In 58 BCE, Julius Caesar is having a blitzkrieg in Gaul, where he has essentially neutered one of the most powerful tribes of the Kelt and smashed the player from the outside who'd come in and intervened in Gallic politics. This has happened in just one year, with three battles, killing a lot of civilians, and Caesar has never been far from the political game, giving favors as he goes.
Caesar defeats the Belgae tribe and destroys their leadership, selling 53,000 people into slavery. He also conquers a neighboring tribe that was coming to the Belgae’s aid.
This episode talks about how Augustus deals with the aftermath of constant assassinations, street fights, and civil wars as he takes power in the Roman empire, including the war with Pompey that he wins.
Caesar's policy with troublemakers was to eliminate the leaders of the opposition party, as seen in his pursuit of the Gallic resistance and taking out Count Factions and opposing parties within tribes. This approach was a mafia-like strategy and a common practice in dealing with charismatic tribal guerrilla leaders.
The names of important figures in Roman history can be confusing due to the practice of naming multiple people with the same name. Additionally, the Rite of Prima Nocta is a commonly known practice that is actually a myth perpetuated by Hollywood films like Braveheart.
In this episode, the History of Rome podcast discusses how the Celtic people of southern and central Gaul turned against Caesar, realizing that his presence had changed things, and united to fight for their freedom.