The
Gallic Wars were a series of
military campaigns waged by the
Roman proconsul Julius Caesar against several
Gallic tribes. Rome's war against the Gallic tribes lasted from 58 BC to 50 BC and culminated in the decisive
Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, in which a complete Roman victory resulted in the expansion of the
Roman Republic over the whole of
Gaul (mainly present-day
France and
Belgium). While militarily just as strong as the Romans, the internal division between the Gallic tribes guaranteed an easy victory for Caesar, and
Vercingetorix's attempt to unite the Gauls against Roman invasion came too late. The wars paved the way for Julius Caesar to become the sole ruler of the Roman Republic.