When
Caesar arrived in
Gaul, the
Aedui were the leaders of one faction, the
Sequani of the other. Since the latter were less powerful by themselves, inasmuch as the chief influence was from of old among the
Aedui, and their dependencies were great, they had united to themselves the
Germans and
Ariovistus, and had brought them over to their party by great sacrifices and promises. And having fought several successful battles and slain all the nobility of the
Aedui, they had so far surpassed them in power, that they brought over, from the
Aedui to themselves, a large portion of their dependents and received from them the sons of their leading men as hostages, and compelled them to swear in their public character that they would enter into no design against them; and held a portion of the neighboring land, seized on by force, and possessed the sovereignty of the whole of
Gaul.
Divitiacus urged by this necessity, had proceeded to
Rome to the senate, for the purpose of entreating assistance, and had returned without accomplishing his object. A change of affairs ensued on the arrival of
Caesar, the hostages were returned to the
Aedui, their old dependencies restored, and new acquired through
Caesar (because those who had attached themselves to their alliance saw that they enjoyed a better state and a milder government), their other interests, their influence, their reputation were likewise increased, and in consequence, the
Sequani lost the sovereignty. The
Remi succeeded to their place, and, as it was perceived that they equaled the
Aedui in favor with
Caesar, those, who on account of their old animosities could by no means coalesce with the
Aedui, consigned themselves in clientship to the
Remi. The latter carefully protected them. Thus they possessed both a new and suddenly acquired influence. Affairs were then in that position that the
Aedui were considered by far the leading people, and the
Remi held the second post of honor.
