Caesar’s Bridge across the Rhine

In 55 BCE, during the Gallic Wars, Julius Caesar built a Wooden Bridge across the Rhine in 10 days, in order to attack the Suebi.
It was an engineering masterpiece, which had protective Pilings in front of it to prevent fireships and driftwood destroying the structure, and defensive towers at both ends.

In 55 BCE, the Suebi, whom Caesar had defeated earlier in 58 BCE, attacked the Roman Client Kingdom of the Ubii, and Caesar was forced to defend the Ubii.
The Ubians offered a fleet for the Romans to cross the Rhine and help them.

Caesar declined the Ubii offer, as he wanted to demonstrate Rome’s technical superiority with a civil engineering masterpiece.
This was to show the German Tribes that the Romans could place a large army in Germania at any time, and that they were not safe.
Caesar built a Wooden Bridge across the Rhine in 10 days. It had protective Pilings in front to prevent fireships and driftwood destroying the structure. It also had defensive towers at both ends.
It was almost certainly located between Andernach and Neuwied, below Koblenz.
Caesar launched his Legions in pursuit of the Suebi and the Sugambri. However, they only stayed 18 days and the legions returned to Gaul without having fought any battles, after which the bridge was dismantled.
Two years later he rebuilt a second bridge nearby, invaded, the Suebi retreated, and Caesar again returned to Gaul and dismantled the bridge.

Four permanent bridges were eventually built across the Rhine.
Each was protected by a Legionary Fortress stationed at each bridge, with a Legion ready to cross at any time to control the German Tribes or be prepared for a future invasion.
- Xanten, Castra Vetera
- Cologne, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium
- Koblenz, Confluentes
- Mainz, Moguntiacum

Andernach and Neuwied