- During the Gallic Wars (58-51 BCE) Julius Caesar wanted to show the German Tribes a Roman Army could invade their territory at any time.
- Consequently, in 55 BCE, he rapidly built a temporary bridge over the Rhine, sent his army across, and then withdrew and dismantled the bridge, just to show them they were not safe.
The Reason for the Invasion of Germania (55 BCE)
- In 55 BCE, the Suebi, whom Caesar had defeated earlier in 58 BCE, attacked the Ubii, a Roman Client Kingdom. Caesar wanted to show the Suebi that they were not safe behind the Rhine.
- The Ubians offered a fleet for the Romans to cross the Rhine and help them.
Caesar's Bridge across the Rhine (55 BCE)
- Caesar declined their offer, as he wanted to demonstrate Rome’s technical superiority with a civil engineering masterpiece.
- This was intended 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 ten days. It was almost certainly located between Andernach and Neuwied, below Koblenz.
- It had protective Pilings in front to prevent fireships and driftwood destroying the structure, with defensive towers at both ends.
- Caesar launched his Legions in pursuit of the Suebi and the Sugambri. However, they only stayed 18 days after which the legions returned to Gaul without having fought, and 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.
The Outcome
- Much later, to control the German Tribes and prepare for a future invasion, four permanent bridges were built across the Rhine, with an army stationed at each bridge, ready to cross at any time from the following Fortresses:
- Castra Vetera (Xanten)
- Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne)
- Confluentes (Koblenz)
- Moguntiacum (Mainz).
Andernach