What military tactics did Julius Caesar use?

Caesar was a rather brilliant tactician when he wanted to be.

Ambiorix was a German King that betrayed the Romans. He a local garrison of 15 Cohorts that local Gauls were going to revolt and that he would allow them to move through his land to assist. When the Cohorts did, Ambiorix ambushed them and killed them all.

Ambiorix then laid siege to a Legion encamped nearby and commanded by Quintus Cicero, brother of the legendary Cicero we all know and love. Quintus was in trouble and sent riders out to find Caesar. One finally got through the Gauls and informed Caesar what was happening.

Caesar was livid. He dropped everything, gathered 2 legions, and launched himself at the Gauls.

As Caesar approached Quintu’s position he started raiding nearby villages to let Ambiorix know he was getting near. Ambiorix thus abandoned his siege of Quintus and marched South to meet Caesar.

Caesar had his men encamp and build the typical wooden fortresses the Romans loved so much. Ambiorix soon approached and took up position nearby on a hill with a river at the bottom. This made the position hard (impossible really) to attack. Caesar had to defeat this Army now though. It was winter and the Gauls were revolting all over the region.

So Caesar got creative. He sent his cavalry forward with orders to retreat. When the Roman and Gaulic cavalry clashed, Caesar’s men pulled back and the Gauls followed. When the Gallic riders neared Caesar’s little fort they saw men abandoning the walls and screaming for their lives.

Convinced the Romans were routing the cavalry sent word back to Ambiorix and the main Army saying Caesar’s men were breaking easily.

Ambiorix marched his army off the hill and approached the camp- certain of victory. He surrounded the fort and closed in from all sides.

Just then Caesar’s men burst out from all directions charing madly into Ambiorix’s Army. Turns out the Romans had pretended to be afraid on Caesar’s orders and were really just hunched down in the fort, waiting to strike. Ambiorix’s men were caught on their heels and the entire Army was crushed.

This is some next-level tactical creativity and it shows how Caesar thought.

If there was a problem Caesar endeavored to find a way to solve it.

• There’s a relief Army inbound for Alesia? Built a second wall to defend from that Army’s assault.
• Pompey has 7 times more cavalry? Lure Pompey’s cavalry into a trap where they can be destroyed.

Caesar could be creative or simple. In large battles, he preferred simple basic tactics that were flexible and easy to change. He often trusted his sub-commanders to make decisions on the ground as the situation necessitated. In crazy moments where he faced a big problem, he could employ risky (often desperate) tactics to resolve things.

Caesar could be careful or aggressive. This was a man that was very careful to bet the lives of his men but when it was time to go “all-in” Caesar never blinked.

In general, Caesar was a brilliant tactical mind. Above all, he was a gifted strategic mind. He was great at positioning, exploiting flaws, playing to his strengths, and manipulating situations to favor him.

Lastly, Caesar was a great leader. He knew how to motivate people and how to gain friends. Caesar commanded ROMAN legions made up of men from ROME. These guys were hardened Republicans who loved their country and yet they loved Caesar more.