KESSEL – Shameless, vain, arrogant and violent. Julius Caesar is doing in its reports no effort to conceal his actions. In his book “Wars in Gaul ‘bloodied the pages. It is a horrifying story of the slaughter of entire peoples. In Brabant, he pointed to a massacre, as it turns out excavations.
From the Maasoevers we already knew that the Romans lived here: they had a temple in Maren-Kessel, one in Empel and a fortress with bridge in Cuijk. But archaeological excavations also bring macabre traces to light. The Romans also carried a gruesome battle led by the Emperor of Emperors, Julius Caesar (100-44 v. BC)
Archaeologists from the Free University have found signs that suggest huge war, the oldest battle in our country. They argue that some of Caesar’s famous “Book 4″ takes place in the area around Kessel, municipality of Oss.
Brabant: insignificant and sparsely populated
To understand how this works, we must go back to over 2000 years ago. Brabant was simply an insignificant, sparsely populated region on the borders of the Roman Empire, with here and there a farm and sometimes massively wandering Germanic tribes.
Also Brabant, after a long campaign of Caesar occupied by the Romans and part of that huge empire that stretched beyond to Africa and the Middle East.
Tribes fleeing violence
But the time came, Caesar got it quite to stick with the tribes who lived there. He led in the fifties before Christ personally troops. His famous book four of War in Gaul begins with a description of tensions in the Germanic area which caused a flow of refugees.
The two tribes (the Usipetes and Tenctheri) stabbing the Rhine. According to modern experts went between Kleve and Xanten to the south, toward the Roman legions and direction Gallie. Other Germanic tribes felt fine but Caesar feared instability and did not want a friendship.
Germans heels on Romans
Despite a ceasefire, the parties come to blows. The first confrontation is one with the cavalry. Eight hundred Germans have crossed the Meuse. They met with five thousand Roman cavalry. The Germans leap from their horses, ‘heels from below’ on the Roman cavalry and confusion. Roman 74 riders are killed, including Piso, the “brave” son of a friendly king, writes Caesar.
A day later the Germans Caesar get quite cheeky look in his camp. They behave according to the emperor weather “treacherous and hypocritical” and will “offer so-called apology,” writes Caesar. Arresting them and immediately pulls out to destroy their camp.
Caesar makes everyone off
Total confusion in the German camp as the Romans attacks. An individual can still fight back, women and children flee. The ruthless Caesar sends his riders after it. Various Germanic warriors that are their tribesmen ‘killed’ and surrender.
Many people are trapped on the banks of the Meuse and plunge into the river. “Anxiety, fatigue and a strong current, they were fatal,” says the emperor. The Romans hardly lose only some wounded.
Good guys and bad guys
More than two thousand years, these were stories that you just had to take, because many more records have not survived it. Moreover, the story of the vain Caesar is a typical example of the good guys against the bad guys, laced with war propaganda.
What exactly of what has been, so it is difficult to ascertain, after all this time. What is certain is that for the first tangible traces have been found that appear to confirm his shocking story. That is after over two thousand years of fascinating.
Modified: Thursday, December 10th, 2015 – 00:35
Author: Willem Jan Joachems
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