Battle of Bibracte

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Battle of Bibracte
Part of the Gallic Wars
Date 58 BC Location Saône-et-Loire, France Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Mainly Helvetii, Boii, Tulingi
Commanders
Julius Caesar	Divicus
Strength
Six Roman legions (30,000)	70,000-370,000 (Larger number includes non-combatants).

Gallic Wars Arar - Bibracte - Vosges - Axona – Sabis – Gergovia – Alesia

The Battle of Bibracte was fought between the Helvetii and six Roman legions, under the command of Gaius Julius Caesar. It was the second major battle of the Gallic Wars.

After following the migration of the Helvetii and defeating them, Caesar, around 20 June, moved towards Bibracte, to obtain the supplies promised by his allies, the Aedui. The Helvetii took this occasion to turn and attack Caesar. The battle started at noon, and despite the presence of the Gallic allies, ended with the defeat of the Helvetii during the night.

After defeating the Helvetii in Transalpine Gaul, Gaius Julius Caesar's six legions marched towards Bibracte (approximately 18 miles away from their camp) in order to restock supplies and continue his campaign, bringing peace to Rome's northern border. A small number of soldiers, at this point, deserted the Romans and pursued the Helvetii so that they might join them, and they reported Caesar's recent maneuvers towards Bibracte. In consequence, the Helvetii turned to pursue the Roman legions; they caught up quickly, first attacking the rear of the Roman column. Caesar, scraping for time to ready his men, directed his cavalry to the rear. He took control of a hill and placed the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth legions, organized in the Roman fashion (triplex acies), near the bottom of the slope. Farther up the hill, he placed the Eleventh and Twelfth legions to guard their supplies and to display the number of troops Caesar had with him. The Helvetii organized their supplies behind their forces. That afternoon, they began to march towards the hill where the Romans had been deployed. The legions at the base of the slope waited for the Helvetii to approach within 10 to 15 yards of their front line, and then launched a volley of pila (javelins) to break up the advancing gauls' front lines. Having sufficiently slowed the enemy, the Romans took full advantage of their position uphill from the Helvetii and met them head on. They fought here for a while before the Helvetii retreated to another hill across the plain that lay at the base of the hill where Caesar had positioned the Romans. The legions pursued them onto this plain, at which point the Boii and Tulingi arrived to assist the Helvetii on one side. Caesar redirected the back lines of his cohorts, organizing them into a new line to meet the new barbarian one. The Helvetii continued to fight, but they eventually lost their supplies and possessions and took flight. Rather than pursuing the enemy, the Romans remained outside Bibracte, because they had not yet restocked their supplies. Caesar took note that the Helvetii had fled in the direction of the Lingones to the northeast, and so sent letters to the leaders of the Lingones instructing them not to assist the Helvetii in any way. After a few days, he began his pursuit of the Helvetii who sent representatives of their tribe to ask for peace.

[edit] References

• Battle of Bibracte in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

Goldsworthy, Adrian. Caesar: Life of a Colossus. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007. 220-223.