Late Roman Republic, Julius Caesar (=Caesar; fl.85-44 BC), Caesar’s Reduction of Gaul (58-56 BC): Veneti [1/2], Seduni & Veragri, Aduatuci, Conference at Lucca

Veneti [1/2]: Brittany 

Caesar now sent ¹⁶Licinius Crassus and the seventh legion to northwest Gaul to winter with the Celtic Andes on the lower Loire where he eventually subdued Normandy and Brittany, with the Aulerci, Venelli (=Unelli), Veneti and other maritime peoples on the Atlantic coast submitting and giving hostages; Caesar himself went in pursuit of the Aduatuci, who having learned of the Roman victory were retreating to their walled town of Aduatuca (=Tongeren?) to the east.

Seduni and Veragri (Switzerland): Octodurus 

He sent ⁰⁹Sulpicius Galba with the twelfth and some cavalry southeast to open the Great Saint Bernard Pass where traders crossing the Alps were in danger from the tribes and had to pay them excessive tolls. After taking many strong places and receiving the submission of the people he sent two cohorts into the country of the Nantuates and wintered the remainder in Octodurus, the town of the Veragri. He began to construct a ditch and rampart but before it could be completed he was attacked by the Veragri and Seduni. He defended his position for six hours and then made a sortie which was successful. The Celts were estimated at more than thirty thousand, and Caesar says more than a third of them were killed. After this escape Galba marched through the country of the Nantuates and wintered in the land of the Allobroges.

Aduatuci (Belgica): Aduatuca

At the Aduatuci stronghold the people were at first scornful of the Roman’s elaborate siege preparations, but grew fearful at their ever first sight of a mobile siege engine. Their response was to feign submission by giving up their weapons, except for about a third. Caesar anticipated this, and after killing three thousand of them sold the remaining fifty-three thousand into slavery. With all Gaul now apparently stunned into submission, Caesar now put his legions in winter quarters among the Belgae and set out for Cisalpina.

• Conference at Lucca (April 56 BC)

In Rome there was some pressure directed against the triumvirate: Cicero planned to challenge Caesar’s bill of 59 BC, which had given land to Pompey’s veterans; Cicero in defence of Sestius made a strong attack on Vatinius, the proposer of Caesar’s command in Gaul; and ⁰⁶Domitius Ahenobarbus (cos.54 BC), who hoped to become consul in 55 BC, said that he would propose the recall of Caesar.

But all this came to nothing for in April 56 BC Caesar met Pompey and ¹³Licinius Crassus at Lucca in Etruria, and it was agreed that they should be consuls in 55 BC after which Pompey would command in Spain and Crassus in Syria for five years; Caesar obtained the extension of his proconsulship till March 49 BC and was to be consul in 48 BC. The presence of nearly two hundred senators in Luca lent weight to the agreement and the coalition was firmly re-established.