Ariovistus

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Ariovistus was king of the Germanic tribe of the Suebi who occupied territory in Gaul, as described in Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico.

Some time before Caesar's governorship of Gaul (which began in 58 BC), the Gaulish Arverni and Sequani had enlisted Ariovistus's aid in their war against the Aedui. His 15,000 men turned the tide, and the Aedui became tributary to the Sequani. Ariovistus seized a third of the Aeduan territory, settling 120,000 Germans there. He later demanded a further third for his allies the Harudes. In 59 BC, while Julius Caesar was consul, Ariovistus was recognised as "king and friend" by the Roman Senate.

Howver, the Aedui were also allies of Rome, and in 58 BC Diviciacus, one of their senior magistrates, pleaded with Caesar to intervene on their behalf. Caesar sent ambassadors to summon Ariovistus to a conference, but Ariovistus replied that if Caesar wished to speak to him, he should come to him. Caesar then sent another message, demanding that Ariovistus return the hostages he had taken, and undertake not to settle any more Germans in Aeduan land. Ariovistus countered that the lands were his by right of conquest, and immediately began bringing more Germans across the Rhine. Caesar mobilised his troops.

After seven days forced marching the two armies approached each other, and Ariovistus sent ambassadors to Caesar agreeing, because Caesar had come to him, to a conference. It was agreed that the two commanders should meet on horseback, accompanied only by cavalry; but Caesar did not trust his Gaulish cavalrymen, and mounted soldiers of the 10th legion on horseback. The conference was an impasse, with Caesar repeating his demands and Ariovistus repeating his defiance. Ariovistus later imprisoned two of Caesar's ambassadors as spies.

The two armies camped six miles apart and engaged each other in cavalry skirmishes. Caesar led his army out in battle array, but Ariovistus declined a pitched battle and stayed in camp. Caesar later discovered that the Germans' wise women had pronounced from their divinations that they should not engage in battle before the new moon. Eventually they were drawn out.

After a judicious cavalry intervention by Publius Crassus, the German line broke and Ariovistus and his army fled for the Rhine. Some, including Ariovistus himself, managed to cross the river. The rest were pursued and killed by the Roman cavalry, including both of Ariovistus's wives and one of his daughters; another daughter was taken prisoner. Both Caesar's ambassadors were rescued unharmed. The Germans who had settled in Aeduan lands began to withdraw.

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