Analysis: Description of the Druids

Date: c. 54 BCE

Geographic Region: Gaul (present-day France)

Author: Julius Caesar

Summary Overview

This excerpt derives from the account of Roman statesman Julius Caesar on the Gallic Wars, entitled De Bello Gallico, or On the Gallic War. The entire work offers Caesar's insights not only on the conflict between the Romans and the Gauls (the Celts of western Europe) but also on the Gallic people themselves. The passage in this document focuses on the priestly class known as the Druids, who functioned as religious leaders within Gallic society. Druids also served as poets, historians, bards, judges, mediators, political advisors, and teachers. Although little about them is known for certain, they were integral to Gallic life and culture, as Caesar makes clear.

Defining Moment

At the time of this work, Gaul covered much of what would later become France, as well as parts of neighboring lands. The Celtic peoples, known as Gauls by the Romans, originated in central Europe and migrated as far west as the Iberian Peninsula and the British Isles and as far east as the Carpathian Mountains. Eventually they inhabited much of the continent in various tribes, but their southern progress was checked by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Roman Republic and the Gauls remained at odds over territory for centuries, both of them harried, too, by waves of other invaders.

In 222 BCE, the Roman Republic conquered Gallic territory in northern Italy, a region known as Cisalpine Gaul. In 58 BCE, Roman consul Julius Caesar was granted the governorship of this region as well as of Transalpine Gaul, in southern France. As Germanic invaders pushed into neighboring Gallic lands, Caesar seized the opportunity to launch what became known as the Gallic Wars. During this campaign, from 58 to 50 BCE, Caesar led Roman forces to conquer the rest of Gaul. Caesar himself wrote an account of the conflict, which included many observations of the Gallic peoples he encountered. Caesar's treatment of the Gauls following the conquest made them valuable allies in the later Roman civil wars that would occupy the rest of his life.

Caesar's work became the primary source of information about the Druids, esteemed religious leaders among the Gauls. The earliest known records of the Druids date to the third century BCE and suggest that the Druids, as a class, first emerged in the Celtic British Isles. (However, the traditions and functions that the Druids took on likely began much earlier among the Celts.) From there, the Druidic institution spread to mainland Gaul. The Druids were a powerful force among Gallic society at the time of Caesar's conquests. Their persecution and suppression by Roman rulers began in the first century CE, under the reign of Emperor Tiberius. The rise of Christianity in Europe over the ensuing centuries largely wiped out the Druids as religious functionaries. Those who upheld Druidic lore became poets, bards, and historians until they largely faded from European society.

Author Biography

Born around 100 BCE in the Roman Republic, Julius Caesar rose to become one of the most powerful and well-known rulers in history. Caesar's actions as a political official and military general not only expanded the influence of Rome, but also contributed to the collapse of the Roman Republic and the ascent of the Roman Empire. Caesar was born to an aristocratic family, but withdrew from Rome to enter military service, at which he excelled throughout his life. In 78 BCE, Caesar returned to Rome to launch his political career while continuing to build his military renown. A decade later, he won his first elected office.

Caesar steadily climbed the ranks of Roman office, and in 59 BCE secured a consulship, despite great opposition from members of the Senate. He moved quickly to arrange secret political pacts that secured and expanded his power. One deal that he negotiated made him governor of Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul, a position that he used to conquer the rest of Gaul. His victories positioned him well to negotiate the political infighting of the Roman civil wars that began in 49 BCE. Within two years, Caesar had overcome his opponents and become dictator of Rome, with unprecedented power. However, his imperial tendencies made him many enemies, especially in the Senate. In 44 BCE, Caesar was assassinated by conspirators in the Senate.

Document Analysis

This excerpt focuses on Caesar's observations of the Druids in Gaul. From the start, he explains, “The Druids are in charge of all religious matters, superintending public and private sacrifices, and explaining superstitions.” The Druids, then, served a mainly religious function; however, the rest of Caesar's account makes clear that their duties and influence extended throughout Gallic life. They oversaw the schooling of young men; they mediated disputes and passed judgment on issues; they established rewards and punishments. The observation that anyone who refused to abide by the decisions of the Druids was excommunicated and shunned highlights the power of their rank.

The first paragraph of the document thus introduces the Druids and explains their role. The second gives insight into the structure of the Druidic class. One “arch-druid” is identified as a leader among the Druids as an institution. Caesar explains that this leader wields “supreme power” until his death, after which a new “arch-druid” is appointed based on skill and merit. He also hints at a democratic process within their office, as a “vote of all the Druids” is used to decide between otherwise equal candidates. (However, the account also notes that force might be used to ensure the outcome of an election.) The text also notes that the Druids convene once a year in a holy place, indicating their formal organization and ritual structure. There, they hold an assembly and render judgments on issues brought forth by any person, and their decisions are widely respected. Here, Caesar also suggests that Druidism may have begun on the British Isles before coming to the mainland. He goes on to state that those seeking a deeper understanding of or training in Druidism probably go back to Britain for their education.

The concluding paragraph of the passage deals with the beliefs and behaviors of the Gauls and Druids. Caesar refers to the Gauls as “virtually a prey to superstition.” Religion, belief, and magic are elements that permeate and drive Gallic life. Caesar describes their rituals as an outsider, reporting to fellow Romans what he seems to insinuate are ignorant and barbaric practices, most notably the tradition of human sacrifice to the gods, presided over by the Druids. He tells of a specific form of sacrifice in which people are put in giant statues of woven branches that are then burned. This type of ritual sacrifice reinforces Gallic polytheism and the idea that their deities held power over human life and must be appeased. The use of willow branches ties into the Gallic and Druidic focus on nature worship, as trees—most especially oaks but also willows, yews, rowans, and others—are thought to have been sacred to the Druids. The concluding line of Caesar's account explains that the Druids preferred to sacrifice criminals to appease their gods, but that they would sacrifice innocents when necessary.

Bibliography and Additional Reading

Bauer, Susan Wise. The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome. New York: Norton, 2007. Print.

Cunliffe, Barry. The Ancient Celts. London: Penguin, 1999. Print.

Ellis, Peter Berresford. The Druids. London: Robinson, 2002. Print.

Green, Miranda J. The World of the Druids. London: Thames, 2010. Print.

Riggsby, Andrew M. Caesar in Gaul and Rome: War in Words. Austin: U of Texas P, 2010. Print.