Belgica was part of the areas conquered by Julius Caesar in his
conquest of Gaul in the Gallic Wars (58-50 BC). Gallia (Gaul) was
then divided into the Roman provinces of Gallia Narbonensis, Gallia
Aquitania, Gallia Lugdunensis and Gallia Belgica. Caesar's
conquests along the river Rhine became Germania Superior and
Germania Inferior.
Caesar fought against the Belgae in the third of his six
campaigns in Gaul. He marched against the Belgae because they had
attacked another Gallic group which was a Roman ally. A tough war
ensued and the Belgae surrendered after facing heavy losses.
Caesar presented his war with the Gallic peoples as necessary to
prevent migrations by the Helveti (Celts from Switzerland) and
Sueves (Germanic peoples from the other side of the river Rhine)
into areas of eastern Gaul which were close to the Roman
possessions in southern Gaul (Gallia Narbonensis) and threatened
both this area and Italy. Most historians agree Caesar wanted war
to boost his political career and popularity (victors were seen as
heroes in Rome) and to amass a large a fortune through war booty to
repay his massive debts.
The Gallic Wars started with a clash with the Helveti. They
wanted to migrate into eastern Gaul. Caesar refused to give them a
safe passage through the area near Geneva. He mobilised two legions
from Italy, fortified Geneva, fought the Helveti and defeated
them.
Next Caesar fought the Sueves who had defeated the Aedui of
eastern Gaul, settled some of their people there and were planning
to take over the Sequani (another Gallic people in the area) and
bring in more settlers. After his victory against the Helveti, the
Gallic peoples summoned Caesar to their general assembly. They
asked him to remove the king of the Sueves and the threat of
further invasions. Caesar could not do this because the senate had
declared the Sueves friends. An attack on the Aedui by allies of
the Sueves and news that many Sueves were preparing to cross the
river Rhine and that the king of the Sueves was going to attack the
largest town of the Sequani gave Caesar a pretext for war.
After conquering the Belgae, Caesar pushed his conquests to the
river Rhine However the Eburones, a Gallic group in the northeast,
rebelled and were treated harshly. This led to a pan-Gallic revolt
led by Vercingetorix, which threatened Caesar and which he
suppressed at great cost.
