Editing Gallic Wars (section)

==== Caesar's subordinates and mopping up ====
[[File:Gallia Cesare 56 aC.png|alt=Map of Europe, centered on France. Compared to the prior year, new conquered territory includes a long finger towards the Atlantic and most of Northeast France.|thumb|Campaign map of 56 BC. Note Caesar's foray into the north of Gaul, Crassus' campaigns in the south, and the Battle of Morbihan off the west Atlantic coast.]]
During the Venetic campaign, Caesar's subordinates had been busy pacifying Normandy and Aquitania. A coalition of [[Lexovii]], [[Coriosolites]], and [[Venelli]] charged Sabinus while he was entrenched atop a hill. This was a poor tactical move by the tribes. By the time they had reached the top, they were exhausted, and Sabinus defeated them with ease. The tribes consequently surrendered, yielding up all of Normandy to the Romans. Crassus did not have such an easy time in facing the Aquitania. With only one legion and some cavalry, he was outnumbered. He raised additional forces from Provence and marched south to what is now the border of modern Spain and France. Along the way, he fought off the [[Sotiates]], who attacked while the Romans were marching. Defeating the [[Vocates (Gallic tribe)|Vocates]] and [[Tarusates]] proved a tougher task. Having allied with the rebel Roman general [[Quintus Sertorius]] during [[Sertorian War|his uprising]] in 70&nbsp;BC, these tribes were well versed in Roman combat, and had learned guerilla tactics from the war. They avoided frontal battle and harassed supply lines and the marching Romans. Crassus realized he would have to force battle and located the Gallic encampment of some 50,000. However, they had only fortified the front of the camp, and Crassus simply circled it and attacked the rear. Taken by surprise, the Gauls attempted to flee. However, Crassus' cavalry pursued them. According to Crassus, only 12,000 survived the overwhelming Roman victory. The tribes surrendered, and Rome now controlled most of southwest Gaul.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=40–43}}

Caesar finished the campaign season by trying to take out the coastal tribes who had allied with the Veneti. However, they outmaneuvered the Romans. Due to superior knowledge of the local terrain, which was heavily forested and marshy, and a strategy of withdrawing there, they avoided battle with the Romans. Poor weather worsened the situation, and Caesar could do little more than raid the countryside. Realizing he would not meet the Gauls in battle, he withdrew for the winter. This was a setback for Caesar, as not pacifying the tribes would slow his campaigns the next year. The legions overwintered between the rivers Saône and Loire on the lands which they had conquered during the year. This was Caesar's punishment to the tribes for having fought against the Romans.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=40–43}} Non-military business for Caesar during the year included the politically pivotal [[Luca Conference]] in April, which gave him another 5 years as governor, allowing time to finish his conquest of Gaul. In exchange, Pompey and Crassus would share the consulship for 55 BC, which further cemented the First Triumvirate.<ref name="yBqns" /><ref name="XYxU3" />