Chapter 7

" II. " 57. The Nervii, the bravest Belgian tribe, almost exterminated. " III. " 56. Conquest of the coast tribes of Brittany (Veneti, &c.) and of the South-West (Aquitani). " IV. " 55. Inroad of Germans into Northern Gaul repulsed. Caesar crosses the Rhine a first time. First invasion of Britain. " V. " 54. Second invasion of Britain. Fresh risings of the Gauls put down by Labienus and Q. Cicero. " VI. " 53. Caesar crosses the Rhine a second time. Northern Gaul reduced to peace. " VII. " 52. Uprising of the Gauls under Vercingetorix. Siege and capture of Alesia. Surrender of Vercingetorix. He is taken in chains to Rome, to adorn Caesar's triumph. " VIII. " 51 (added by HIRTIUS). Final subjugation of Gaul.

Caesar's object was threefold:--

(i) To provide materials for professed historians.

(ii) To justify the conquest he describes.

(iii) To vindicate in the eyes of the world his opposition to the Senate and the Government.

(2) +DE BELLO CIVILI.+--This work, in three Books, is similar in plan to the _De Bello Gallico_. It describes the events of the Civil War during the years 49-48 B.C. Book III. ends abruptly with the words:

_Haec initia belli Alexandrini fuerunt._