Source edition
Appianus. Appiani Historia romana, Volume 1. Mendelssohn, Ludwig, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1879.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a historical text preserved in fragments that depicts the long history of warfare and negotiations between ancient Rome and various Celtic, Gallic, and Germanic tribes, spanning from their early conflicts to Caesar's eventual conquests. The narrative begins with the early crisis of the Celtic invasion of Italy and the siege of Rome, highlighting the return of Camillus and heroic anecdotes such as the priest Dorso. In the middle section, it describes the physical characteristics and weaknesses of the Celts, the Roman generals' fierce battles and duels, and the harsh retaliation against tribes like the Senones. The latter half covers the conflict with the Teutones and Julius Caesar’s Gallic campaigns, detailing the battles and diplomatic negotiations with the Helvetii, Ariovistus, and other tribes. Although existing only in fragments, the work vividly traces the historical process of Rome's subjugation of Gaul.