Mediomatrici

The Mediomatrici (Greek: Μεδιομάτρικες) were an ancient Celtic people of Gaul, who belong to the division of Belgae. Julius Caesar shows their position in a general way when he says that the Rhine flows along the territories of the Sequani, Mediomatrici, Triboci or Tribocci, and Treviri.Ptolemy places the Mediomatrici south of the Treviri.

Divodurum (modern Metz, France) was the capital of the Mediomatrici. Besides Metz, settlements in France include the oppidum of Hérapel (today part of Cocheren), and the well-preserved examples of Pierrevillers and Vitry-sur-Orne. Other settlements and oppida in Germany were thought to be Saarbrücken (Roman Saravus), Speyer (Noviomagus), Homburg, and Rodalben, although today the ascription of Speyer, Homburg und Rodalben is hotly disputed.

The name "Mediomatrici" has been explained as "the people between the Matrona (Marne) and the Matra." The diocese of Metz represents their territory, which was accordingly west of the Vosges. But Caesar makes the Mediomatrici extend to the Rhine, and consequently they had in his time the country between the Vosges and the Rhine. And this agrees with Strabo, who says that the Sequani and Mediomatrici inhabit the Rhine, among whom are settled the Triboci, a Germanic nation which had crossed over from their own country. It appears then that part of the territory of the Mediomatrici had been occupied by Germans before Caesar's time; and that after Caesar's time the German tribes, Nemetes, Vangiones, and Caeracates occupied the Gallic side of the Rhine, north of the Triboci as far as Mainz, and that north of Mainz was the territory of the Treviri, we may infer that all these tribes were intruders on the original territory of the Mediomatrici.

Gallic Wars

The Gallic Wars were a series of military campaigns waged by the Roman proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gallic tribes. Rome's war against the Gallic tribes lasted from 58 BC to 50 BC and culminated in the decisive Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, in which a complete Roman victory resulted in the expansion of the Roman Republic over the whole of Gaul (mainly present-day France and Belgium). While militarily just as strong as the Romans, the internal division between the Gallic tribes guaranteed an easy victory for Caesar, and Vercingetorix's attempt to unite the Gauls against Roman invasion came too late. The wars paved the way for Julius Caesar to become the sole ruler of the Roman Republic.

Although Caesar portrayed this invasion as being a preemptive and defensive action, most historians agree that the wars were fought primarily to boost Caesar's political career and to pay off his massive debts. Still, Gaul was of significant military importance to the Romans, as they had been attacked several times by native tribes both indigenous to Gaul and farther to the north. Conquering Gaul allowed Rome to secure the natural border of the river Rhine. The Gallic Wars are described by Julius Caesar in his book Commentarii de Bello Gallico, which remains the most important historical source regarding the conflict.