De Gloria et Barbaris. Gallic Warfare and the Construction of Roman Superiority in Caesar’s. Commentarii de Bello Gallico.
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2025-06-15
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nl
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The thesis looks at how Julius Caesar used his Commentarii de Bello Gallico to construct a narrative of Roman military—and therewith cultural—superiority by portraying Gallic warfare as chaotic, undisciplined, and ultimately inferior. The work is not a historical account: it is instead better understood as a politically motivated text aimed at justifying conquest and enhancing Caesar’s own authority, for, by emphasising Roman discipline over Gallic valour, Caesar positioned himself as a heroic leader and a protector of civilisation. The study contextualises De Bello Gallico within Roman political culture and the lingering 'metus Gallicus', and contrasts Caesar’s account with archaeological and literary evidence, which shows a more complex and structured Gallic warrior society. Ultimately, the thesis argues that Caesar’s portrayal reflects Roman fears, ambitions, and ideological needs more than historical accuracy.
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Faculteit der Letteren