The Gallic Wars were a series of campaigns conducted by Julius Caesar between 58 and 51 BC leading to the Roman conquest of Gaul. The wars began when Caesar moved against the Helvetii, who attempted to move into southern Gaul. In 57 BC Caesar defeated the tribes in what is now Belgium, and in 56 defeated the Veneti in Brittany, and conducted a punitive invasion in 55 into Germany. In 54 BC he invaded Britain for the second time and defeated the Britons under King Cassivellaunus but returned to Gaul soon after. He subsequently put down a rebellion of all Gaul in 52 BC, led by Vercingetorix, and the following year reduced all resistance to Roman authority in Gaul. The campaigns gave Caesar immense power and prestige. As commander of a strong army he was able to contest Pompey's authority as leader of Rome. Research Gallic Wars