Chapter XXI: Book I: B.C. 58. The Helvetii and Ariovistus the German defeated

" II. " 57. The Nervii, the bravest Belgian tribe, almost
exterminated.
" III. " 56. Conquest of the coast tribes of Brittany (Veneti,
&c.) and of the South-West (Aquitani).
" IV. " 55. Inroad of Germans into Northern Gaul repulsed.
Caesar crosses the Rhine a first time. First
invasion of Britain.
" V. " 54. Second invasion of Britain. Fresh risings of the
Gauls put down by Labienus and Q. Cicero.
" VI. " 53. Caesar crosses the Rhine a second time. Northern
Gaul reduced to peace.
" VII. " 52. Uprising of the Gauls under Vercingetorix.
Siege and capture of Alesia. Surrender of
Vercingetorix. He is taken in chains to Rome,
to adorn Caesar's triumph.
" VIII. " 51 (added by HIRTIUS). Final subjugation of Gaul.

Caesar's object was threefold:--

(i) To provide materials for professed historians.

(ii) To justify the conquest he describes.

(iii) To vindicate in the eyes of the world his opposition to the Senate and the Government.

(2) +DE BELLO CIVILI.+--This work, in three Books, is similar in plan to the _De Bello Gallico_. It describes the events of the Civil War during the years 49-48 B.C. Book III. ends abruptly with the words:

_Haec initia belli Alexandrini fuerunt._