Julius Caesar

Also known as: Caesar / Caius Julius Caesar · Family: Romans · Role: military leader · First appears: Book I 15–17

About this time, Caesar demanded that Cassibellaun make Britain pay tribute and submit to Rome, declaring that “we must send them word that they pay tribute as other nations do, and submit themselves to the senate”. Cassibellaun, his cousin, rejected the demand and prepared to resist. At the mouth of the Thames, the Britons defeated Caesar’s invading army; Nennius encountered him in combat, captured his sword, and was wounded by Caesar. That same night, Caesar abandoned the campaign and returned to Gaul.

After two years, Caesar prepared to cross the sea again and take revenge on Cassibellaun. At the Thames, stakes sank his ships and drowned many Roman soldiers, while the Britons defeated the remaining force. Caesar fled with a small body of men to his ships and retreated to the shore of the Morini. He later received a request for aid from Androgeus, who sent Scaeva and thirty noblemen as hostages to secure Caesar’s arrival in Britain.

At Dorobernia, Androgeus attacked the rear of Cassibellaun’s army, causing it to flee, and Caesar then compelled peace on the condition that Cassibellaun pay a yearly tribute of three thousand pounds of silver. From that time, Caesar and Cassibellaun became friends and exchanged presents. Later, Caesar assembled his forces and marched against Pompey at Rome.