Suessiones (Belgica): Axona River (Galba)
It was there that he received the disturbing news from his lieutenant Labienus that the Belgae (northeast) were threatening trouble. Caesar raised two new legions in Italy (XIII and XIV), and sent them under his nephew Quintus Pedius to Sequania, bringing the total number of legions to eight.
In 57 BC Caesar rejoined the army and learned from scouts of the Celtic Senones (2), southern neighbours to the Belgae, that the Belgae had raised an army and encamped north of the Axona (=Aisne) River. Caesar made his preparations and headed north towards their position, some fifteen days distant.
The nearest Belgic tribe, the Remi, immediately submitted, but the Belgae were very numerous and their coalition comprised some three hundred thousand men, commanded by the king of the Belgic Suessiones, Galba. Caesar advanced across the Matrona (=Marne), through Durocortorum (=Reims) and to the Axona (the northern bank of which was the southern edge of Remi territory) at Berry au Bac. Taking possession of a bridge, he encamped on a hill north of the crossing.
To secure his supply route he fortified the bridge on the north side with a palisade (12 ft high) trench (18 ft wide) rampart, and placed Titurius Sabinus in command of the south bank with six cohorts (≈3000 men).
The enemy meanwhile had raided the territory of the Remi and laid siege to Bibrax (Old Laon), eight miles north of Caesar’s camp. Caesar sent a force that probably entered the town from the south, the besiegers being active only on the other three sides. The easily discouraged Belgae withdrew from the siege and took up a position northwest of the Romans.
Northeast of Caesar’s camp a marshy stream called the Miette flowed southwest between the two armies then joined the Axona a mile or so west of the bridge. On the triangle of land thus formed he was protected by water on three sides, and to the east between the stream, fort and the river he built a wall and trench four hundred paces long, and placed artillery at each end to discourage the enemy from overlapping him.
Caesar was cautious about engaging this enormous army until he had gauged its quality. After a few minor skirmishes he soon realised that his cavalry was quite equal to that of the Belgian, and his infantry was far superior.
The Belgae were reluctant to assault Caesar’s defences. They marched around the Roman left and began to cross the river using a ford apparently unknown to the Romans. Caesar led his cavalry and light troops across the bridge to meet the threat. He arrived as the Belgae were emerging in disorder from the water and inflicted enormous losses upon them.
The Belgae lost heart and began to withdraw. Caesar sent his cavalry under Pedius and Aurunculeius Cotta, and three legions under Labienus, to harass the rear of the retreating enemy. The barbarians, who had no thought of further resistance, were cut down in their thousands.
Caesar then marched twenty-eight miles down the Axona and besieged the town Noviodunum (=Soissons), the city of Suessiones. Seeing the Romans’ siege engines, the Suessiones surrendered, whereupon Caesar turned his attention to the Bellovaci, who had retreated into the fortress of Bratuspantium (between modern Amiens and Beauvais). They quickly surrendered, as did the Ambiani.
Leave a Reply