Caesar’s elite Germanic Cavalry - Page 2 of 2. Reconstruction of the Roman siege fortifications at Alesia (commons- wikimedia)Construction of the Roman fortifications was still going on when Vercingetorix’s cavalry sallied out of the Gallic camp. Possibly numbering over 1. Gauls were met in battle by Caesar’s cavalry. The earth rumbled from galloping horses, with the fighting sweeping over a three- mile stretch of plains between the hills. The Gallic horsemen gained the upper hand over Caesar’s auxiliary Gallic and Spanish cavalry but once again, Caesar had kept his Germans in reserve. The Germans turned the tide and harried the Gauls back against their outer wall and trench. Behind the attacking Germans, the legions drew themselves up for battle. A general panic now erupted among the Gauls as the looked like the legions were preparing for an assault. From the film Julius Caesar, the siege of Alesia & the Surrender of Vercingetorix King of all the Gauls in September 52 BC. Caesar's 12 Legions of approx 60,000 men against a total of 360,000 Gauls, 80,000 of them. The chief advantage Vercingetorix had over Caesar in every encounter was his cavalry. Vercingetorix continued his surprise attacks on the Roman forces but was surprised himself when. Alesia 52 BC: The final struggle for Gaul.
More info on Battle of Alesia. The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia took place in September. The siege of Alesia is considered one of Caesar's greatest military achievements. The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia took place in September. The Siege of Alesia is considered one of Caesar's greatest military achievements and a classic example of siege warfare and. Masses of Gauls tried to flee into the town but Vercingetorix had the gates shut. Below them at the camp ramparts, frantic Gauls jammed up the narrow gates or abandoned their mounts to scramble through the trench and up the wall. The Germans were right behind them, swords slashing and spears thrusting, riding down their panicked foes and capturing a number of horses into the bargain. Vercingetorix was forced to change his strategy, remaining on the defensive and sending out cavalry to raise a relief army among the nearby rebellious tribes. As the siege dragged on, the perhaps 2. Gauls and the tens of thousands of non- combatants of Alesia were reduced to near starvation. Their spirits rose with the sighting of the arrival of the Gallic relief army under Commius, King of the Atrebates. Commius’ army numbered an estimated 1. Caesar’s worn down legions and remaining auxiliaries. Caesar was now in a real bind, as Vercingetorix’s men stormed the inner line of Roman fortifications while Commius sent forth his cavalry, archers and light armed troops to assault the outward facing Roman defenses. With his legionaries defending against Vercingetorix’ men, Caesar sent his cavalry to engage Commius’ troops. The besieged Gauls in Alesia shouted to encourage their own, more numerous cavalry. The hard fought battle lasted until the sun neared the horizon. It was then that the Germans massed all their squadrons for a charge. The German cavalry struck Commius’ Gallic horsemen like a thunderbolt. Commius’ cavalry fled the field, exposing his archers who were easily cut down. With Commius’ cavalry pushed back, Vercingetorix withdrew his demoralized men back into Alesia. A second Gallic assault at night died in the fire of Roman siege engines. A third attack saw Caesar’s cavalry strike at Commius’ infantry from the rear, utterly beating them. With no help left, Vercingetorix surrendered. Aside from relatively minor engagements, it was the end of the Gallic wars. Vercingetorix surrenders his arms to Caesar (Lionel Royer – Mus. For four years his Gallic and Germanic cavalry accompanied the legions through the civil war against the Pompeians and the interludes of the Egyptian and Pontic wars. After performing admirably in the Spanish campaign of 4. Pompey’s army in Greece. In 4. 8 BC, Caesar blocked Pompey from reaching his supply base at Dyrrachium. In turn, Caesar found his own supply route to Italy severed by Pompey’s naval dominance of the Adriatic. When Pompey tried to break through Caesar’s entrenchments, the Germans fought on foot beside the legions. Sallying forth over their own fortifications, the Germans slew several Pompeians before returning back to Caesar’s camp. Nevertheless, Pompey eventually managed to pierce the blockade. Forced to withdraw, Caesar’s army was demoralized and low on supplies. Withdrawing into Thessaly, Caesar stormed the defiant town of Gomphi and gave it over to be ransacked by his half- starved soldiers. The whole army, especially the Germans, embarked on an orgy of gluttony and drinking. Pompey finally caught up with Caesar at Pharsalus. Caesar overthrew Pompey’s initially successful cavalry charge and inflicted a crushing defeat. Pompey fled to Egypt where the ministers of Ptolemy XII assassinated him. Caesar became involved with Cleopatra and her dynastic struggles with her brother and co- regent Ptolemy. With the aid of Mithridates of Pergamum, Caesar cornered Ptolemy near the Nile. The Egyptian army sought protection on a hill flanked by a canal. The German cavalry swam the canal, striking the Egyptians in the flank and allowing the Romans to cross the canal unopposed and annihilate the Egyptians. After a lightning campaign against Pharnaces of Pontus, who had occupied Armenia and Cappadocia, Caesar returned to Italy. In 4. 6 BC Caesar continued the war against the followers of Pompey in North Africa . Caesar’s overeager veterans launched themselves into battle before the lines had been formed and without Caesar’s orders. Simultaneously his archers targeted the elephants which panicked and steam- rolled through their own lines, causing a general collapse among the opposing legions and the Numidians. The civil war was brought to an end in 4. BC, when Caesar faced Gnaeus Pompeius’ legions at Munda. In addition to eight legions, Caesar possessed over 8. Gauls and Germans and King Bogud of Maurentia, with his corps of Moorish horsemen. The 1. 0th legion caved in the enemy’s left flank while the cavalry, with Bogud in the lead, vanquished the enemy horsemen and fell upon the enemy’s flank and rear. Caesar returned to Rome and became dictator. He rewarded his veteran legionaries with a generous gift: gold coins equal to 2. Caesar disbanded his Praetorian bodyguard and his Spanish cohorts. Likely his Gallic and German cavalry disbanded as well, returning to their tribes with plunder and coin. Perhaps a few of their number were even granted the coveted Roman citizenship. No doubt, many stayed in some sort of military service for the Romans. There was certainly no lack of opportunity for a skilled sword for hire when, upon Caesar’s death in 4. BC, a new civil war erupted. Caesar’s German cavalry had certainly proved their worth. In Gaul, they gave Caesar the advantage over hostile cavalry and returned the initiative to Caesar’s hands. Alongside the siege craft and tenacity of the legions, the German cavalry helped bring about Caesar’s victory at Alesia. In Greece, the German tribesmen proved that they could fight as well on foot as they could on horseback. In Egypt, they helped clinch the victory over Ptolemy. Few in number, Caesar treated his German cavalry as elite, often holding them in reserve until the situation became desperate. It was then, that this small but crack corps of warriors could decisively influence the course of a war. Caesar’s Germanic cavalry is an edited and revised article based on L. Dyck’s original article published in Military History July 2. SOURCES Appian, Appian’s Roman History. London: William, Heinemann LTD, 1. Bunson Matthew, A Dictionary of the Roman Empire. New York: Oxford University, Caesar. London: Penguin Books. Ancient History, Sourcebook. London: Mac. Millan Education LTD. The Barbarian Invasions. Lincon: University of Nebraska Press. Fuller J. F. C. Julius Caesar, Man, Soldier, and Tyrant. New Jersey : Da Capo Press. Goldsworthy, Adrian Keith. The Roman Army at War 1. BC- AD 2. 00. Oxford: Oxford Claredon Press. Macdowall Simon. Germanic Warrior 2. AD. 1. 99. 6, Macdowall Simon. The Late Roman Cavalryman 2. AD. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. Mc. Call Jeremiah. The Cavalry of the Roman Republic. Oxford: Oxford University Press. London: Penguin Books. The Agricola and Germania. Ontario: Penguin Books. Todd Malcom. Everyday Life of the Barbarians. New York: Dorset Press. Wilcox Peter and Trevino Rafael. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2. Caesar’s elite Germanic Cavalry.
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