Gaius Volusenus facts for kids

Gaius Volusenus Quadratus was a very skilled and brave Roman military officer. He worked closely with the famous general Julius Caesar for ten years. He fought in the Gallic Wars, where Caesar conquered Gaul (modern-day France), and also in the Roman Civil War. Caesar thought highly of him, praising his smart thinking and courage.

Volusenus: A Roman Military Hero

Gaius Volusenus Quadratus was a dedicated soldier who served the Roman Republic during an important time in history. He was known for his loyalty and bravery in many battles.

Early Military Roles

During the Gallic War, Volusenus started as a tribunus militum, which means he was a military tribune or a high-ranking officer in a Roman legion. He served in the 12th Legion, called the "Thunderbolt Legion". He showed great courage in a battle where his commander, Servius Galba, was defeated by a group called the Nantuates.

Scouting Britain for Caesar

In 55 BC, before Caesar planned to invade Britain, he sent Volusenus on a special mission. Volusenus sailed in a single warship for a week to explore the coast of southeastern Britain. He probably checked out the Kent coast, looking for a good place for Caesar's ships to land.

However, when Caesar arrived at Dover, he saw that landing there was impossible because of the steep cliffs. He had to sail further north to an open beach, probably near Walmer. This showed that Volusenus hadn't found a perfect harbor, which would have protected Caesar's ships from the strong tides. A great natural harbor at Richborough was used later by Emperor Claudius, but it's not clear if it was suitable when Volusenus was scouting.

Leading the Cavalry

Later, Volusenus became Praefectus Equitum, which means he was the commander of the Roman cavalry (soldiers on horseback). In 53 BC, during a revolt led by Ambiorix, Caesar sent Volusenus and his cavalry to help Quintus Cicero. Cicero's camp was under attack by the Sugambri tribe. Volusenus arrived first, but the defenders were so scared that it was hard to convince them that the rest of Caesar's army was close behind.

Dealing with a Tricky Ally

Around 54 or 53 BC, a Roman commander named Titus Labienus suspected Commius, a king of the Atrebates tribe who had been loyal to Rome, of secretly plotting against them. Labienus invited Commius to a meeting and sent Volusenus and some officers to try and capture him for his suspected disloyalty. Commius managed to escape, but he was injured in the head.

In 51 BC, Volusenus was still leading cavalry, this time under Mark Antony. Antony ordered him to chase Commius, who was now leading small, quick attacks against the Romans. Volusenus defeated Commius's forces in several small fights and finally in a big battle. Volusenus himself was wounded in the leg by a spear during this fight. Commius escaped again and later asked for peace, promising never to meet a Roman soldier again.

Loyalty in the Civil War

In 48 BC, during the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey, two noble brothers from the Allobroges tribe, named Aegus and Roscillus, tried to harm Volusenus. These brothers had served in Caesar's cavalry during the Gallic Wars but were caught cheating their fellow soldiers out of pay. They decided to switch sides and join Pompey. They hoped that hurting Volusenus would impress Pompey, but they found it too difficult and had to leave without succeeding.

Historians note that Volusenus's ten years of continuous service was quite unusual for someone of his social rank, called the equestrian order. Many people in this group got their military jobs more through friendships or hopes of making money, rather than pure skill. However, Volusenus, like a few others, chose to be an excellent career officer. Caesar himself said that Volusenus had virtus, which means great courage and excellence.

Was He a Politician?

Some older historians in the 1800s thought Volusenus might have been a tribune of the plebs (a political official who protected the common people) in 43 BC. This idea came from a very confusing part of one of Cicero's speeches. Because Volusenus was loyal to Caesar, some thought he might have supported Mark Antony later. However, other copies of the speech show that the word thought to be Volusenus's name was actually a verb. Also, neither Cicero nor any other ancient writer mentions Volusenus as one of Antony's supporters. So, it's generally agreed that Volusenus was mainly a military officer, not a politician.