Battle of Vosges (58 BC)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Vosges was fought between the Germanic
tribe of the Suebi
under the leadership of Ariovistus
against six Roman legions under the command of Gaius Julius Caesar
in 58 BC
. This encounter is the third major battle of the Gallic Wars
. Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine, seeking a home in Gaul. The main Gallic rebellion had not started yet, as it was in 52 BC.
Prior to the battle, Caesar and Ariovistus conferenced. Ariovistus' cavalry cast stones and weapons at the Roman cavalry. Caesar broke off negotiations and instructed his men not to retaliate to prevent the Suebi from claiming they were induced into a trap under "sanction of conference."
and battle was fought proximally, with swords. A fierce struggle occurred in which the German left was broken after a stiff fight.
On the other flank, the Roman left nearly cracked under severe pressure until reinforced by Publius Licinius Crassus
, the son of Marcus Licinius Crassus
who later died in action against the Parthians at Carrhae
. In command of the reserve cavalry, Crassus had the opportunity to move around the battlefield. Seeing the left wing in peril, Crassus led forward reserves from the third line, which first blunted and then broke the German attack.
Overwhelmed on both flanks, the Germanic tribesmen then fled for the Rhine closely pursued by the Romans. This 15-mile pursuit took a heavy toll on the escaping Suebi. Ariovistus was driven back over the Rhine, which he would never cross again.
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
tribe of the Suebi
Suebi
The Suebi or Suevi were a group of Germanic peoples who were first mentioned by Julius Caesar in connection with Ariovistus' campaign, c...
under the leadership of Ariovistus
Ariovistus
Ariovistus was a leader of the Suebi and other allied Germanic peoples in the second quarter of the 1st century BC. He and his followers took part in a war in Gaul, assisting the Arverni and Sequani to defeat their rivals the Aedui, after which they settled in large numbers in conquered Gallic...
against six Roman legions under the command of Gaius Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
in 58 BC
58 BC
Year 58 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Gabinius...
. This encounter is the third major battle of the Gallic Wars
Gallic Wars
The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the Roman proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gallic tribes. They lasted from 58 BC to 51 BC. The Gallic Wars culminated in the decisive Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, in which a complete Roman victory resulted in the expansion of the...
. Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine, seeking a home in Gaul. The main Gallic rebellion had not started yet, as it was in 52 BC.
Prior to the battle, Caesar and Ariovistus conferenced. Ariovistus' cavalry cast stones and weapons at the Roman cavalry. Caesar broke off negotiations and instructed his men not to retaliate to prevent the Suebi from claiming they were induced into a trap under "sanction of conference."
Battle
Caesar led his forces forward in the standard three line formation. Observing that the German left was the weaker part of their line he concentrated his forces there. The Germans attacked in several columns, moving so swiftly that there was no time for the Romans to hurl their pilaPilum
The pilum was a javelin commonly used by the Roman army in ancient times. It was generally about two metres long overall, consisting of an iron shank about 7 mm in diameter and 60 cm long with pyramidal head...
and battle was fought proximally, with swords. A fierce struggle occurred in which the German left was broken after a stiff fight.
On the other flank, the Roman left nearly cracked under severe pressure until reinforced by Publius Licinius Crassus
Publius Licinius Crassus (son of triumvir)
Publius Licinius Crassus was one of two sons of the triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus and Tertulla. He belonged to the last generation of Roman nobiles who came of age and began a political career before the collapse of the Republic...
, the son of Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who commanded the right wing of Sulla's army at the Battle of the Colline Gate, suppressed the slave revolt led by Spartacus, provided political and financial support to Julius Caesar and entered into the political alliance known as the...
who later died in action against the Parthians at Carrhae
Battle of Carrhae
The Battle of Carrhae, fought in 53 BC near the town of Carrhae, was a major battle between the Parthian Empire and the Roman Republic. The Parthian Spahbod Surena decisively defeated a Roman invasion force led by Marcus Licinius Crassus...
. In command of the reserve cavalry, Crassus had the opportunity to move around the battlefield. Seeing the left wing in peril, Crassus led forward reserves from the third line, which first blunted and then broke the German attack.
Overwhelmed on both flanks, the Germanic tribesmen then fled for the Rhine closely pursued by the Romans. This 15-mile pursuit took a heavy toll on the escaping Suebi. Ariovistus was driven back over the Rhine, which he would never cross again.