[Reily]

From the Roman viewpoint they never fought an offensive war. They were merely trying to pacify its borders. There is some truth to that viewpoint. Their borders almost always involved contact with various barbaric tribes. These tribes behaved as tribes the world over do with violence to enhance internal warrior prestige. The Romans go out and pacify them the border moves outward, more tribes process repeats. There were exceptions like the Carthaginians & the Sassanid Persians.

[BiglyCommentary]

The conquest of Gaul seemed like a blatant hotile takeover.

[Verginius Rufus]

The Romans conquered the world in self-defense.

Somehow the wars were always the fault of the other side.