The people of Gaul (modern France) didn't know what they were getting into when they asked Rome for help. Some of the Gallic tribes were official Roman allies, so Caesar was obligated to come to their assistance when they asked for help against the incursions of stronger, Germanic tribes from across the Rhine. The Gauls realized too late that Rome's help had come at an exorbitant cost and that they might have been better off with the Germans who later fought for the Romans against them.
The following is a list of the years, the winners, and the losers of the battles between Julius Caesar and the tribal leaders of Gaul.
1. Battle of Bibracte
Public Domain. Courtesy of LacusCurtius http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/home.html
58 B.C. Won by the Romans under Julius Caesar and lost by the Helvetii under Orgetorix.
2. Vosges
Public Domain. Courtesy of LacusCurtius http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/home.html
58 B.C. Won by the Romans under Julius Caesar; lost by the Germans under Ariovistus.
3. Sabis River
57 B.C. Won by the Romans under Julius Caesar; lost by the Nervii.4. Morbihan Gulf
56 B.C. Won by the Romans' naval fleet under D. Junius Brutus. Lost by the Veneti. Caesar considered the Veneti rebels and punished them severely.5. Gallic Revolts
54 B.C.- The Eburones under Ambiorix wiped out the Roman legions under Cotta and Sabinus. This was the Romans' first major defeat in Gaul.
- They then besieged the troops under legate Quintus Cicero's command. When Caesar got word, he came to help and defeated the Eburones.
- Troops under Roman legate Labienus defeated the Treveri troops under Indutiomarus.
