Of all the Gauls...
"horvm omnivm Belgae svnt fortissimi." - Caesar
"Of all the Gauls, the Belgae are the bravest." - Caesar
This thread is mainly meant so as not to oversee a certain region which is often forgotten. It is true, there are not many Belgians to represent or 'clamour' for a faction from this region which is why I have taken it upon me to take up the case of the Belgae tribes.
The Gallic Belgae tribes lived in the northern part of modern day France, Belgium, and southern Netherlands. Situated near the Rhine, the tribes were constantly at war with the Germanic tribes across the Rhine making them fearsome warriors. In fact the Belgae tribes are considered to be a mix between Germanic and Celtic tribes due to the constant intermingling and wars.
Ceasar noted that they were made fiercer because of the fact that due to their northern remoteness, the Roman merchants trading their efiminate goods (wine, heated baths etc) never made it so far up north. The Belgae, like their Germanic cousins, considered these detractive from the warlike spirit of their race.
During Caesars time, the Belgae had also conquered large parts of southern England, where they established themselves. Namely the regions from Kent, all the way along the coast to Dorset, conquering territories northwards up to Bristol (the Bristol channel) and north from Kent around where London is situated nowadays. The mainland Belgae kept close bonds with the island Belgae and supported each other, although this ended after the Roman Conquest.
The Belgae tribes also rebelled, most notably under Ambiorix who destroyed a legion and five cohorts of the Roman army. Which led to the annihilation of entire Belgian tribes as retribution. You can read more about this rebellion and the conquering of the mainland and island Belgae tribes online.
One last quote in support of the Belgae. During one battle against a Belgae army, Caesar noted that:
"The enemy, even in their desperate plight, showed such bravery that when their front ranks had fallen those immediately behind stood on their prostrate bodies to fight, and when they too fell and the corpses were piled high, the survivors kept hurling their spears over them as if defending a citadel, and flung back the pila caught in their shields. Such courage accounted for the extraordinary feats they had performed already. Only true heroes could have made light of crossing a wide river, clambering up a steep hill and then launching an assault on such a difficult position."
Reply With Quote
Re: Of all the Gauls...
Originally Posted by spartan_warrior
but no Iberians as yet, I'd be very surprised if they abandoned this side of the map.
