Julius Caesar and the foundation of the Roman imperial system . witzerland to the west, offer noother easy passage but that which is formed by theissue of the Rhone between this chain and themountains of Savoy. The left bank of the riverwas the boundary of the Roman province ; the rightbank was in the hands of the Sequani. There was aroute skirting each bank ; but that through the landof the Sequani was very narrow and difficult, and theHelvetii decided to take the other, and to force theirway through the Roman province, relying on thegood-will of the Allobroges, who occupied the coun-try, and
Julius Caesar and the foundation of the Roman imperial system . witzerland to the west, offer noother easy passage but that which is formed by theissue of the Rhone between this chain and themountains of Savoy. The left bank of the riverwas the boundary of the Roman province ; the rightbank was in the hands of the Sequani. There was aroute skirting each bank ; but that through the landof the Sequani was very narrow and difficult, and theHelvetii decided to take the other, and to force theirway through the Roman province, relying on thegood-will of the Allobroges, who occupied the coun-try, and had much reason to hate their Romanrulers. They burnt their twelve towns and all theirvillages, and were to concentrate at Geneva on acertain day about the middle of April. With that rapidity which was so often to striketerror into his enemies, Caesar hastened to thethreatened spot, ordering a general levy throughoutthe province. He cut down the bridge which crossedthe Rhone below Geneva, gained a short delay bygiving an evasive answer to a Helvetian embassy. 1. SLINQER. 2. LIQHT-ARMED TROOPS. 3. SOLDIERS OF THE LEGION. 4. CAVALRY. 98 ] The Defence of Transalpine Gaul. 141 which came to ask his leave for passage throughthe province, and instantly set the one legion hehad with him to fortify the Roman bank of the riverfor a distance of some ten miles south-west ofGeneva. The object of this work will be apparentto any one who has travelled by rail from Parisor Lyons to Geneva, or who will study the map andtext of Badekers Switzerland which relate tothis district. For these ten miles the river is hereand there fordable, and the left bank is not pro-tected by rocks ; but beyond this the hills closein upon it, and it begins to run in rapids. If theHelvetii were to cross it at all into the Roman prov-vince, they must cross it at some point above therocks and rapids ; and Caesars fortification wouldenable the Romans to defeat any such work completed, he was in a posi
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectcaesarjulius, booksubjectgenerals
