In the first campaign he defeated the Helvetii and Ariovistus. In 57 B.C. he defeated the Belgric confederacy and the Nervil., and in 56 B.C. the Veneti and other peoples of Brittany and Nomandy. In 55 B.C. he invaded Britain, and he invaded Britain a second time in 54 B.C.
On Caesar's return to Gaul, he was defeated by
the Eburones. Visiting North Italy, he had to return to quell a general
rebellion headed by Vercingetorix. The struggle was severe, and at Gergovia,
Caesar was defeated. In 52 B.C., with the capture of Alesia, he crushed
the united armies of the Gauls.
During this Crassus had been defeated and killed
in Asia in 53 B.C., and Pompey was becoming distant from Caesar. After Julia
died in 54 B.C, the two were separated. The Senate called upon Caesar to
resign his command and disband his army. The Senate entrusted Pompey with
extensive powers. Pompey's forces outnumbered Caesar's. Supported by his
loyal, victorious troops, Caesar went into a civil war with Pompey. He pursued
Pompey to Brundisium, and he moved towards Greece.
In three months Caesar was the master of Italy. After defeating Pompey's legates in Spain he was appointed dictator. Pompey gathered troops in Egypt, Greece, and his fleet controlled the sea. Caesar was driven back from Dyrrhachium with heavy losses. In a second battle at Pharsalia Pompey fled to Egypt where he was murdered.