Chapter 94: The Germanic Tribe
Chapter 94: The Germanic Tribe
After ordering his soldiers to collect the corpses and tend to the wounded, Caesar summoned Marcus to the command tent.
When Marcus entered, Caesar was writing a report to send to the Senate.
“Did you call for me?”
“Oh, you’re here. Sit down for a moment.”
Caesar finished his report and instructed his subordinates to bring some snacks.
“Your legion suffered fewer casualties than any other,” he said.
“Yes, it’s probably because we used the new armor and weapons.”
“Speaking of which, is it impossible to supply them on a large scale? If we could arm the entire army with these, the war would be much easier.”
“I wish I could, but unfortunately, we don’t have enough. They’re very labor-intensive to produce. It’s not like shields and swords that can be mass-produced in an instant. If I could, I would have equipped all my legionaries with them first.”
Caesar stroked his chin, looking regretful.
He had observed the entire course of the war from a high vantage point, and that gave him a clear view of how impressive Marcus’ 12th legion was.
“Thanks to your legion breaking through the enemy’s left wing, the balance of the battle was shattered from the start. The other soldiers fought well, but Spartacus’ centurion was especially notable. I’m considering giving him a medal for his merit.”
“Thank you. I’m confident he deserves it. Of course, the other centurions fought bravely too, but Spartacus’ centurion killed more than ten enemies himself.”
“That’s right. He accomplished something remarkable. In this legion, it was the efforts of the 12th and 11th legions that managed the wings and kept our losses low.”
“I’ve heard there are also outstanding centurions in the 11th legion.”
Caesar nodded and ate a grape.
“Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, right? The 11th legionaries praise them as brave centurions. If they perform as well in the next battle, I’m thinking of awarding them medals as well.”
‘Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo...’
Marcus wondered if there was any way to recruit them to his own legion.
He had realized from this battle just how much of an impact skilled centurions had on a legion's combat power.
Marcus wanted the 12th legion to be the most elite legion in Rome.
To achieve that, he needed centurions of exceptional quality to match his own skills.
As Marcus pondered this, Caesar changed the subject slightly.
“By the way, what do you think we should do next? I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
“Isn’t that entirely up to you, Caesar?”
“Of course, I’ve already decided what we’ll do. But I’m curious if you agree with my approach.”
“It sounds like you want to test my judgment... Anyway, I’ll tell you. First of all, I think it’s too soon to move the legion.”
“Even though there are fewer casualties, the newly organized legionaries aren’t accustomed to such a large-scale battle. They fought for nearly half a day, so many will be exhausted. I think we should rest for at least three days in Bibracte, a town of the Haedui tribe nearby, to give them time to recover.”
Caesar listened in silence, gesturing for Marcus to continue.
Marcus spoke confidently.
“And there’s no need to chase the Helvetii too hard. They’ve already suffered a near-fatal blow. They won’t be able to wage war with any other tribe given their remaining strength. I think we only need to send a messenger to the Lingones tribe along their escape route, urging them not to support the Helvetii.”
“You’ve assessed the situation accurately. That’s my thinking too. The Helvetii have already lost the war and their supplies, so they’re finished. They’ll likely send an envoy tomorrow asking for mercy. Then we’ll have resolved most of the problem, and we can return home soon.”
“It wouldn’t matter much, but I don’t think the Gallic chiefs would want that. It’s their custom to seek external help when facing an external threat. They’ve seen your strength, so they’ll probably follow the same path this time.”
“You think just like me. I’ll have to ask for your opinion more often.”
Marcus smiled and bowed his head in response.
Caesar asked a few more questions, and Marcus answered them without hesitation. His responses were exactly what Caesar wanted to hear.
It was no surprise. Marcus had only stated the facts, which aligned with what Caesar had already done.
As expected, the next day the Helvetii sent an envoy.
The once-defiant representatives now lay flat on the ground, begging for Rome’s mercy.
“We no longer have the will or the power to oppose Rome. We will accept any terms you offer. Please show us your generous mercy.”
Contrary to the Helvetii’s expectations, Caesar offered the same conditions as before.
The Helvetii would stop their migration and return to their original territory.
They would not invade Gallic tribes that were allied with Rome.
They would send their tribal leaders’ children as hostages to Rome.
Caesar promised to guarantee the safety of the Helvetii if they adhered to these three conditions.
The Helvetii had no choice but to accept.
But there was one practical issue.
“Er... Your Excellency, the noble governor, forgive me for saying this, but we burned all our cities and towns to avoid leaving anything behind. It will be hard to survive the winter if we return to our original area.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll inform the nearby tribes to leave the Helvetii alone and provide them with support for a time. But you must rebuild your cities as soon as possible.”
“Of course! We deeply appreciate your merciful decision. The Helvetii will never be hostile to Rome or Rome’s allied tribes again.”
The envoy repeatedly bowed, expressing his gratitude.
In truth, the Helvetii had no position to refuse even harsher demands from Caesar.
Their population had dwindled from 360,000 to 90,000, and most of the dead were adult males who could fight.
At this rate, the tribe could be annihilated depending on Rome’s actions.
Yet, the envoy felt thankful for this outcome.
Of course, Caesar’s decision was not out of mercy.
He always showed a consistent attitude of tolerance, but there was strategy behind it.
If Caesar left the Helvetii’s lands vacant, the Germans could move in and take over.
Caesar had an ambition to fully bring Gaul under Rome’s control.
To achieve that, he had to avoid being forced to confront both the Gauls and the Germans at the same time.
He needed to drive the Germans west of the Rhine.
The challenge was that Rome had no reason to directly intervene with the Germans.
However, Caesar didn’t worry much about that.
He was confident that the Gauls, feeling threatened by the Germans, would act on their own.
As expected, the news of Caesar’s victory over the Helvetii spread quickly throughout Gaul.
Despite their defeat, the Helvetii were still formidable opponents, having once raided the Sequani and Haedui, some of Gaul’s strongest tribes. Even Rome had once suffered a defeat at their hands.
It was no surprise that Caesar’s reputation soared after defeating such a formidable foe.
The Gallic chiefs quickly decided to hold a tribal meeting to discuss future plans.
Caesar, stationed in Bibracte, heard of the meeting but did not attend. He knew exactly what would be discussed.
After the meeting, Diviciacus, the leader of the Haedui tribe, requested a private audience with Caesar.
And, just as Caesar had anticipated, Diviciacus made a request.
“Your Excellency, the noble governor of Rome, Gaul is in peril, like a candle flickering in the wind. The leader of the Suebi tribe, Ariovistus, is leading his Germans and expanding his power across the west side of the Rhine.”
“They were only 15,000 at first, but now they number close to 120,000. If we do nothing, they will become so powerful they’ll swallow all of Gaul.”
“That must be difficult for you.”
“It’s more than difficult. If Rome doesn’t intervene, we’ll have no choice but to flee from Germany, just like the Helvetii did.”
“I’m ashamed to admit this, but we don’t have enough strength to resist the Suebi. But you can, can’t you? You and your Roman army can surely drive them out. Please liberate Gaul from Ariovistus’ tyranny. Not just I, but all the tribes here are praying for this.”
“Do you truly believe Rome can defeat the Germans?”
“Of course. Didn’t you almost annihilate the Helvetii in one battle? Surely you can defeat the Germans as well. Please, save Gaul from destruction.”
It was a desperate plea, essentially asking Caesar to fight their battle for them.
Though it was an attempt to pass on responsibility, Caesar agreed to the request.
He added the signatures of the Gallic tribes to the report he sent to the Senate, justifying his actions.
This document clearly indicated that Rome was not interfering arbitrarily in the affairs of other nations.
In his letter to the Senate, Marcus also explained that this war was unavoidable.
“If we allow the Germans to grow their power in Gaul, they will inevitably invade Rome. Recall the Battle of Arausio with the Cimbri tribe. If the Suebi tribe conquers the Sequani territory, they will be directly adjacent to Rome’s province across the Rhone River. We must restrain Germany’s expansion in Gaul.”
Marcus' letter succinctly captured the essence of the situation.
The Roman Senate recognized the gravity of the issue.
The Battle of Arausio had been one of Rome’s worst defeats. Nearly 80,000 Roman citizens had perished in the battle, which had prompted Marius to argue for reforms in the Roman army system. Though Rome had eventually repelled the German invasion, the memory of the Germans remained a powerful source of resentment among the Roman nobles.
The Senate sent a reply granting Caesar the authority to act as he saw fit.
With the Senate’s approval, Caesar immediately took action. He sent an envoy to Ariovistus to deliver his demands.
Caesar did not ask Ariovistus to retreat across the Rhine immediately. Instead, he issued three conditions:
That Ariovistus should not approach the Rhone basin from his current territory.
That he return the hostages taken from the Gallic tribes.
That he cease all provocations against the Gallic tribes that were friendly to Rome.
Caesar concluded his message with:
“If you accept these conditions, Ariovistus and his tribe will maintain the title of friends of Rome. However, if you refuse, I, Caesar, responsible for Rome’s defense, will view this as a serious threat to our allies. I trust you will make a wise decision.”
Ariovistus responded with defiance, refusing to comply with Rome’s demands.
Both the Germans and the Romans were outsiders in Gaul, and the Germans had entered hoping to gain support from the Gauls. Now, with the situation deteriorating, Ariovistus was unwilling to leave.
Ariovistus was not intimidated by Rome. The Germans were physically imposing and highly skilled in combat. No Gallic tribe had been able to defeat him thus far, and Ariovistus was prepared to stand against Rome.
He quickly gathered his warriors and sent for reinforcements from across the Rhine.
Caesar recognized the urgency of the situation and moved his legion swiftly. He learned that Ariovistus was heading toward Besançon, the base of the Sequani tribe, and accelerated his march.
The legionaries, having rested after their battle with the Helvetii, followed Caesar’s orders without hesitation.
Thanks to their quick march, Caesar arrived at Besançon far ahead of Ariovistus, easily capturing the base.
Besançon was not only the Sequani tribe's base, but also a natural fortress surrounded by rivers on three sides. Securing this strategic point without significant damage was a major accomplishment.
The Sequani tribe, caught between the forces of Germany and Gaul, had hoped to side with the winning side in this conflict. However, Caesar’s rapid advance left them no time to make a calculated decision. They immediately pledged to sever ties with the Suebi tribe.
Caesar chose to rest in Besançon and replenish his supplies, but an unexpected issue arose.
While the soldiers were resting, they came into contact with German merchants who were also staying in the city. The Roman soldiers, unfamiliar with Germany, saw this as an opportunity to gather information.
These German merchants were physically imposing, even larger than the Gauls, who were already bigger than most Romans. They also spoke with fierce confidence.
One merchant boasted, “The bravery of German warriors far exceeds that of the Gauls. They trembled before us when we fought them. How could it be called a proper fight? We easily overwhelmed them. The Haedui tribe, supposedly the strongest in Gaul, were like children compared to our mighty warriors.”
This description quickly spread through the Roman ranks.
The less experienced recruits were the first to be swayed by fear.
Even the 12th legion, led by Marcus, felt the effects of this fear.
Spartacus noticed the change in morale and reported it.
“The soldiers’ morale is dropping day by day. Should we take action?”
“I’ve already reported it to Caesar, so he’ll figure out a way to raise their spirits. But I take it you’re not afraid of the Germans?” Marcus replied.
“Of course not. I’ve fought against German gladiators many times. They’re strong, yes, but that’s all I remember. They didn’t intimidate me,” Spartacus said confidently.
“Did you tell your centurion the same?” Marcus asked.
“Of course. That’s why my centurion’s soldiers aren’t afraid of the Germans,” Spartacus answered, straightening his posture.
Marcus, inspired by Spartacus' confidence, began to consider how to use this moment to boost the morale of the entire legion.
‘If I handle this right, I might be able to raise the spirits of the legion even further,’ Marcus thought.