ORDER OF BATTLE // -57 BCE
Battle of the Arar
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 122,000 estimated
Roman Republic
30,000
Medium-confidence figure
Helvetii
92,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of the Arar was the first major engagement of the Gallic War, pitting six Roman legions under Julius Caesar against the migrating Helvetii. Despite being significantly outnumbered — Roman forces numbered approximately 30,000 against a Helvetii force of around 92,000 — the battle ended in a tactical Roman victory. As the opening major confrontation of the war, it established Roman military initiative against the migrating tribal confederation and set the operational tone for Caesar's subsequent campaigns in Gaul.
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