Second Gallic Revolt (54-53 BC): Ambiorix (Eburones)
In 54 BC Indutiomarus, a noble of the Treveri and the head of the anti-Roman faction, prepared for war against the Romans and evacuated non-combatants to the Ardennes. When Caesar arrived in the land of the Treveri en route for his second expedition to Britain, many of Indutiomarus’ supporters deserted him and submitted to Caesar, who then took hostages and promoted the pro-Roman Cingetorix, Indutiomarus’ son-in-law and rival, to power among the Treveri.
One of the hostages Caesar proposed to take with him was Dumnorix, the younger brother of Divitiacus and the leader of the Aeduan anti-Roman faction. Dumnorix together with Orgetorix of the Helvetii and Casticus of the Sequani had conspired to make themselves kings in their own tribes then with their combined power rule all of Gaul. However, the conspiracy was discovered and the Helvetii recalled Orgetorix, who died, perhaps by his own hand. Dumnorix had then used his influence with the Sequani and persuaded them to allow the Helvetii to migrate through their territory.
Dumnorix now pleaded his fear of the sea and religious obligations in a desperate attempt to get Caesar to leave him behind. When this failed he attempted to escape from Caesar’s camp along with the Aeduan cavalry. Caesar sent the rest of the cavalry after him. Dumnorix was killed, and the Aeduan cavalry returned to Caesar’s service.
Indutiomarus continued to plan rebellion while the Romans were in Britain. On his return to Gaul a poor harvest caused Caesar to put his legions into winter quarters spread over an unusually large area. Fifteen days later Ambiorix and Cativolcus, co-rulers of the Eburones, attacked a camp at Aduatuca and destroyed a legion and a half under the command of Sabinus and Aurunculeius Cotta. Ambiorix then encouraged the Nervii to attack the camp of Quintus 03Tullius Cicero, while Indutiomarus prepared to attack that of Labienus.
Caesar gathered a relief force and lifted the siege of Cicero’s camp. Deterred by this reverse, Indutiomarus withdrew his forces into Treveran territory and spent the winter hunting for allies in Germania. Then, emboldened by envoys from the Senones (2), Carnutes, Nervii and the Aduatuci, he marched against Labienus and surrounded the Roman camp. He took to riding daily with his cavalry closer and closer to the Roman camp, until one day the Roman auxiliaries surprised the Treveran force with a sudden sally and Indutiomarus was killed.
During the winter the Treveri persuaded some of the more distant tribes in Germania to join them, and made a formal alliance with Ambiorix. The Nervii, Atuatuci, Menapii and the Eburones were still in arms; and the Senones and Carnutes were still resisting. While it was still winter Caesar left Samarobriva (Amiens) with four legions and raided the land of the Nervii and compelled their chiefs to submit.
In spring 53 BC Caesar made punitive strikes against the Senones and Carnutes, and forced their submission. He then marched against the Menapii and they again took refuge in their forests and marshes. But this time Caesar built bridges across the rivers, causeways over the marshes, and when he sent three columns against them the Menapii surrendered.
He then pushed southward to deal with the Treveri. Before he could arrive, Labienus, who had marched to meet them, drew them out with a feigned flight across a river and when he suddenly wheeled they fled into the woods. The German allies, who had not had time to join them, returned home; and within a few days the whole tribe submitted. Ambiorix slipped away and was never caught.
Caesar was soon joined by Labienus, and having decided to punish the Germans he threw a second bridge across the Rhine. His expeditionary force raided the countryside, but the Suebi declined to fight and his scouts reported that they had retreated to the safety of a huge forest. On Caesar’s return to Gaul, he had the eastern part of the bridge destroyed.
He now made a vigorous attempt to put down Ambiorix, who was still active: the land of the Eburones was laid to waste; the troops of Ambiorix were again and again defeated, but Ambiorix himself always escaped. During this period the Sugambri crossed the Rhine and almost captured Cicero’s camp. At the end of the campaign, Cativolcus, king of the Eburones, killed himself; and Acco, a chief of the Senones and the senior ringleader of the conspiracy, was put to death.
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