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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §7.34.1-7.34.3

Division of the Army and the March on Gergovia

Passage 292 of 404 · Latin

Summary

Caesar, after urging the Aedui to support the war, divides his army into two parts, sending Labienus to the Senones and leading the rest to Gergovia himself. Upon learning this, Vercingetorix destroys the bridges and marches along the opposite side of the river.

§7.34.1Hoc decreto interposito cohortatus Aeduos, ut controversiarum ac dissensionis obliviscerentur atque omnibus omissis his rebus huic bello servirent eaque quae meruissent praemia ab se devicta Gallia exspectarent equitatumque omnem et peditum milia decem sibi celeriter mitterent, quae in praesidiis rei frumentariae causa disponeret, exercitum in duas partes divisit: §7.34.2quattuor legiones in Senones Parisiosque Labieno ducendas dedit, sex ipse in Arvernos ad oppidum Gergoviam secundum flumen Elaver duxit; equitatus partem illi attribuit, partem sibi reliquit.
Having interposed this decree, he encouraged the Aedui to forget their disputes and dissension, and, setting aside all these matters, to devote themselves to this war, and to expect from him the rewards they had deserved once Gaul was subdued, and to send quickly to him all their cavalry and ten thousand infantry, which he might distribute in garrisons for the sake of the grain supply; then he divided his army into two parts: he gave four legions to Labienus to be led against the Senones and Parisii, and he himself led six against the Arverni along the river Elaver to the town of Gergovia; a part of the cavalry he assigned to him, and a part he kept for himself.
§7.34.3Qua re cognita Vercingetorix omnibus interruptis eius fluminis pontibus ab altera fluminis parte iter facere coepit.
This matter being known, Vercingetorix, having broken down all the bridges of that river, began to march along the other side of the river.

Notes

  1. 7.34.1devicta Gallia — Ablative absolute expressing time or condition ("when Gaul has been subdued" or "once Gaul is conquered").
  2. 7.34.1quae in praesidiis... disponeret — A relative clause of purpose with the subjunctive `disponeret`. The antecedent is `equitatum omnem et peditum milia decem` (all the cavalry and ten thousand infantry).
  3. 7.34.2ducendas — Gerundive modifying `quattuor legiones` (four legions), the object of `dedit` (he gave), accompanied by the dative of agent `Labieno`. It expresses purpose ("to be led by Labienus" or "for Labienus to lead").

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §7.34.1-7.34.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:7.34.1-7.34.3

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