NoobWI Vercingetorix trumps Julius Ceasar Gallic War (Late)

Different Middle ages

WI Druidic Gaul develops alongside a very different, and slower uptake of Christianity...Cathar or Bogomil could develop into more powerful styles of Christianity instead of the current issue. So perhaps a more Gnostic view by early Middle Ages, and a much different Frankish Empire, if a Frankish Empire at all due to Gaulish-Celtic Nation:confused:
 
Hmmmm...Modern equivalent of these ancient languages is probably somewhere between modern Irish or Welsh. Assuming Frankish Gual never develops into France...Nation of Gaul would be Ancient Celtic Speaking with a surrounding Roman or Latin influence?:rolleyes:

Lorax

Gaul language would definitely be a P-Celtic language, with Latin and, to a lesser extent, Germanic influences. Actually, I think that Germanic influences would prevail in the northern parts of Gaul and Latin in south-eastern France. I don't know how Basque or Iberian languages would affect Gallic idioms in Aquitaine.
 
Wouldn't it just be amazing if there was an United Gaulish Kingdom or something? :D With these borders perhaps:

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Dark blue being Gaul, and the other blue-greenish color being vassal states.
 
There won't be any immediate civil war, as the deaths of Caesar and Crassus leave Pompey as sole ruler. After that, who knows? And it's anybody's guess whether a Gallic Confederacy would survive the death of Vercingetorix (have we any notion how old he was?) any better than Arminius' Germanic state survived him. If not, it's a question of how the Gauls do vis a vis the Germans.

It was only after the death of Crassus that Pompey began to drift toward the Optimate faction. If Caesar dies too, would the Optimates/Boni still require Pompey's friendship?

As for Vercingetorix, he was believed to have been relatively young (20's-30's), and had previously commanded allied Gaulish cavalry in the Roman Army before deserting and assuming the leadership of the Arverni. He would have had the background and motivation to whip the Arverni's forces into shape.

The Gaulish tribes possessed comparatively sophisticated towns and farms compared to the Germanics, the largest Gaulish cities being Bibracte (Autun) Avaricum (Bourges), Autricon (Chartres), Genabum (Orleans), Burdigala (Bordeaux), and a site in modern Manching in Germany. They had advanced currency, storage of goods, roads, legal structure, and natural resources. The Germanic settlements were little more than overgrown villages and farmsteads at best.

And after seven years of Roman brutalization, the militarized Arverni may be the only power in the region in any shape to force all the other weakened tribes into a subordinate state. Even after Vercingetorix's death, there would be other aspiring nobles wishing to take things a little favour. Such a situation would not be the first time the Arverni tribe led much of Gaul.
 
WI Druidic Gaul develops alongside a very different, and slower uptake of Christianity...Cathar or Bogomil could develop into more powerful styles of Christianity instead of the current issue. So perhaps a more Gnostic view by early Middle Ages, and a much different Frankish Empire, if a Frankish Empire at all due to Gaulish-Celtic Nation:confused:

The surviving Gaulish Druids may develop a very distinct and seperate cultural ideology than OTL Christianity. What if in the four to five hundred years between Caesar's abortive invasion of Gaul to the time of the Wanderung, the Druidic synods in Orleans or Chartres, under the protective auspices of a unified Gaulish state develop into a strong organized hierarchy, make full uses of the written word, develop and evolve new doctrines shaping the politics and culture of their nation? Would they NEED to adopt Christianity?
 
The Druids, at least in Britain, were the main unifying influence that networked the different tribes and kingdoms together. That's why most rebellions petered out after the Druids on Anglesey were crushed-the ultimate case of divide and rule. Now, I'm not sure about Gaul but the Druids would surely be very powerful, being the common culture, religion and law that held the people together.

However, two things would limit their power. The other Gallic polities were so devastated by Roman campaigns that Vercongetorix would hold the most temporal power and be pretty much undisputed leader, especially after defeating Caesar; he would at least be a respected primum interp ares, if not outright king.

Secondly, the extensive Romanisation of many parts of Gaul. Much of the Gallic elite was Romanised, which must of course be prised apart from Roman sympathising. Things like wine and Roman dress were becoming increasinly common (especially wine) so there may be some rejection of the Druids. Of course, there could also be a nativist backlash again Roman customs.
 
Druidical influence over native Gallic society was no different from how it was in Britain. British Druids congregated regularly in Anglesey, while the Gaulish Druids congregated regularly in the land of the Carnutes in the modern French departments of Eure-et-Loire, Loiret and Loir-et-Cher.

With all the other Gallic tribes exhausted and demoralized, the Arverni, led by an ambitious career soldier like Vercingetorix, may impose a new hegemony over the other tribes in the north and west of Gaul, forcing them to pay tribute in return for protection. From there, and if the Romans are too busy with other matters abroad, the this military alliance could be extended to something more permanent. But it is nevertheless important to get the full backing of the Druids and their assemblies in Bibracte, Autricon, and Genabum. Letting the rest of the Gauls think that the Gods are on the side of the Arverni could gradually ease the transition from enforced hegemony to a willing co-operative federation.

The Greek colonies had an affect on the native developments of the Gauls ong before the Romans became a regional power. Even without the Romans present, architecture and other customs may not have looked so different.
 
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