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Caesar Against The Celts
Caesar Against the Celts takes the reader on each of Caesar's campaigns in ancient France, Britain & Germany, describing his battles on land & sea, including the invasions of England, the bridge across the Rhine & sieges of numerous Celtic strongholds. Tho Caesar's dangerous leap across the Channel to mysterious Britain was perhaps the most spectacular feat of his northern campaigns, the climax of war occurred at Alesia, in central France. Here, the young Celtic warrior Vercingetorix, commanding a huge coalition of rebellious tribes, finally surrendered to Caesar after an epic siege, only to be carted off to Rome in chains & put to death after his opponent's triumphal parade. Caesar Against the Celts presents the facts, the myths & the speculations not only about what Caesar achieved, but also how & why.
303 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 2, 2021
The military expedition into the Gallic territory and British Isles. The author draws upon modern archaeological, linguistic and historical research, which includes identification of the sites of many of Caesar's battle camps and sieges. From what I understood, Caesar never intended to stay in the British Isles.
March 27, 2017
Just didnt grab me, for what it was I would have rather read Caesars original writing again. I think it would be good for someone who hasnt read 'The Gallic War' by Julius Caesar but if you have already read it this book doesnt introduce much new and just rehashes the text, often quoting large swathes of it verbatim. Again, might as well just jump straight into the original.
July 2, 2014
The only complete Latin book I ever read was Caesar's Gallic Wars and that in a high school Latin class. It wasn't easy, even with all the footnotes and vocabulary and grammatical aids. I've never been good with foreign languages.
That was a long time ago. This book retells the stories of the Gallic Wars and of the Roman Civil War which followed with extensive reference to the Caesarian texts, later sources and the archaeological evidence. It is also serves as a political history of the last days of the Roman Republic.
What most impressed me about this book, however, was the quality of its writing--not just the author's mastery of our language, but also his skill in telling stories, seamlessly adducing the evidences for his accounts (as well as for and against Caesar's) without interrupting the flow. This history book was actually fun to read, a lot more fun than Caesar's histories were.
That was a long time ago. This book retells the stories of the Gallic Wars and of the Roman Civil War which followed with extensive reference to the Caesarian texts, later sources and the archaeological evidence. It is also serves as a political history of the last days of the Roman Republic.
What most impressed me about this book, however, was the quality of its writing--not just the author's mastery of our language, but also his skill in telling stories, seamlessly adducing the evidences for his accounts (as well as for and against Caesar's) without interrupting the flow. This history book was actually fun to read, a lot more fun than Caesar's histories were.
February 5, 2009
This was a very interesting and accessible book by a non-professional historian, a career government employee who just really loved and knew his subject and wrote a fantastic and fantastically interesting book. It really made this come alive, I loved reading it and can't recommend it enough.
March 10, 2015
Having read Caesar's Gallic War, I will say that this is a better work. Jimenez spends a great deal of time showing inaccuracies in Caesar's commentaries and adds clarification through other sources including archeology. There is a preponderance on Britain, but the book is excellent.
Caesar was a controversial figure. Jimenez argues that he was a mixture of skill and luck. While Jimenez comments on most of the Gallic War and Caesar's Civil War, the main thrust is examining Caesar as an author. In this case, Jimenez sets a simple argument that the Gallic War was a piece of propaganda literature intending to sway public opinion in Rome to support Caesar's controversies.
The strongest point of contention to support this thesis is Caesar's two invasions of Britain, which Jimenez, and most other historians, regard as useless endeavors. In fact, Jimenez goes further to say that Caesar's luck was the only thing that saved him both times. Weather conditions and failing to locate a protective harbor threatened to doom both expeditions. However, Caesar mentions the invasions because Britain was so remote that it was almost mythical to the Romans. His "conquest" added to his public relations persona.
There is also more archeology in Britain from which Jimenez can identify to support his assertions. Using sources other than Caesar himself, notably the letters of Cicero, Jimenez can locate key inconsistencies in the Gallic War, such as Caesar's flight from the Thames to his coastal base because of a Celtic attack in that area. Caesar left the bulk of his armies behind him. However, in the Gallic War, he barely mentions the attack, which his general had repelled by the time Caesar arrived with reinforcements.
The last three chapters in the book continue the thesis of propaganda. Jimenez barely examines the Civil War. His purpose is to show that Caesar continued describing his conquests up until he consolidated Egypt. Jimenez uses other sources to illustrate that the Roman world was fracturing, but Caesar decided to stay with Cleopatra for several more crucial months instead of strengthening his position. At this point, Caesar abruptly ends his writings. He leaves out the part of his dictatorship in Rome.
The last two chapters focus on historiography, especially with regards to Britain. Jimenez points to Medieval sources that confuse Caesar's invasions and distort them. He also presents Welsh mythology as being more accurate than official histories. Archeology more accurately corrected record; but not until the 1800s.
I am disappointed that there was not more analysis of Caesar's interactions with the Celts, especially governance and colonization. Caesar must have been extremely antagonistic towards even allied tribes. The Aedui, who were allies of Rome long before Caesar, and who aided him in his early campaigns in Gaul, eventually turned against him. Most Celtic allies turned against Rome and especially Caesar. There is no clear reason for this, and the omissions are curious. There was virtually no economic discussion in the book. Taxes must have been levied; but Jimenez simply says Caesar stripped Gaul of all of its wealth and gold. For many years after Caesar, they did not mint gold coins. This makes Caesar appear similar to Spanish conquistadors. However, Jimenez simply does not discuss it.
Overall, it is a fascinating look at Caesar. The book is more Caesar and less Celts, and even less Caesar and the Celts. Jimenez is a skilled author and abbreviates Caesar's dry statistics while correcting the chronology, so readers have a greater appreciation of the order of major events.
Caesar was a controversial figure. Jimenez argues that he was a mixture of skill and luck. While Jimenez comments on most of the Gallic War and Caesar's Civil War, the main thrust is examining Caesar as an author. In this case, Jimenez sets a simple argument that the Gallic War was a piece of propaganda literature intending to sway public opinion in Rome to support Caesar's controversies.
The strongest point of contention to support this thesis is Caesar's two invasions of Britain, which Jimenez, and most other historians, regard as useless endeavors. In fact, Jimenez goes further to say that Caesar's luck was the only thing that saved him both times. Weather conditions and failing to locate a protective harbor threatened to doom both expeditions. However, Caesar mentions the invasions because Britain was so remote that it was almost mythical to the Romans. His "conquest" added to his public relations persona.
There is also more archeology in Britain from which Jimenez can identify to support his assertions. Using sources other than Caesar himself, notably the letters of Cicero, Jimenez can locate key inconsistencies in the Gallic War, such as Caesar's flight from the Thames to his coastal base because of a Celtic attack in that area. Caesar left the bulk of his armies behind him. However, in the Gallic War, he barely mentions the attack, which his general had repelled by the time Caesar arrived with reinforcements.
The last three chapters in the book continue the thesis of propaganda. Jimenez barely examines the Civil War. His purpose is to show that Caesar continued describing his conquests up until he consolidated Egypt. Jimenez uses other sources to illustrate that the Roman world was fracturing, but Caesar decided to stay with Cleopatra for several more crucial months instead of strengthening his position. At this point, Caesar abruptly ends his writings. He leaves out the part of his dictatorship in Rome.
The last two chapters focus on historiography, especially with regards to Britain. Jimenez points to Medieval sources that confuse Caesar's invasions and distort them. He also presents Welsh mythology as being more accurate than official histories. Archeology more accurately corrected record; but not until the 1800s.
I am disappointed that there was not more analysis of Caesar's interactions with the Celts, especially governance and colonization. Caesar must have been extremely antagonistic towards even allied tribes. The Aedui, who were allies of Rome long before Caesar, and who aided him in his early campaigns in Gaul, eventually turned against him. Most Celtic allies turned against Rome and especially Caesar. There is no clear reason for this, and the omissions are curious. There was virtually no economic discussion in the book. Taxes must have been levied; but Jimenez simply says Caesar stripped Gaul of all of its wealth and gold. For many years after Caesar, they did not mint gold coins. This makes Caesar appear similar to Spanish conquistadors. However, Jimenez simply does not discuss it.
Overall, it is a fascinating look at Caesar. The book is more Caesar and less Celts, and even less Caesar and the Celts. Jimenez is a skilled author and abbreviates Caesar's dry statistics while correcting the chronology, so readers have a greater appreciation of the order of major events.
January 8, 2013
Great book overall shows that it is real information with backing every detail & truth up. It is a great non-fiction war book it shows why each army won each battle tactics, strategies such as ditches, & flanking at times. It really shows how Caesar was really greater then he had seemed to me because I never knew why he was so great but it is proven as he must stay in office with political enemies while having to fight the many battles. Many quotes were included that adds to the experience of the book. Over time you can see why the Celts had started to copy the Romans and many of their strategies because at first all they did was attack as lightly armor & weakly weaponed guys to learning to have more of a defensive approach as the Romans came and themselves digging ditches, walls, & other defensive buildings to stay alive. In many cases they go so in-depth of how metal was forged for each weapon.
November 1, 2007
This is more than just a review of Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic Wars. Jimenez surveys a wealth of historical and archaeological research to analyze Caesar's political scheming and identify the locations of his famous battles. While Caesar undoubtedly was one of the great leaders of antiquity, Jimenez does not gloss over his raw ambition, greed, and cruelty and paints a full picture of the man who became a god.
November 29, 2008
This was an interesting thesis-paper-turned-book. While at times the author bounced around in his timelines (mainly to show what was happening in relation to what Caesar was doing) it provided insights to his rise to power and how he used the conquest of Europe to his benefit.
I'm a history buff, so I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in Roman and Celtic histories to gain a perspective of what happened during that point in time.
I'm a history buff, so I'd recommend this to anyone with an interest in Roman and Celtic histories to gain a perspective of what happened during that point in time.
August 8, 2007
With Caesar's reputation revived in the last fifty years anyone looking for fresh insight into one of the most influential leaders of world history will enjoy this campaign book that details his wars against the Gauls.
I would particularly recommend this book to people over 50 who, when they studied Caesar, likely found most sources painted him in a negative light.
I would particularly recommend this book to people over 50 who, when they studied Caesar, likely found most sources painted him in a negative light.
May 6, 2012
Amazing book with loads of detail for the history buff! Thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as Jimenez is not an actual Historian, which actually allows him to bring his passion for the subject a refreshing new look into this fascinating period in Caesar's early career as well as the lives of the people of Gaul.
February 26, 2015
I bought this from a bargain table at Barnes and Noble at least ten years ago, so I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy it. The subject would fascinate me, no doubt, but how well it was written and researched was the question. I'm glad to say that I enjoyed it quite a lot! Perhaps the casual reader would find it a tad bit dry, but I did not.
October 4, 2015
A decent look in the campaigns and troubles Caesar had politically at home. I was hoping for more in depth coverage and tactics used by the brilliant general. Still a good read and introduces you to the expansionist path of the future Empire.
March 3, 2016
One of my very favorite books. I found it riveting, a page turner. A fascinating glimpse into that moment in history.
October 27, 2024
Good, general overview of the wars fought by Julius Caesar in Gaul and Britain, with frequent discussion of how Caesar's military campaigns intersected with his political career in Rome. Ramon L. Jiménez makes several key arguments. First he pretty clearly establishes the somewhat ad hoc nature of Caesar's two invasions of Britain, and how it had more propagandistic than practical value to him. Jiménez also does a good job in framing the invasions as strikes into the unknown, to an island which the Romans of the time were only vaguely aware existed. Second, there is a recurring theme of Caesar's wars being presented to Roman audiences (through Caesar's Commentaries) as vital for the security of Roman territory, with only faint pretexts to support those claims. Third, the book shows how Caesar usually acted opportunistically, and rarely with some defined end goal in mind. He did not set out to become Dictator of Rome, but took actions for immediate objectives and often sought a negotiated outcome. Of course, the problem was the sheer number of enemies he'd made among the Roman elite, and the number of semi-legal and illegal actions he had taken in his consulship. Caesar needed to hold office to avoid prosecution by his foes, and by this evade utter ruin. Hence his desperate gambles. That said, Jiménez also acknowledges that Caesar's wars were brutal, crimes by modern standards, and although he rarely used excessive cruelty against fellow Romans, he had no such scruples in battling the Celts. The books ends with an excursion through Caesar's place in early Welsh and English literature (primarily those works that bridge mythology and history) and in modern archeology.
September 24, 2025
One of the first books of history that I ever read. At the time, I found it compelling and easy to read. It describes when Caesar was trying to avoid being caught up in the (deadly) politics in Rome and took up leadership of Roman forces to try and take Gaul to incorporate it in the Roman Empire. Caesar was more ambitious than he realized since he entered the land while there were German migrations going on which meant that he was not only fighting the Celtic settlements but the Germanic camps. His brilliance as a military leader was able to see him through, although he was not the most capable when it came to invading Britain. He did make progress on the island but had no real way to keep these possessions so his forces withdrew. Close to that point, he decided to go back to Rome to fight the civil war to take over the Empire.
November 24, 2020
Surprisingly interesting history of Caesar's campaigns in Gaul and England but it also discussed some of the architectural evidence (ex. Where did Caesar land to begin his invasion of England) and some of the Celtic history.
My favorite factoid: At the time Caesar's army was the largest recorded to have ever crossed the English Channel in either direction (not that surprising given the Roman monopoly on both recorded history and mobile armies at that time in Western Europe but...) and he held that record for almost two millennia until World War I (when there was certainly no longer a monopoly on mobile armies or recorded history).
My favorite factoid: At the time Caesar's army was the largest recorded to have ever crossed the English Channel in either direction (not that surprising given the Roman monopoly on both recorded history and mobile armies at that time in Western Europe but...) and he held that record for almost two millennia until World War I (when there was certainly no longer a monopoly on mobile armies or recorded history).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2021
As a non-academic lover of history, of all the books I have read on Caesar's time in Britain, this was for me by far the most enjoyable and easy read. To learn Ramon Jimenez is also a non-academic, makes this book all the more impressive, as from that standpoint it is extremely well researched.
October 2, 2022
This book is an excellent collection of historical information that tells a focused story. It’s a friendly book for people who don’t know their history.
November 6, 2022
I found the book a bit disjointed. Perhaps Caesar in Britain would have been a better title. The maps included were not the best.
March 7, 2025
A clear concise history of Caesars political and military motives of invading Gaul and Britian.
February 24, 2015
Reviewed prior to monthly Friends of St. Patrick, Celtic book club which meets the last Sunday of the month at O'Toole's Bar (Celtic Room) Honolulu - 4-6 pm.
The book defines the CELTIC languages:
Hispano-Celtic, Gallic, Lepontic, Goidelic (Irish, Scots Gaelic Manx), Brythonic (Cornish, Breton, Welsh).
Adapted from "The Puzzle of Indo-European Origins" (London: Jonathan Cape,1987)
I will discuss as basis for our future book selections.
The book defines the CELTIC languages:
Hispano-Celtic, Gallic, Lepontic, Goidelic (Irish, Scots Gaelic Manx), Brythonic (Cornish, Breton, Welsh).
Adapted from "The Puzzle of Indo-European Origins" (London: Jonathan Cape,1987)
I will discuss as basis for our future book selections.
March 31, 2011
Tried to read this after Stephen Dando Collinsbook on Caesar's legion. It is not as readable as Dando Collins' book. It is in some ways a bit more detailed especially with the invasion of Britain.
I'll try picking it up again later.
I'll try picking it up again later.
February 15, 2010
A very interesting book and so educational. I didn't know the people of this time were so advanced and had such advanced tools. Caesar was a political and military genius, but everything he did was for his own personal gain.
February 27, 2008
A readable, if not particularly memorable, account of the Gallic Wars.
January 8, 2009
While very readable, I cant say this added a great deal to my knowledge of the subject.
September 17, 2014
It was a very interesting history that described the time of Caesar in his victories against the celts, germany and Pompey.
August 6, 2012
Entertaining and informative read, but you have to ignore the 'go Caesar' cheerleading outfit the author was wearing while he wrote the book. A small dose of objectivity might have been helpful.
January 24, 2016
Fascinating. To be able get an inside view of Caesar's invasion and subsequent conquering of Europe and Britain.
February 4, 2016
Hated this book, filled with minor historical mistakes that should never make their way into a serious history book.
November 18, 2012
A fairly easy read for anyone interested in Roman or European history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews