When
Caesar inquired of them what states were in arms, how powerful they were, and what they could do, in war, he received the following information: that the greater part of the
Belgae were sprung, from the
Germans, and that having crossed the
at an early period, they had settled there, on account of the fertility of the country, and had driven out the
Gauls who inhabited those regions; and that they were the only people who, in the memory of our fathers, when all
Gaul was overrun, had prevented the
Teutones and the
Cimbri from entering their territories; the effect of which was, that, from the recollection of those events, they assumed to themselves great authority and haughtiness in military matters. The
said, that they had known accurately every thing respecting their number, because being united to them by neighborhood and by alliances, they had learned what number each state had in the general council of the
Belgae promised for that war. That the
Bellovaci were the most powerful among them in valor, influence, and the number of men; that these could muster 100,000 armed men, [and had] promised 60,000 picked men out of that number, and demanded for themselves the command of the whole war. That the
Suessiones were their nearest neighbors and possessed a very extensive and fertile country; that among them, even in our own memory,
Divitiacus, the most powerful man of all
Gaul, had been king; who had held the government of a great part of these regions, as well as of
Britain; that their king at present was
Galba; that the direction of the whole war was conferred by the consent of all, upon him, on account of his integrity and prudence; that they had twelve towns; that they had promised 50,000 armed men; and that the
Nervii, who are reckoned the most warlike among them, and are situated at a very great distance, [had promised] as many; the
Atrebates 15,000; the
Ambiani, 10,000; the
Morini, 25,000; the
Menapii, 9,000; the
Caleti, 10,000; the
Velocasses and the
Veromandui as many; the
Aduatuci 19,000; that the
Condrusi, the
Eburones, the
Caeraesi, the
Paemani, who are called by the common name of
Germans [had promised], they thought, to the number of 40,000.