Caesar’s Campcraft And SiegecraftDuring The Gallic Wars

Ernest Watford LATN 6030 Roman Historians

June 28, 2010

OutlinePart 1 – Castra Romana

Part 2 – Oppidum Gallicum

Part 3 – Obsideo Romana

Castra Aestiva

Fossa

Vallum

Vallum• 6-10 ft. high• strengthened with fascines• 4 ft. Breastwork on top• steps/incline inside

Fossa

• 9 ft across by 7 ft deep

Turris

Castra Exterior

LILIA

CIPPI STIMULI

5 ft

Cross-section of Alesia Fortifications

Reconstruction of Caesars’ cam p at the River Aisne in 57 BCE

• march starts at dawn• scouts sent ahead to locate & lay out• always square-ish• on a hill near wood

& water• 4 porta• after 6/8 hours march• front half, soldiers• rear half, officers• 100 ft pomerium• praetorium in center

Trajan’s Column Antonine Column

Tabernaculumtents sleeping 8

Part 2 - Gallic Oppidum

1 2

4

6

3

57

8

Construction Of AMurus Gallicus

1. INTERNAL DIRT MOUND 5. DIRT BLOCKING THE WALL BASE2. FRONT FACING 6. POST HOLE3. INTERNAL WOOD BEAMS 7. GLACIS4. WALKWAY 8. DITCH

OPENED VIEW OF MURUS GALLICUS

FRONT VIEW OFMURUS GALLICUS

Part 3 - Caesar’s Obsideo

• Surprise or Betrayal preferred

• All-out assault was attempted sometimes

• Siege was a last resort, but …

Rome excelled at sieges

Roman Siegecraft And Works

TESTUDO

ONAGERBALLISTA

AGGER

VINEA

CATAPULTA

TURRISAMBULATORIA

PLUTEUS

400-500 ft

8-10 ft

MU

RUS

GAL

LICU

S

50-60 ft

40-50 ft

TURRIS AMBULATORIA

ARIES

Vinea

VINEA

SAPPERS

Ballista

Scorpio

Scorpio

TOP SIDE FRONTVIEW VIEW VIEW

Catapulta

Onager

Vae Victis!

ARIES

• march starts at dawn• scouts sent ahead to locate & lay out• always square-ish• on a hill near wood

& water• 4 porta• after 6/8 hours march• front half, soldiers• rear half, officers• 100 ft pomerium• praetorium in center

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