Battle of the Sabis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of the Sabis river |
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| Part of the Gallic Wars | |||||||
 The river Sambre |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Roman Republic | Nervii Viromandui Atrebates Aduatuci |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gaius Julius Caesar | Boduognatus | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
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| Strength | |||||||
| 30,000–45,000 men (8 legions plus auxiliaries and allies) | Caesar: 75,000 warriors Modern estimates 30,000 warriors |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Caesar: 59,500 |
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The Battle of the Sabis was a major fight in 57 BC. It took place near what is now Saulzoir in Northern France. This battle was between the Roman army, led by Julius Caesar, and a group of Belgae tribes, mainly the Nervii. Caesar's army was almost defeated in a surprise attack. But, thanks to strong defense, smart leadership, and new troops arriving, the Romans managed to win. Most of what we know about this battle comes from Caesar's own writings, Commentarii de Bello Gallico. This means we don't know much about the Nervii's side of the story.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened: The Lead-Up
Rising Fears in Gaul
In the winter of 58–57 BC, Julius Caesar heard rumors. The Belgae tribes were joining forces. They worried that the Romans would try to control their lands. Many tribes were part of this alliance. These included the Nervii, Atrebates, and Aduatuci. Their leader was Galba, a king of the Suessiones tribe.
Caesar's Advance and Tribal Resistance
Caesar saw this as a chance to expand Roman power. He brought in two new legions (large groups of soldiers). He also convinced the Remi tribe to join him. The other Belgae tribes attacked Bibrax, a town belonging to the Remi. Caesar defended the town and won a battle near the Aisne River.
Because of this defeat and a lack of food, the tribal alliance broke apart. The armies went back to their own lands. They agreed to help each other if the Romans attacked. Caesar kept moving forward, and many tribes surrendered. However, four tribes refused to give up: the Nervii, Atrebates, Aduatuci, and Viromandui.
The Fierce Nervii Tribe
The Ambiani tribe told Caesar that the Nervii were the most against Roman rule. They were a very brave tribe. They didn't allow fancy goods into their lands. They believed these items would corrupt their people. They also feared Roman influence. The Nervii had no plans to make peace with the Romans. Caesar decided to attack them next.
Who Fought: The Armies
Roman Army Strength
It's hard to know the exact number of soldiers in ancient battles. A Roman legion at this time usually had about 4,800 fighting men. They also had extra soldiers called auxiliaries. These were often archers, slingers, or cavalry (soldiers on horseback).
Caesar's army had eight legions. They also had an unknown number of auxiliary and allied cavalry. We don't know if all legions were at full strength. A good guess for Caesar's army is between 30,000 and 45,000 fighting men. This includes the auxiliaries and cavalry. There were also many non-fighting people with the army. They sometimes joined the fight later.
Belgae Tribal Strength
Caesar said he heard that the Belgae tribes promised 300,000 fighting men in total. For the four tribes fighting him, Caesar claimed these numbers:
- 50,000 Nervii
- 15,000 Atrebates
- 10,000 Viromandui
- 19,000 Aduatuci
This would mean Caesar faced about 75,000 men. However, the Aduatuci had not arrived yet. Promises are not always kept, so the real number was probably smaller. Still, they likely outnumbered the Romans. Some historians think the three tribes fighting at the Sabis had no more than 30,000 warriors.
How the Armies Lined Up
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The Roman army had eight legions. These included Legions VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, and XIV. They also had slingers, archers, javelinmen, and cavalry.
- Legions IX and X were on the left side.
- Legions VIII and XI were in the middle.
- Legions VII and XII were on the right side.
The Belgae tribes attacked with:
- The Atrebates on their right side.
- The Viromandui in the center.
- The Nervii on their left side.
For a long time, people thought the battle was fought near the Sambre River. But in 1955, a historian named Turquin showed it was likely on the west bank of the Selle River, near Saulzoir.
Before the Big Fight
Roman March and Nervii Plan
Caesar's legions had been marching through Nervian land for three days. They were following an old road. Caesar learned from prisoners that the Belgae were gathering on the other side of the River Sabis. This river was about 10 miles (16 km) ahead. The Nervii had convinced the Atrebates and Viromandui to help them. The Aduatuci were on their way but didn't arrive in time for the battle. The Nervii had moved their non-fighters to a safe area protected by marshes.
Caesar sent out experienced scouts to find a good place for their next camp. He later learned from other prisoners that some Gauls traveling with his army had told the Nervii about his army's setup. They said that the baggage trains (supplies) were spread out between the legions. This meant it would be easy to cut off the first legion and destroy it before help arrived. The Nervii hoped this would scare the Romans into leaving.
Nervii Defenses and Strategy
The Nervii had a special way of building defenses. They made thick, thorny hedges between young trees. These hedges protected them from raids by other tribes. They would also block Caesar's army. The Nervii planned to attack when the Roman baggage train appeared behind the first legion. This was a smart plan, aiming to hit the Romans when they were least ready. But Caesar changed his marching order, which would surprise the Nervii.
The Battle Begins
Setting Up Camp and Initial Skirmish
The chosen campsite was on a hill that gently sloped down to the river. On the other side of the river was another hill, also sloping down. The top of that hill was covered in thick woods. The lower part was open and went down to the river for about 300 yards (274 m). The enemy was hidden in the woods. Only a few cavalry (horseback soldiers) could be seen near the river. The river was wide but only about three feet (one meter) deep.
Before reaching the Sabis, Caesar changed his army's marching order. He put his six most experienced legions at the front, marching lightly. Behind them came the army's baggage train. Finally, the two newly recruited legions (XIII and XIV) followed. Caesar didn't say why he made this change. It might have been luck, or he might have heard about the Nervii's plan.
As Caesar's army began setting up camp, his cavalry, slingers, and archers crossed the river to scout. They got into a small fight with the few Belgic cavalry they saw. Caesar said the enemy cavalry kept rushing out of the woods and then retreating. His cavalry didn't follow them into the woods.
The Surprise Attack
Meanwhile, the legions started building their camp defenses. The Belgae were waiting for the baggage train to appear. But instead of one legion, they saw six legions arriving. Their plan to attack one legion at a time had to change. They must have still believed they had enough soldiers to win.
As the Roman baggage train came into view, the Belgic forces suddenly burst out of the trees. They surprised the Romans, quickly overwhelming the Roman cavalry. They rushed across the shallow river at full speed. Then they charged up the hill towards the legions who were setting up camp. The Romans had no time to get into their battle formations. Caesar said the Nervii attacked with incredible speed, pouring out of the trees and overrunning his soldiers.
Roman Confusion and Caesar's Actions
Taken by surprise, Caesar had to act fast. He ordered the alarm to be sounded. He told his men to stop building and get ready to fight. He also called back the soldiers who were cutting wood. He tried to get his legions into some kind of order. There was very little time, and much was left undone.
Two things saved the Roman legions from being completely defeated. First, the soldiers were very experienced. They knew what to do without waiting for orders. Second, Caesar had ordered all legion commanders to stay with their legions while setting up camp.
Caesar rushed to where he was needed most. He gave only the most important orders. He ended up on the left side with Legion X. Seeing the enemy close, he ordered his men to throw their pilae (heavy javelins). He then went to another part of the field. His men were already fighting. They had run from their building tasks to form ranks. Many didn't even have time to put on their helmets or take covers off their shields. Soldiers grouped around the first friendly flag they saw, not necessarily their own unit. Caesar noted that the thick hedges made it hard for his men to move during the battle.
Roman Counterattack and Breakthrough
The soldiers of Legions X and IX on the left side threw their javelins at the Atrebates. Then they charged. They pushed the enemy back into the river, killing many. The Romans crossed the river. The ground was uneven, but the Atrebates regrouped and attacked again. Still, the Romans defeated them a second time.
In the center, Legions XI and VIII fought the Viromandui. They pushed them from the higher ground down into the river.
However, as these four legions pushed forward, the front and left of the Roman camp were left open. A gap appeared in the Roman battle line. A strong group of Nervii, led by Boduognatus (the main Belgic commander), rushed through this opening. Part of the group turned to surround the two legions on the Roman right side. The rest continued up the hill to attack the higher part of the camp.
The Turning Point
Crisis for the Romans
At this point, the Roman cavalry and skirmishers who had been defeated earlier were just getting back to camp. They suddenly found themselves facing the Nervii and ran away again. Camp followers, who had come down hoping to find loot, saw the Nervii in the camp and also fled. People arriving with the baggage train were horrified and panicked. Even the Treveri cavalry, who were supposed to help the Romans, saw the situation and rode home to report a disaster.
Caesar went to the right side of his army. The situation looked very bad. He saw that Legion XII's men were packed so tightly together that they couldn't fight well. All six commanders of their fourth unit were dead. Their flag bearer was killed, and the flag was missing. Most of the other commanders were wounded or killed. Baculus, a brave soldier and the legion's chief centurion, had so many wounds he could barely stand. The Nervii were attacking strongly from lower ground, pressing on the front and both sides. Caesar saw some men trying to hide. Others were slowly giving up. There were no extra troops to help. This was the most dangerous moment.
Caesar took a shield from a soldier and went to the front line. He called his commanders by name. He ordered them to move forward and spread out their units. He said his arrival gave the soldiers hope and boosted their spirits. Everyone wanted to fight well for their general. This slowed down the enemy's attack a little.
Roman Recovery and Victory
Caesar saw that Legion VII nearby was also in trouble. He ordered the commanders to move the two legions (XII and VII) so they could join up and fight back-to-back. This made his men even more confident.
By now, the legions escorting the baggage train had heard about the battle. They came running at double speed. The enemy could see them coming over the hill above the camp. Legion X, led by legate Labienus, had defeated the Atrebates. They had crossed the river and beaten the Belgic reserves. Now they took control of the Belgic camp on the wooded hill. From this higher ground, Labienus saw that Caesar's right side was in serious danger. He ordered his men back across the river to attack the Nervii from behind.
Soon, Legions XIII and XIV also joined the fight. Caesar didn't give many details about what they did. But they probably cleared the camp first, then went to the right to help Legions XII and VII. This, along with Legion X returning, completely changed the battle. Seeing the situation improve, the cavalry and skirmishers felt brave again. They wanted to make up for their earlier shame and started fighting hard. The camp followers also joined in, seeing the enemy's confusion. The entire Roman army was now fully committed to the fight.
At this point, the Nervii had little hope of survival. They were pushed closer and closer into a dense group. Caesar's men surrounded them, using javelins and slings to pick off the remaining warriors. The Nervii fought with great bravery until the very end. They even caught Roman javelins and threw them back. But eventually, the few remaining Nervii broke and fled.
Caesar admired the Nervii's fighting spirit. He said they attacked strongly on difficult ground and kept fighting even when they were clearly losing. He described the last Nervii fighting until their last breath. He praised their courage for launching a surprise attack, crossing a river, and charging up a bank with such spirit. He also praised his own army for fighting so well without needing many orders. It's likely his soldiers were experienced veterans. Caesar didn't mention Roman casualties or how close they came to defeat. His book is one of the only sources, so we don't know the Nervii's side of the story.
What Happened After: The Aftermath
Nervii Surrender and Roman Control
The older men of the Nervii, whom Caesar called "senators," came out of their hiding place in the marshland and surrendered. They told Caesar that their council had been reduced from 600 men to just three. They also said that out of 60,000 fighting men, barely 500 were left. It's not clear if this number includes only the dead, or if it also includes the wounded. It's also not clear if these were only Nervii casualties or if their allies were included. Caesar said he spared the Nervii. He ordered the nearby tribes not to take advantage of their weakness.
Caesar did not say how many of his own soldiers were killed or wounded.
Further Roman Conquests
The Aduatuci tribe turned back home as soon as they heard about the Nervii's defeat. They were later defeated by Caesar, and about 53,000 of them were sold into slavery.
After this battle, many other tribes came under Roman control. These included the Veneti, the Unelli, the Osismii, and others.
Later Revolts
In 54 BC, a leader named Ambiorix convinced the Nervii to join his revolt. This happened after Ambiorix's tribe had destroyed a Roman legion.
During Vercingetorix's revolt in 52 BC, the Nervii were asked to provide 5,000 men. This was for a large army made up of over forty tribes.
Images for kids
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The river Sambre
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Battlefield if the "Sabis" matches the River Selle.
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Battlefield if the "Sabis" matches the Sambre.
