Servius Galba

Also known as: Sergius Galba · Role: lieutenant · First appears: The Gallic War, Book III, 1–7

In Book III of the Gallic War, Caesar sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry to open the Alpine pass. After successful battles, hostages and a peace agreement, Galba chose to winter with most of his legion at Octodurus. When the local people abandoned their part of the town and Seduni and Veragri forces occupied the overlooking mountains, P. Sextius Baculus and Caius Volusenus Quadratus urged him to sally out as the only hope of safety.

After more than six hours of fighting, Galba defeated the besieging forces, burned the village the next day and withdrew his legion safely into the province, where it wintered. In Book VIII, he is described as joined to Caesar by friendship and service as his lieutenant.

Relationship record

Life events

Caesar sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry against the Nantuates, Veragri, and Seduni to open the Alpine pass.(The Gallic War, Book III, 1–7)
- With: Caesar
- “When Caesar was setting out for Italy, he sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry against the Nantuates, the Veragri, and Seduni, who extend from the territories of the Allobroges, and the lake of Geneva, and the river Rhone to the top of the Alps.”
After battles and a peace agreement, Servius Galba chose to winter at Octodurus with most of his legion.(The Gallic War, Book III, 1–7 · 📍 Octodurus)
- “Galba having fought some successful battles, and stormed several of their forts, upon ambassadors being sent to him from all parts and hostages given and a peace concluded, determined to station two cohorts among the Nantuates, and to winter in person with the other cohorts of that legion in a village of the Veragri, which is called Octodurus;”
The people left the part of Octodurus assigned to them, while Seduni and Veragri forces occupied the overlooking mountains.(The Gallic War, Book III, 1–7 · 📍 Octodurus)
- “he was suddenly informed by his scouts that all the people had gone off in the night from that part of the town which he had given up to the Gauls, and that the mountains which hung over it were occupied by a very large force of the Sedani and Veragri.”
P. Sextius Baculus and C. Volusenus urged Galba to make a sally as the only hope of safety.(The Gallic War, Book III, 1–7)
- With: P. Sextius Baculus Caius Volusenus Quadratus
- “P. Sextius Baculus, a centurion of the first rank, whom we have related to have been disabled by severe wounds in the engagement with the Nervii, and also C. Volusenus, a tribune of the soldiers, a man of great skill and valour, hasten to Galba, and assure him that the only hope of safety lay in making a sally, and trying the last resource.”
Galba burned the village and withdrew his legion safely into the province after defeating the besieging forces.(The Gallic War, Book III, 1–7 · 📍 Octodurus)
- “having the next day burned all the buildings of that village, he hastens to return into the province; and as no enemy opposed or hindered his march, he brought the legion safe into the country of the Nantuates, thence into that of the Allobroges, and there wintered.”

The Gallic War, Book III, 1–7

commander: Caesar “When Caesar was setting out for Italy, he sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry against the Nantuates, the Veragri, and Seduni”
subordinate: P. Sextius Baculus (Baculus serves as a centurion in Galba’s force.) “P. Sextius Baculus, a centurion of the first rank, whom we have related to have been disabled by severe wounds in the engagement with the Nervii, and also C. Volusenus, a tribune of the soldiers, a man of great skill and valour, hasten to Galba, and assure him that the only hope of safety lay in making a sally, and trying the last resource.”
subordinate: Caius Volusenus Quadratus (Volusenus serves as a tribune in Galba’s force.) “P. Sextius Baculus, a centurion of the first rank, whom we have related to have been disabled by severe wounds in the engagement with the Nervii, and also C. Volusenus, a tribune of the soldiers, a man of great skill and valour, hasten to Galba, and assure him that the only hope of safety lay in making a sally, and trying the last resource.”

The Gallic War, Book VIII, 48–55

friends with Caesar “because he was united to Caesar, both by friendship, and by serving as lieutenant under him.”
commander: Caesar “because he was united to Caesar, both by friendship, and by serving as lieutenant under him.”

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Extracted from the original text of Caesar's Commentaries — The Gallic War and The Civil War. Made with Rho MD.