--- title: Gaul author: bisdent source: https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2025-01-16 --- # Gaul _Authored by [bisdent](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/bisdent/)_ Gaul (Latin Gallia, French Gaule) is the name given by the Romans to the territories where the [Celtic](https://www.worldhistory.org/celt/) Gauls (Latin Galli, French Gaulois) lived, including present France, Belgium, Luxemburg and parts of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany on the west bank of the Rhine, and the Po Valley, in present [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). The ancient limits of Gaul were the Rhine River and the Alps on the east, the Mare Nostrum ([Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) Sea), the Po Valley and the Pyrenees on the south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west and North. Before the [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) by [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/) (58-51 BCE), the name “Gaul” corresponded to a cultural and military area founded on a common [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/) and federations of peoples who thought they had a common origin. This common origin probably dates back to the 8th century BCE, when migrant groups of the [Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Bronze_Age/) Urnfield [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) spread slowly across the area of the future territory of Gaul. About 390 BCE, the Gauls invaded and sacked [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). In 222 BCE, Cisalpine Gaul (the region between the Alps and the Po Valley) was conquered by the Romans. The best description we know about the pre-[Roman Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Gaul/) is in the first chapter of the Commentarii de Bello Gallico, of Caius [Julius](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Julius/) [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/). It is clearly a Roman point of view of the Gallic realities: > All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit, the Aquitani another, those who in their own language are called [Celts](https://www.worldhistory.org/celt/), in ours Gauls, the third. All these differ from each other in language, customs and laws. The river Garonne separates the Gauls from the Aquitani; the Marne and the Seine separate them from the Belgae. Of all these, the Belgae are the bravest, because they are farthest from the [civilisation](https://www.worldhistory.org/civilization/) and refinement of \[our\] Province, and merchants least frequently resort to them and import those things which tend to effeminate the mind; and they are the nearest to the Germans, who dwell beyond the Rhine, with whom they are continually waging [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/); for which reason the Helvetii also surpass the rest of the Gauls in valour, as they contend with the Germans in almost daily battles, when they either repel them from their own territories, or themselves wage war on their frontiers. One part of these, which it has been said that the Gauls occupy, takes its beginning at the river Rhone: it is bounded by the river Garonne, the ocean, and the territories of the Belgae: it borders, too, on the side of the Sequani and the Helvetii, upon the river Rhine, and stretches towards the north. The Belgae rise from the extreme frontier of Gaul, extend to the lower part of the river Rhine; and look towards the north and the rising sun. Aquitania extends from the river Garonne to the Pyrenaean mountains and to that part of the ocean which is near Spain: it looks between the setting of the sun and the north star. After Julius Caesar had conquered Gaul, the territorial organization of Gaul as part of the [Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Empire/) was concluded by Emperor [Augustus](https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/) from 27 to 12 BC: Respecting the ancient organization described by Julius Caesar, Augustus created three Roman Provinces: Gallia Belgica, Gallia Lugdunensis and Aquitania. In the south, the old Roman Provincia, to which [Massilia](https://www.worldhistory.org/massilia/) was added, was renamed Gallia Narbonensis. The territories bordering the Rhine River were combined into two military areas, which under [Domitian](https://www.worldhistory.org/domitian/) became the provinces of Upper and Lower Germania. For about 200 years the Roman peace (*[Pax Romana](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pax_Romana/)*) was maintained, with the exception of some local revolts and civil troubles. The Germanic incursions of the 3rd century AD marked the end of this epoch. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Timeline - **c. 600 BCE**: Phocaea founds the colony of [Massilia](https://www.worldhistory.org/massilia/). - **c. 400 BCE - c. 300 BCE**: Founding of [Lutetia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Lutetia/). - **390 BCE**: Gauls sack [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). - **c. 390 BCE**: "Gallic Catastrophe:" [Brennus](https://www.worldhistory.org/brennus/) of the Senones defeats the Romans at Allia, and subsequently sacks [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). - **334 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) signs a peace treaty with the Senones tribe. - **284 BCE**: Gauls of the Insubres and Boii tribes defeat the Romans at [Arretium](https://www.worldhistory.org/arretium/). - **283 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) decisively defeats the Senones at Picenum. - **279 BCE**: Gauls attack the sanctuary of [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/). - **222 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) conquers Cisalpine [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/) (modern-day Provence, France). - **121 BCE**: [Gallia](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/) Narbonensis becomes a [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) province. - **58 BCE**: [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/) attacks the Helvetii while on migration and defeats them. - **58 BCE**: [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/) invades [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/). [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) influence on the European tribes begins in earnest. - **58 BCE - 51 BCE**: [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/)'s [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) of [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/). - **57 BCE**: A [Roman army](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Army/) under [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/) narrowly defeats an army of Nervii, Atrebates, and Viromandui. - **56 BCE**: The navies of [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) and the Veneti Gauls clash resulting in a [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) victory. This is the first recorded naval [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) in the Atlantic Ocean. - **54 BCE - 53 BCE**: [Ambiorix](https://www.worldhistory.org/ambiorix/) of the Eburones tribe destroys around 9,000 [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) soldiers at Atuatuca. - **53 BCE**: [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/) holds council of Gallic tribes in [Lutetia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Lutetia/). - **52 BCE**: [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/) is defeated at Gergovia by [Vercingetorix](https://www.worldhistory.org/vercingetorix/). - **52 BCE**: After becoming trapped and besieged at Alesia, [Vercingetorix](https://www.worldhistory.org/vercingetorix/) surrenders to [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/). - **51 BCE**: [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/)'s siege and capture of Uxellodunum ends the Gallic [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/). - **44 BCE**: The Allobroges unsuccessfully rise against [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) rule in southern [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/). - **33 BCE**: The Belgic Morini and the [Celts](https://www.worldhistory.org/celt/) of Aquitania unsuccessfully rise against [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) rule. - **406 CE**: [Vandals](https://www.worldhistory.org/Vandals/), Suevi, and Alans invade [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/). - **486 CE**: [Clovis I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Clovis_I/) of the [Franks](https://www.worldhistory.org/Franks/) defeats the Romans in [Gaul](https://www.worldhistory.org/gaul/). Founding of the Frankish kingdom. ## Cite This Work ### APA bisdent. (2011, April 28). Gaul. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago bisdent. "Gaul." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 28, 2011. . ### MLA bisdent. "Gaul." *World History Encyclopedia*, 28 Apr 2011, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [bisdent](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/bisdent/ "User Page: bisdent"), published on 28 April 2011. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.