09:35.860 making double the number

00:09:36.840 of the cohorts lost under Sabinus.

00:09:38.900 This large reinforcement

00:09:39.820 and the speed with which it was affected

00:09:42.040 showed what Roman organisation

00:09:43.780 and resources were capable of.

00:09:45.680 After the death of Indutio Marus,

00:09:48.060 related above,

00:09:48.980 his command was transferred

00:09:50.440 by the Treveri

00:09:51.360 to members of his family

00:09:52.740 who persisted in trying to obtain

00:09:54.620 the support of the nearest German tribes

00:09:56.560 by promises of money.

00:09:58.060 Failing in this,

00:09:59.120 they made overtures

00:09:59.980 to more distant tribes,

00:10:01.700 a number of which consented.

00:10:03.260 The alliance was confirmed

00:10:04.200 by an exchange of oaths

00:10:05.680 and hostages were given

00:10:06.780 as security

00:10:07.420 for the payment of the money

00:10:08.520 and Biorix also was admitted

00:10:10.700 as a partner to the League.

00:10:12.540 Caesar was informed

00:10:13.300 of these intrigues

00:10:14.380 and saw warlike preparations

00:10:15.880 going on all around.

00:10:17.300 The Nervi,

00:10:18.140 Achuatuchi

00:10:18.740 and Menapi,

00:10:20.100 together with all the tribes

00:10:21.200 of German origin

00:10:22.060 on the west bank of the Rhine,

00:10:23.920 were in arms.

00:10:25.240 The Senones refused

00:10:26.180 to attend at his bidding

00:10:27.700 and were concerting plans

00:10:29.440 with the Cognutis

00:10:30.720 and others of their neighbours.

00:10:32.500 And the Treveri

00:10:33.080 were sending embassy

00:10:33.980 after embassy

00:10:34.560 to obtain German aid.

00:10:36.100 He therefore decided,

00:10:37.160 Caesar,

00:10:37.500 therefore decided

00:10:38.260 that he must take the field

00:10:39.680 in advance

00:10:40.320 of the usual season,

00:10:41.900 i.e. spring,

00:10:43.040 when the weather's nice again.

00:10:44.620 Caesar realised

00:10:45.260 he had to act fast,

00:10:47.140 had to catch them off guard

00:10:48.300 pre-emptively

00:10:48.960 while it was still cold.

00:10:50.800 He goes on,

00:10:51.680 Accordingly,

00:10:52.520 before the winter was over,

00:10:53.900 he assembled

00:10:54.380 the four nearest legions

00:10:55.720 and made an unexpected attack

00:10:57.600 on the country

00:10:58.340 of the Nervi.

00:10:59.240 Before they could

00:10:59.800 either concentrate

00:11:00.500 their forces or flee,

00:11:02.000 a large number of cattle

00:11:03.020 and prisoners

00:11:03.540 were captured

00:11:04.160 and handed over

00:11:05.300 as booty to the soldiers.

00:11:06.840 The country was ravaged

00:11:08.020 and the Nervi

00:11:09.160 forced to surrender

00:11:09.960 and give hostages.

00:11:11.320 After this quick success,

00:11:12.960 Caesar took the legions

00:11:13.800 back into winter quarters.

00:11:15.580 In the early spring,

00:11:16.880 he convoked

00:11:17.380 the usual Gallic council,

00:11:19.120 which was attended

00:11:19.760 by all those summoned

00:11:20.760 except the Senones,

00:11:22.220 Carnutes and Treveri.

00:11:23.560 He regarded

00:11:24.320 their non-appearance

00:11:25.420 as the first step

00:11:26.460 towards an armed revolt

00:11:27.560 and in order

00:11:28.500 to make it clear

00:11:29.260 that he considered

00:11:30.260 its suppression

00:11:31.100 of paramount importance,

00:11:33.020 he decided

00:11:33.520 to transfer the meeting

00:11:34.760 to Lutetia,

00:11:36.060 a town of the Parisi.

00:11:37.640 They inhabited

00:11:38.160 a territory

00:11:38.900 adjoining that

00:11:39.740 of the Senones

00:11:40.440 and a generation before

00:11:41.920 had united with them

00:11:42.920 to form one state,

00:11:44.100 but they appeared

00:11:44.720 to have had no hand

00:11:45.940 in the present policy

00:11:46.840 of the Senones.

00:11:48.240 After announcing

00:11:49.060 his decision

00:11:49.880 from the platform

00:11:50.980 in his camp,

00:11:52.180 Caesar started

00:11:52.720 with his legions

00:11:53.440 the same day

00:11:54.100 and made his way

00:11:55.080 by forced marches

00:11:56.040 to the country

00:11:56.640 of the Senones.

00:11:57.580 On learning

00:11:58.060 of his approach,

00:11:59.240 Akko,

00:11:59.880 the ringleader

00:12:00.440 of the conspiracy,

00:12:01.680 ordered the population

00:12:02.520 to gather

00:12:03.080 in their strongholds.

00:12:04.580 Before they had time

00:12:05.360 to complete this operation,

00:12:06.840 they heard that the Romans

00:12:07.720 were at hand.

00:12:09.060 The Senones

00:12:09.480 had no choice

00:12:10.280 but to abandon

00:12:11.120 their project

00:12:11.740 and send envoys

00:12:12.700 to ask Caesar's pardon.

00:12:14.300 These were introduced

00:12:15.160 by the Adiwai,

00:12:16.580 under whose protection

00:12:17.460 their tribe

00:12:18.040 had been from ancient times.

00:12:19.980 Caesar willingly

00:12:20.540 pardoned them

00:12:21.320 at the request

00:12:22.000 of the Adiwai

00:12:22.700 and accepted

00:12:23.540 their excuses

00:12:24.180 for he thought

00:12:25.040 that the summer

00:12:25.580 should be devoted

00:12:26.340 to the impending war

00:12:27.540 and not wasted

00:12:28.600 in holding an inquest.

00:12:30.320 He ordered them,

00:12:31.000 however,

00:12:31.640 to provide a hundred hostages

00:12:33.080 whom he entrusted

00:12:34.280 to the custody

00:12:35.020 of the Adiwai.

00:12:36.420 The Carnutes too

00:12:37.260 sent envoys

00:12:38.120 and hostages

00:12:38.800 while Caesar

00:12:39.520 was in the district

00:12:40.380 pleading their calls

00:12:41.680 with the support

00:12:42.540 of the Remi

00:12:43.120 whose dependents

00:12:43.960 they were

00:12:44.440 and received

00:12:45.340 the same reply.

00:12:46.600 Caesar then completed

00:12:47.460 the business

00:12:47.900 of the Council

00:12:48.560 and requisitioned

00:12:49.920 cavalry from the

00:12:50.680 various tribes.

00:12:51.900 End quote.

00:12:52.620 So you can see there

00:12:53.540 once again

00:12:54.140 how Caesar's

00:12:55.020 speed and movement

00:12:56.460 and use of initiative

00:12:57.860 is as powerful

00:12:59.120 as winning battles.

00:13:01.440 Often,

00:13:01.960 quite often,

00:13:02.400 just like there,

00:13:02.860 you don't actually

00:13:03.360 have to fight a battle

00:13:04.280 because you've just

00:13:05.240 outmaneuvered

00:13:06.120 your enemy.

00:13:07.680 Completely,

00:13:08.240 completely outmaneuvered

00:13:09.120 them.

00:13:09.600 And you also start

00:13:10.280 to feel a bit sorry,

00:13:11.680 maybe you don't,

00:13:13.440 feel a bit sorry

00:13:14.340 for the Gauls

00:13:15.880 who,

00:13:16.700 as I said

00:13:17.040 a moment ago,

00:13:17.800 it's a bit like

00:13:18.220 men versus boys,

00:13:19.300 that they're

00:13:19.600 completely outclassed,

00:13:21.440 certainly strategically,

00:13:23.140 tactically,

00:13:23.700 in terms of logistics,

00:13:25.740 bureaucracy,

00:13:26.440 organisation,

00:13:27.480 just on many,

00:13:28.100 many levels,

00:13:28.900 they're outclassed.

00:13:30.540 You know,

00:13:30.720 they seem to be,

00:13:31.320 they're trying their best

00:13:32.380 to throw off

00:13:33.480 the Roman yoke

00:13:34.420 but they're just

00:13:35.860 not able to.

00:13:36.960 Caesar and the Romans

00:13:37.560 are too good,

00:13:38.640 too good really

00:13:39.240 at this point.

00:13:39.940 The story goes on.

00:13:41.160 Quote,

00:13:41.380 Now that this part

00:13:42.560 of Gaul was

00:13:43.000 tranquillised,

00:13:44.360 Caesar devoted

00:13:45.040 all his energies

00:13:45.980 to the war

00:13:46.540 against the Treveri

00:13:47.740 and Ambiorix.

00:13:49.160 He bade

00:13:49.620 Caveranus

00:13:50.320 accompany him

00:13:51.320 with the cavalry

00:13:51.900 to the Sinones,

00:13:53.080 lest his hasty temper

00:13:54.280 or the hatred

00:13:55.180 that he had earned

00:13:56.440 should cause trouble

00:13:57.540 in the tribe.

00:13:58.500 Then,

00:13:59.100 since he felt certain

00:14:00.080 that Ambiorix

00:14:01.000 did not intend

00:14:01.940 to fight a battle,

00:14:02.960 he cast about

00:14:03.600 to discover

00:14:04.160 what other plans

00:14:04.980 he might have.

00:14:05.880 Close to the Eberones

00:14:06.960 and protected

00:14:07.880 by a continuous line

00:14:08.920 of marshes and forests,

00:14:10.600 dwelt the Menapi,

00:14:11.540 the only Gallic people

00:14:12.560 who had never sent

00:14:13.640 envoys to Caesar

00:14:14.500 to sue for peace.

00:14:15.720 He knew that Ambiorix

00:14:16.840 was united to them

00:14:17.800 by ties of hospitality

00:14:19.000 and also that,

00:14:20.580 through the agency

00:14:21.240 of the Treveri,

00:14:22.240 he had formed

00:14:22.700 an alliance

00:14:23.220 with the Germans.

00:14:24.300 He thought it advisable

00:14:25.320 to deprive Ambiorix

00:14:26.780 of these allies

00:14:27.620 before attacking him

00:14:28.560 directly,

00:14:29.280 for fear desperation

00:14:30.180 should make him

00:14:31.180 hide among the Menapi

00:14:32.160 or join the tribes

00:14:33.660 beyond the Rhine.

00:14:34.860 Therefore,

00:14:35.480 after sending the baggage

00:14:36.460 of the entire army

00:14:37.540 to Labienus' camp

00:14:38.660 in the country

00:14:39.180 of the Treveri

00:14:39.880 and ordering two legions

00:14:41.480 to proceed thereto,

00:14:42.920 he started himself

00:14:43.780 for the territory

00:14:44.380 of the Menapi

00:14:44.940 with five legions

00:14:46.340 in light-marching order.

00:14:47.600 The Menapi

00:14:48.340 did not collect any troops

00:14:50.120 but, relying on the protection

00:14:51.540 of the terrain,

00:14:52.620 took refuge

00:14:53.220 with all their belongings

00:14:54.140 in the forests

00:14:54.960 and marshes.

00:14:55.960 Caesar put Fabius

00:14:56.980 and the Cuiestor Marcus Crassus

00:14:59.000 in command of detachments

00:15:00.600 and the three columns

00:15:01.700 advanced

00:15:02.320 with aid of hastily

00:15:03.620 constructed causeways,

00:15:05.120 burning farms

00:15:05.780 and villages

00:15:06.220 and taking a large number

00:15:07.720 of cattle and prisoners.

00:15:09.160 By this means,

00:15:10.220 the Menapi

00:15:10.560 were compelled

00:15:11.240 to send envoys

00:15:12.600 to sue for peace.

00:15:13.840 Caesar took the hostages

00:15:14.780 they offered

00:15:15.300 and told them

00:15:16.300 that he would treat them

00:15:17.260 as enemies

00:15:17.720 if they admitted

00:15:18.500 Ambiorix

00:15:19.320 or his agents

00:15:20.360 into their territory.

00:15:21.600 With this warning,

00:15:22.680 he left Commius,

00:15:23.980 the Atrabatian,

00:15:25.340 with a force of cavalry

00:15:26.300 to keep the Menapi

00:15:27.220 under surveillance

00:15:28.120 while he marched

00:15:29.100 against the Treveri.

00:15:30.320 Meanwhile,

00:15:31.240 the Treveri

00:15:31.820 had collected

00:15:32.420 large forces

00:15:33.080 of infantry

00:15:33.720 and cavalry

00:15:34.360 and were preparing

00:15:35.660 to attack Labienus

00:15:36.880 and the single legion

00:15:38.100 which was wintering

00:15:38.900 in their territory.

00:15:39.980 They were within

00:15:40.540 two days' march

00:15:41.280 of his camp

00:15:41.840 when they heard

00:15:42.580 of the arrival

00:15:43.180 of the two legions

00:15:44.180 dispatched to him

00:15:45.320 by Caesar

00:15:45.880 and,

00:15:46.580 encamping at a distance

00:15:47.520 of 15 miles,

00:15:48.760 they decided to wait

00:15:49.580 for reinforcements

00:15:50.360 from the Germans.

00:15:51.440 Apprised of their intention,

00:15:53.000 Labienus hoped

00:15:53.800 that their imprudence

00:15:54.920 would give him

00:15:55.800 some opportunity

00:15:56.800 of bringing them

00:15:57.680 to action.

00:15:58.680 He left five cohorts

00:15:59.760 to guard the baggage,

00:16:01.060 marched against the enemy

00:16:01.960 with the other 25

00:16:02.900 and a strong force

00:16:04.180 of cavalry

00:16:04.620 and entrenched a camp

00:16:06.040 a mile away from them.

00:16:07.260 Between the two camps

00:16:08.160 was a river

00:16:08.740 with steep banks

00:16:09.740 difficult to cross.

00:16:11.320 Labienus

00:16:11.800 had no intention

00:16:12.680 of crossing it himself

00:16:13.760 and did not think

00:16:14.960 the enemy would.

00:16:15.900 The Gauls' hope

00:16:16.600 of being reinforced

00:16:17.620 was increased daily

00:16:18.820 and Labienus

00:16:19.760 purposely let the soldiers

00:16:20.980 hear him say that.

00:16:22.120 Since the Germans

00:16:22.760 were said to be approaching

00:16:23.780 he would not jeopardise

00:16:25.260 their safety

00:16:25.780 and his own

00:16:26.480 by remaining

00:16:27.080 but would break up

00:16:27.900 the camp next morning

00:16:28.800 at dawn.

00:16:29.800 This remark

00:16:30.320 was soon reported

00:16:31.100 to the enemy

00:16:31.660 since among the large

00:16:33.140 number of Gallic horsemen

00:16:34.240 it was only natural

00:16:35.380 that there should be some

00:16:36.380 who sympathised

00:16:37.340 with their fellow

00:16:37.860 countrymen's calls.

00:16:39.500 So playing a double game

00:16:40.360 there,

00:16:40.920 putting out misinformation,

00:16:41.920 disinformation

00:16:42.400 among the agent

00:16:43.820 provocateurs and traitors

00:16:45.060 that you know

00:16:45.600 you've got in your midst.

00:16:46.700 Very clever.

00:16:47.960 At night Labienus

00:16:48.960 summoned the military

00:16:49.840 tribunes

00:16:50.460 and first grade centurions

00:16:52.160 and explained his plans.

00:16:53.780 Then,

00:16:54.400 to help in making

00:16:55.120 the enemy think

00:16:55.900 that they were afraid

00:16:56.700 he ordered the camp

00:16:57.700 to be broken up

00:16:58.480 with more noise

00:16:59.200 and disturbance

00:16:59.800 than is customary

00:17:00.800 with Roman armies

00:17:01.680 and so made

00:17:02.800 his departure

00:17:03.840 resemble a flight.

00:17:05.100 This also was reported

00:17:06.080 to the Gauls

00:17:06.800 by their patrols

00:17:07.800 before daybreak

00:17:08.560 for the camps

00:17:09.340 were very close together.

00:17:10.340 They urged one another

00:17:11.820 not to let the hoped-for

00:17:12.920 priors slip from their grasp.

00:17:14.960 To wait for German aid

00:17:16.140 when the Romans

00:17:16.960 were panic-stricken

00:17:17.880 would mean unnecessary delay

00:17:19.700 and with such a large army

00:17:21.200 it would be disgraceful

00:17:22.440 to shrink from attacking

00:17:23.400 a mere handful of men,

00:17:24.980 especially men

00:17:25.640 who were running away

00:17:26.600 and hampered by baggage.

00:17:27.920 Accordingly,

00:17:29.220 when the rearguard

00:17:29.920 of the Roman column

00:17:30.740 had barely got outside

00:17:31.840 the entrenchment,

00:17:32.980 they boldly began

00:17:33.640 to cross the river

00:17:34.400 and join battle

00:17:35.540 in an unfavourable position.

00:17:37.720 Labienus had expected this

00:17:39.100 and enticed them all across

00:17:40.500 by continuing to advance slowly,

00:17:42.380 keeping up the pretense

00:17:43.320 that he was marching away.

00:17:44.720 Then,

00:17:45.200 sending the baggage

00:17:45.880 a short distance ahead

00:17:46.960 and parking it

00:17:47.960 on a piece of rising ground,

00:17:49.660 he said to the soldiers,

00:17:50.840 Here is your chance.

00:17:52.000 You have got the enemy

00:17:52.800 where you wanted them,

00:17:53.960 in a bad position,

00:17:55.240 where they are not free

00:17:56.040 to manoeuvre.

00:17:56.880 Fight as bravely under me

00:17:58.080 as you often have done

00:17:59.380 under the commander-in-chief.

00:18:00.860 Imagine that he is here,

00:18:02.320 watching the battle in person.

00:18:04.120 With these words,

00:18:05.180 he bade the units

00:18:05.920 turn to face the enemy

00:18:07.100 and form a line of battle,

00:18:08.820 sent a few squadrons

00:18:09.740 of cavalry

00:18:10.220 to protect the baggage

00:18:11.280 and posted the rest

00:18:12.440 on the flanks.

00:18:13.460 The men at once

00:18:14.040 raised a shout

00:18:14.700 and launched their spears.

00:18:16.760 The enemy were amazed

00:18:17.900 to see their enemy

00:18:19.040 that they thought

00:18:19.600 to be in flight

00:18:20.420 advancing to the attack.

00:18:22.200 They had not the courage

00:18:23.100 to face its charge.

00:18:24.400 Directly the lines met,

00:18:26.040 they turned tail

00:18:26.800 and made for the nearest woods.

00:18:28.780 Labienus hunted them down

00:18:30.280 with his cavalry,

00:18:31.480 killing many of them

00:18:32.260 and taking a number

00:18:33.060 of prisoners.

00:18:33.960 And a few days later,

00:18:35.140 he recovered his hold

00:18:36.260 over the tribe.

00:18:37.260 For the Germans

00:18:37.820 who were coming to aid them

00:18:38.960 returned home

00:18:39.940 when they found

00:18:40.680 the trevery routed.

00:18:42.000 The relatives of Indutio Marus,

00:18:44.060 who had instigated the revolt,

00:18:45.940 fled the country

00:18:46.620 and went along

00:18:47.600 with the Germans.

00:18:48.840 Syngeterix,

00:18:49.520 who had remained loyal

00:18:50.620 right from the outset,

00:18:51.880 was invested with civil

00:18:52.900 and military control

00:18:53.880 of the tribe.

00:18:55.040 End quote.

00:18:56.040 So one more threat

00:18:57.240 seen to

00:18:58.200 by the Romans.

00:18:59.480 Nipping a revolt

00:19:00.380 in the bud almost

00:19:01.540 before the German allies

00:19:03.780 could turn up.

00:19:04.960 Snuffing it out.

00:19:06.140 Once again,

00:19:06.620 by superior tactics

00:19:08.220 and organisation

00:19:09.040 and order,

00:19:09.880 you know,

00:19:10.100 battle order.

00:19:11.120 Having a professional army,

00:19:12.580 basically,

00:19:13.560 that will follow orders

00:19:14.540 that will pretend

00:19:15.480 to be scared

00:19:16.760 or in flight

00:19:17.600 but will just turn around

00:19:19.460 and face the enemy

00:19:20.240 at a moment's notice

00:19:21.260 with an order

00:19:21.860 from their commander.

00:19:22.700 That's the sort

00:19:24.140 of organisation

00:19:24.700 that you get the feeling,

00:19:26.140 don't you?

00:19:26.860 That the Gauls

00:19:27.520 and the Germans

00:19:28.080 are just not really capable of.

00:19:29.800 That they're much more

00:19:30.480 of a rabble

00:19:31.400 than a true army.

00:19:33.300 Okay,

00:19:33.660 next Caesar tells us

00:19:34.700 about his second

00:19:35.860 crossing of the Rhine.

00:19:36.940 If you remember

00:19:37.260 the first time,

00:19:37.860 he built a bridge

00:19:38.600 from scratch

00:19:39.660 and then demolished it

00:19:41.140 after himself

00:19:41.820 but now he feels the need,

00:19:43.920 he has to bounce

00:19:44.600 across the Rhine again

00:19:45.600 because,

00:19:46.500 well,

00:19:46.880 even though the German armies

00:19:47.900 didn't turn up

00:19:48.580 in that last small revolt,

00:19:50.640 they were going to,

00:19:51.720 the intelligence was

00:19:52.460 that they were going to

00:19:53.300 and that they,

00:19:54.700 you know,

00:19:54.980 almost certainly would do,

00:19:56.160 will do again.

00:19:57.340 So,

00:19:57.940 in pre-emptive mode,

00:19:59.180 being prudent,

00:19:59.960 I'm sure Caesar would have

00:20:00.740 thought of it,

00:20:01.900 he decides to

00:20:02.700 jump across the Rhine again

00:20:04.120 and teach some lessons.

00:20:05.540 So here's what we're told,

00:20:06.520 quote,

00:20:06.700 After marching from the country

00:20:08.260 of the Menopi

00:20:09.000 to that of the Treveri,

00:20:10.920 Caesar determined

00:20:11.560 to cross the Rhine

00:20:12.400 for two reasons.

00:20:13.680 First,

00:20:14.260 because the Germans

00:20:15.040 had sent the Treveri

00:20:16.040 reinforcements

00:20:16.760 to use against him.

00:20:18.040 Secondly,

00:20:18.760 to prevent Ambioryx's

00:20:20.520 finding an asylum in Germany.

00:20:22.640 He therefore proceeded

00:20:23.620 to build a bridge

00:20:24.560 a little above the place

00:20:26.000 where he had crossed before.

00:20:27.500 As the method of construction

00:20:28.720 was familiar to the soldiers

00:20:30.020 from the previous occasion,

00:20:31.520 they were able

00:20:32.020 by energetic efforts

00:20:33.080 to complete the task

00:20:34.080 in a few days,

00:20:35.100 leaving a strong guard

00:20:36.140 on the Gallic side

00:20:37.020 of the bridge

00:20:37.580 to prevent any sudden rising.

00:20:39.000 on the part of the Treveri.

00:20:40.780 He led across

00:20:41.340 the remainder of his forces,

00:20:43.020 including the cavalry.

00:20:44.480 The Ubi,

00:20:45.220 who had previously

00:20:45.900 given hostages

00:20:46.640 and submitted,

00:20:47.780 sent envoys

00:20:48.340 to clear themselves

00:20:49.220 by explaining

00:20:50.160 that they had not

00:20:50.900 broken their word.

00:20:51.920 The aid sent

00:20:52.540 to the Treveri

00:20:53.180 did not come

00:20:53.740 from their state.

00:20:55.020 They begged him

00:20:55.540 to spare them

00:20:56.160 and not to let

00:20:57.200 an indiscriminate animosity

00:20:58.500 against the Germans

00:20:59.440 make the innocent

00:21:00.420 suffer for the guilty.

00:21:01.800 If he wanted

00:21:02.380 more hostages,

00:21:03.380 they should be given.

00:21:04.460 On investigating the matter,

00:21:06.060 he found that

00:21:06.480 the reinforcements

00:21:07.280 had been sent

00:21:07.920 by the Suebi

00:21:08.560 and therefore

00:21:09.280 accepted the Ubi's

00:21:10.580 explanation

00:21:11.120 and made careful inquiry

00:21:12.680 about the routes

00:21:13.560 leading to the territory

00:21:14.600 of the Suebi.

00:21:16.040 Again,

00:21:16.580 just to,

00:21:17.160 if you don't remember,

00:21:18.380 the Suebi,

00:21:19.180 Suebi,

00:21:20.120 are the biggest,

00:21:21.420 most warlike,

00:21:22.180 most formidable tribe

00:21:23.180 of the Germans.

00:21:24.760 It is almost like

00:21:25.620 a nation of people

00:21:26.600 and in fact,

00:21:28.060 a spoiler alert,

00:21:29.080 perhaps it's not

00:21:29.840 a spoiler alert

00:21:30.400 if you know

00:21:30.740 your Roman history,

00:21:32.040 the Romans never

00:21:32.760 completely subdue

00:21:33.560 the Suebi.

00:21:34.080 They have on and off

00:21:35.180 wars with them

00:21:35.780 for centuries

00:21:37.240 and, well,

00:21:38.920 in the end,

00:21:39.940 in the early 400s AD,

00:21:41.900 in the age of Alaric

00:21:42.860 and the fall

00:21:44.160 of the Western Roman Empire,

00:21:45.640 the first collapse

00:21:47.040 of the Western Roman Empire,

00:21:48.920 the Suebi are right there.

00:21:50.500 The Suebi are involved

00:21:51.560 in all of that.

00:21:52.420 So,

00:21:53.300 they are a people

00:21:54.260 who,

00:21:55.880 in the end,

00:21:56.720 even though they do get

00:21:57.920 taught many a lesson

00:21:58.880 by the Romans,

00:22:00.320 many,

00:22:00.760 they lose many a war

00:22:01.920 with the Romans.

00:22:02.880 The Romans never

00:22:03.540 actually completely

00:22:04.540 wipe them out

00:22:05.960 or subdue them

00:22:06.860 and they're there

00:22:08.120 at the end.

00:22:09.500 So,

00:22:09.880 that's the Suebi.

00:22:10.880 Remember the name.

00:22:12.040 They're probably

00:22:12.920 the most important

00:22:13.560 German tribe.

00:22:14.780 If you would like

00:22:15.300 to see the full version

00:22:16.280 of this premium video,

00:22:17.660 please head over

00:22:18.140 to lotuseaters.com

00:22:19.320 and subscribe

00:22:20.060 to gain full access

00:22:21.200 to all of our

00:22:22.060 premium content.

00:22:23.920 Thank you.

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The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - December 01, 2024

PREVIEW： Epochs #187 ｜ Pompey & Caesar： Part XII

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