The invasion of Britain

Ask professional military officers to name the top 5 military leaders of all time, and chances are, most of them will name Julius Caesar as one of them. His life, military career and leadership style still provide inspiration to soldiers today, over 2,000 years after his death.

Caius Julius Caesar was born 12July100 BC to Caius Julius and Aurelia. He received schooling as a lawyer, and entered military service in the Aegean Sea. He received the highest military honor, the oak wreath, during the storming of Mitylene, and was also a member of the staff of General Crassus at the defeat of Sparticus and his uprising of slaves.

Known as a dramatic orator, a skilled swordsman, and a dynamic leader, Caesar he was a strict disciplinarian and yet at the same time willing to indulge his troops, who he referred to as "comrades". His many military conquests were due in no small part to his close relationship with his soldiers, who followed him faithfully, year after year. Caesar was said to be able to travel twice as far in a single day as most people, sometimes up to 100 miles. He was possessed of an almost abnormal level of energy, and the personal drive to get things done. Pliny the Elder had commented that Caesar was wont to read and dictate up to four letters at the same time, or if nothing else was attracting his attention, sometimes seven.

Reasons for the Invasion of Britain

There were various reasons for Caesar to invade Britain (or the "Tin Islands"). During Caesar's wars in Gaul, Britain had sent troops and supplies to the Gaulish tribes, and also provided refuge to the leaders of the tribes. This alone may have provided Caesar with reason enough to invade: to punish anyone that would dare oppose the might of Rome, or provide aid to anyone that did.

There were also financial reasons. Caesar wanted to rule all of Rome, and to do so, he would need enormous amounts of money. While the coasts of Britain had been visited by Roman and Greek traders for years, the interior was still unknown, although it is likely that Caesar had heard rumors of riches to be had.

Lastly, but most likely foremost in Caesar's mind was the political motivation for an invasion. The conquest of Britain would earn huge prestige for Caesar, and he had political ambitions that went well past the governorship of Gaul. Also fighting for control of Rome were two other powerful generals, Marcus Licinius Crassus and Cnaeus Magnus Pompeius, more commonly known today as Pompey.

In 60 BC, the three generals had control of powerful factions of the Roman senate, and they formed a somewhat shaky alliance known as the First Triumvirate. Although they were nominally united in their rule, they continued to vie with one another to gain recognition from the Roman people and the Senate.

While Rome still had a republican type government, it was no longer up to the task of managing the affairs of an empire the size of Rome's, and all three intended to become the autocratic ruler at it's head.

The Invasion Begins

In preparation for the invasion, Caesar sent one of his staff officer, Volusenus to patrol the coast of Britain, scouting for likely landing areas and to gather any other intelligence he could. He came back with valuable information regarding the coastal areas, including his recommendation for a landing site: the beaches between Walmer and Deal.

Caesar also sent Comm, the chief of the Atrebates, to Britain to urge the tribes to submit to him when he landed.

On 25August 55 BC, Caesar approached the coast of Britain with about 10,000 troops of the VII th and Xth legions. He had intended to bring cavalry support, which was to have departed from Ambleteus, but confusion during the loading of the horses and soldiers had delayed their sailing time, so Caesar would be forced to land without them.

As the Roman ships approached the coast, they saw thousands of British warriors from the various tribes massed along the tops of the cliffs. Caesar was to later write:

"I saw the enemy forces standing under arms along the heights. At this point of the coast, precipitous cliffs tower above the water, making it possible to fire directly onto the beaches. It was clearly no place to attempt a landing."

After conferring with his staff, Caesar decided to move up the coast. As his ships sailed along, looking for a place to land, they were followed by the British warriors along the tops of the cliffs.

At the site of Walmer, the Roman ships turned toward shore to discharge the soldiers. Unfortunately, it was low tide, and the ships found that they could not get any closer than about 200 yards from the beach. The Roman soldiers were forced to wade through the deep water, and the British warriors were quick to see the tactical advantage of fighting the heavily burdened Roman troops having to wade through and fight in the surf.

Caesar saw that his troops would be unable to gain a strong beachhead without additional help, so he ordered his catapultae equipped boats to move away from the main body of ships and take the British flank under fire. The British warriors, never having seen this type of weapon used, were thrown into a temporary confusion, but soon rallied, and continued their efforts to throw the invaders off the beach. The advantage was still with the defenders, in spite of this new and terrifying weapon, as they were still fighting from the beach or from shallow water. Seeing this, Caesar decided to commit his reserves. They were used to reinforce weak areas of Caesar's lines, and the troops were gradually able to gain the beach and form into their battle formations

The British warriors were not accustomed to fighting in disciplined ranks, choosing to rely more on individual effort and bravery to overcome their opponents. When faced with the Roman troops advancing in strong battle lines, they were soon overwhelmed and forced to retreat. The Romans, without their cavalry, were unable to pursue the retreating warriors.