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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §5.21.1-5.21.6

Surrender of British Tribes and Fall of Cassivellaunus' Stronghold

Passage 177 of 404 · Latin

Summary

After protecting the Trinobantes, Caesar receives the surrender of neighboring tribes and, based on their information, successfully attacks Cassivellaunus's fortified stronghold.

§5.21.1Trinobantibus defensis atque ab omni militum iniuria prohibitis Cenimagni, Segontiaci, Ancalites, Bibroci, Cassi legationibus missis sese Caesari dedunt. §5.21.2Ab his cognoscit non longe ex eo loco oppidum Cassivellauni abesse silvis paludibusque munitum, quo satis magnus hominum pecorisque numerus convenerit. §5.21.3Oppidum autem Britanni vocant, cum silvas impeditas vallo atque fossa munierunt, quo incursionis hostium vitandae causa convenire consuerunt. §5.21.4Eo proficiscitur cum legionibus: locum reperit egregie natura atque opere munitum; tamen hunc duabus ex partibus oppugnare contendit. §5.21.5Hostes paulisper morati militum nostrorum impetum non tulerunt seseque alia ex parte oppidi eiecerunt. §5.21.6Magnus ibi numerus pecoris repertus, multique in fuga sunt comprehensi atque interfecti.
The Trinobantes having been defended and protected from all injury of the soldiers, the Cenimagni, Segontiaci, Ancalites, Bibroci, and Cassi send embassies and surrender themselves to Caesar. From them he learns that the town of Cassivellaunus, fortified by woods and marshes, into which a fairly large number of men and cattle had assembled, was not far from that place. Now the Britons call it a town, when they have fortified entangled woods with a rampart and a trench, where they have been accustomed to assemble for the purpose of avoiding an incursion of the enemy. Thither he marches with his legions; he finds the place excellently fortified by nature and by art; nevertheless, he endeavors to attack it from two sides. The enemy, having delayed for a short time, did not withstand the onset of our soldiers, and cast themselves out of the town on another side. A great number of cattle was found there, and many in their flight were overtaken and slain.

Notes

  1. 5.21.1Trinobantibus defensis atque ab omni militum iniuria prohibitis — Ablative absolute construction. It has Trinobantes as its logical subject, distinct from the subject of the main clause (Cenimagni, etc.).
  2. 5.21.2non longe ex eo loco oppidum Cassivellauni abesse — An accusative and infinitive clause serving as the object of the verb cognoscit. The main infinitive is abesse.
  3. 5.21.3incursionis hostium vitandae causa — Expression of purpose using causa with the genitive. The gerundive vitandae agrees with the noun incursionis in gender, number, and case (feminine singular genitive).

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §5.21.1-5.21.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:5.21.1-5.21.6

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