Ancient Warfare II.4, Aug/Sept 2008

Theme: the Campaigns of Caesar.

Introduction: Jasper Oorthuys, 'introduction to the theme'. Illustrated by Carlos de la Rocha

The Source: Jona Lendering, 'A Master of Propaganda'
The Roman senator Cicero thought Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War were splendid. Of course, we can recognize the book’s bias, but it still is a remarkably efficient piece of writing.

Theme: Douglas Sterling, 'Impetuosity, spies and deceit'.

Much of Julius Caesar’s military successes in the late Roman Republic stemmed from his understanding of the importance of military intelligence. However, in the period of the civil wars, when Caesar fought for his political life and political hegemony, he acted more impetuously.

Theme: Vickey Kalambakal, 'Resting on a Knife-Edge'.
Deep in the enemy’s territory, Roman scouts picked a hill overlooking the Sabis River as a suitable place to build their camp. Assuming that serious battle would not commence for hours, Caesar put his men to work. He should have known better...

Theme: François Gilbert, 'Caesar’s legionary'. Illustrated by Stéphane Lagrange.
The roman legionary is usually seen as a man wearing a lorica segmentata and using a square scutum. In the course of the last decades our image of the ‘look’ of the Roman soldier throughout history has become more precise, thanks in large part to advances in archaeology. Nevertheless, uncertainty still exists, especially for the period of Caesar’s conquest of Gaul.

Theme: Ross Cowan, 'Caesar beats the odds'. Illustrated by Igor Dzis and Carlos de la Rocha.
On 4 January 46 BC Julius Caesar left his bridgehead camp at Ruspina in North Africa on a foraging expedition. He was accompanied by three recently formed legions and a very small number of mounted scouts and other cavalry. He discovered not supplies but a huge enemy army waiting for him a few miles from the camp. It seemed that the great general’s famous luck had finally ran out.

Theme: Duncan B.Campbell, 'Triump for Roman siegecraft'. Illustrated by Graham Sumner and Andrew Brozyna.
Caesar’s initial five-year governorship of Gaul was so successful that he found time, not only to cross the Rhine into Germany, but also to cross the ocean and invade Britain. However, rumblings of discontent in 53 BC threw up a new rebel leader in the person of Vercingetorix. His plan to unite the Gallic tribes and expel the roman invaders almost succeeded. But he had not reckoned with roman expertise in siegecraft.

Features

Special: Francisco Tudela, 'The Hoplite’s Second Shield'. Illustrated by Johnny Shumate.
Despite the absence of spectacular charges with lances couched underarm, the Greek hippeis (cavalry) did play a crucial role during numerous pitched battles. The horsemen’s role not only swayed the outcome of engagements, but also determined the amount of spilled blood.

Be a general: Murray Dahm, 'Command by Example II' Illustrated by Andrew Brozyna.
Polyaenus of Macedon now takes our attention. He wrote his Strategemata (actually titled Strategika in manuscripts) in eight books and addressed it to the brother emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, in preparation for their Parthian war, in AD 161-162.