Battle against the Nervians
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The Battle against the Nervians (or Nervii) was fought in 57 BC, during Julius Caesar's conquests in Gaul and between Caesar's Roman legions and the Nervii (a Belgian-French tribe), in the area known today as Flanders.
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[edit] Background
During the winter of 58/57 BC rumors that the Belgian tribes wanted to attack the Romans came to Caesar's ears. They provided him with a good excuse to conquer all the states in Gaul, and for this Caesar raised two more legions (the XIII and XIV) and convinced the Remi tribe to side with him. In retaliation the other Belgian tribes attacked the Remian's town, situated near the Aisne River. Caesar responded by defending the town and attacking the Nervii tribe.
[edit] Prelude
Caesar's legions had been marching in Nervian territory for three days and received reports of the Nervian positions. As the Roman column closed to the Nervian postition, Caesar used his usual tactic of leading his forces with six legions in light marching order. Behind them was the baggage column of the entire army escorted by the newly recruited legions. Caesar's force set his camp next to the Selle River, west of modern Saulzoir. The Nervii under the command of Boduognatus and supported by the Atrebates and Viromandui tribes, had concealed their entire force in a forest next to the Selle river and prepared to attack the legions setting up camp on the other bank of the river.
[edit] Battle
While the legions set up camp, Caesar's cavalry crossed the river to make some reconnaissance and became engaged with the Belgian cavalry. Suddenly the full Belgian force charged and soon the Roman cavalry was routed. Next the Belgians crossed the river at full speed and charged the legions setting up camp giving, them no time to get in battle formation. Two things saved the legions from being routed in the first clash with the Belgians. First the knowledge and experience of the soldiers meant that they could decide for themselves what to do without waiting for orders. Secondly Caesar had ordered all legion commanders to stay with their legions during the setting up of the camp.
During the battle Caesar only gave essential orders, the Roman soldiers did not have time to group with their cohorts and instead congregated in the first friendly standard they saw. Soon the legion was isolated by the Belgians and began a fight for mere survival. Legions X Equestris and IX Triumphalis were in the far left fighting the Atrevates, the XI, VIII, XII Victrix and VII were in far right fighting the Viromandui and the Nervians, the XIII and XIV were closing as quickly as they could.
The veterans of the Tenth and Ninth quickly routed the Atrevates and crossed the river to engage the Belgian Reserves waiting in the other side of the river. On the right flank the Eleventh and Eight had managed to halt the Viromandui but were unable of drive them to the other side of the river. Close to their position the Twelfth and Seventh were under heavy pressure by the Nervians that were surrounding them, the Twelfth had lost almost all of its centurions, even the primus pilus had fallen and had lost several standards and the soldiers were beginning to panic. It was only the arrival of Caesar to the site that boosted the morale of the men. Caesar ordered the Twelfth and Seventh to join and adopt a square formation so they could offer a tougher resistance.
Meanwhile the Tenth had defeated the Belgians on the other side of the river and captured the enemy camp. From that position the Tenth could see how desperate the situation was for the Twelfth and Seventh and quickly charged downhill, crossed the river and attacked the Nervians from the rear, trapping them so that there was little hope of survival for the Nervians. Soon the Thirteenth and Fourteenth joined the fight and cleared the rear of the Twelfth and Seventh square, and continued to defeat the remaining Nervians. The Eleventh and Eighth soon defeated the Viromandui and cleared the remaining enemies from the camp.
The remaining Nervians broke and fled the field. According to Caesar only 500 of the 60,000 strong Belgian Army survived. This is gross an exaggeration. The army of the Nervians was probably no greater than 15,000 or 7% of its entire population. Compare: Caesar disposed of some 40,000 men. In general, no more than 10% of the troops are killed in a battle, unless the defeated army is pursuited. This was not the case. So the number of casualties on the Nervian side can be estimated at some 1,500 - 2,000 men.
[edit] Order of battle
Caesar's legions
[edit] Aftermath
The Nevians were severely defeated and all the neibouring tribes surrendered to Caesar giving him control of most of Belgium. His legions were now feared and respected in all the Roman Republic as the finest Army in the World. Legion X Equestris saved the day by defeating the Atrebates, crossing the river, defeating the Belgian reserves, capturing the enemy camp and attacking the Nervians from the rear. A part of the Nervian army would later join the Eburones and destroy a complete legion.
[edit] Literature
- Pierre Turquin, "La Bataille de la Selle (du Sabis) en l' An 57 avant J.-C." in Les Études Classiques 23/2 (1955), 113-156
[edit] Links
- The Battle of the Sabis (57 BCE) Photos of the battlefield
- Caesar and the Nervians Text of Caesar's account of the battle
