Among the
Helvetii,
Orgetorix was by far the most distinguished and wealthy. He, when
Marcus Messala and
Marcus Piso were consuls [
61 B.C.], incited by lust of sovereignty, formed a conspiracy among the nobility, and persuaded the people to go forth from their territories with all their possessions, [saying] that it would be very easy, since they excelled all in valor, to acquire the supremacy of the whole of
Gaul. To this he the more easily persuaded them, because the
Helvetii, are confined on every side by the nature of their situation; on one side by the
, a very broad and deep river, which separates the
Helvetian territory from the
Germans; on a second side by the
, a very high mountain, which is [situated] between the
Sequani and the
Helvetii; on a third by the
Lake of Geneva, and by the river
Rhone, which separates our Province from the
Helvetii. From these circumstances it resulted, that they could range less widely, and could less easily make war upon their neighbors; for which reason men fond of war [as they were] were affected with great regret. They thought, that considering the extent of their population, and their renown for warfare and bravery, they had but narrow limits, although they extended in length 240, and in breadth 180 [
Roman] miles.
