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SthtllioH of Vtrcingttorix.
52. —The Celts, still smarting under Caesar's coercion, now hear that Rome is a prey to sedition. The Gallic chiefs, therefore,
conspire together to prevent Caesar joining his legions.
'I'he Carnutes strike the first blow by massacring the Romans at Cenabum and plundering their stores. The news
reaches the Arvenii llie same evening, and V'ercingetorix, a man in Gergovia, rouses popular enthusiasm for
rebellion. Most of the tribes between the Seine and the Garonne join him and elect him commander-in-chief.
Vercingetorix sends Lucterius to deal with the Ruteni on the borders of the Roman Province, while he himself goes
north and induces the Bituriges to throw in their lot with him.
On this news reacliing Caesar, he at once starts from Rome and, taking some recruits from Cisalpine Gaul, arrives in
the Province to find his route to Agedincuin, where his legions were, threateued, as Lucterius had won over the
Ruteni, Nitobriges, and the Galjali, and the Aedui were untrustwortliy.
So Caesar hastens to Narbo, secures that place and Tolosa, Albi, and Xcniausiis with detachments, and joins his
levies in the country of the Helvii. He then crosses by the mountain track into the country of the Arvenii, and
leaving Decimus Brutus liere to occup)' the attention of Veieingetorix, he reerosses the Cevennes mountaius, proceeds
to Vienna, where lie picks up a bod}' of cavalry, thence up the valley of the Saonc, and rejoins his legions and concentrates
his army at Agedinoum.
Vercingetorix now prepares to besiege Gorgobina, a town of the Boii, Caesar's allies. Caesivr, leaving two legions at
Agedincum, at once starts to its relief. His route lies through Vellaunodunum, a stronghold of the Senones, which
surrenders after a siege : then Cenabum, which he captures, and punishes the town ; he then proceeds to Xoviodunum,
M hich surrenders, though the cavalry of Vercingetorix hurries from Gorgobina and engages in battle. The}- are,
however, defeated and scattered by Caesar's tierman scjuadron.
Caesiir then marches for Avaricum, the capital of the Bituriges, which he takes by assault after a desperate struggle,
at the end of a siege of many days.
While \'ercingetorix is raising fresh levies, Caesar is occupied at Decetia in Aeduan territory, at the request of the
Aedui, in deiiding between rival claimants for the othce of eliief magistrate.
Caesar now sends Labienus with four legions, including the two at Agedincum, to restore or>ler in the upper valley of
while he himself marches with the remaining six to attack tiergovia, making Noviodunum (Nevers) his
the Seine ;
chief magazine.
Caesar and Vercingetorix march along opposite banks of the Allier, when Caesar crosses the river by a stratagem, and,
appearing before (iergovia, captures a hill on the eastern side of the town, and encamps.
At this time the Aeduan contingent, coming to join him, is induced to declare for Vercingetorix. Caesar goes with
four legions against them, overawes them and brings them in.
During his absence Vercingetorix attacks the Roman camp at Gergovia, and Caesar returns just in time to prevent
the destruction of his legions.
Being uncertain of the loyalty of the Aeduan contingent, Caesar now decides to assault Gergovia, but he is repulsed
with heavy loss. He then raises the siege and again marches down the Allier valle}-.
Before Caesar had gone far he learns of the treachery of the Aeduans, Eporedorix, and Viridoinarus, who had one
in advance and had seize 1 and plunilered Xoviodunum, sending off all Caesars hostages to Bibracte ; and threatening
Caesar's passage of tlie Loire.
(Caesar marches night and day till he reaches the river a few miles south of Xoviodunum. On his approach the Aedui
take to diglit. Caesar then marches towards the valley of the Yonne to succour Labici.us, who was just then in
great peril.
Labienus, leaving his heavy baggage in charge of recruits at Agedincum, had marched with his four legions do^vn the
left bank of the Vonne and the Seine for Lutetia, the capital of the Parisii, in order to overawe the Senones and the
Carnutes. He was opposed by a large force leil by Camulogeuus, 20 miles from Lutetia.
Labienus, finding it difficult to cross, marches back to iletiosedum, and, with the aid of barges, crosses the Seine and
|)ushes on to Lutetia.
C'aniulogenus now orders Lutetia to be burnt do\iTi, and marches north to meet Labienus, the Romans being on the
north bank of the Seine, the Gauls on the .south.
Labienus at this juncture hears of Caesar's retreat from Gergovia and of the Aeduan rebellic;n ;
risen in arms. Being thus threatened on all sides, he decides to cut his way to Agedincum, which ho effects by a
stratagem and a victory over Camiilogenus. He tlien marches south to rejoin Caesar.
The position of affairs was now as follows. The rebellious Gauls, at an assembly at Bibracte, unanimously elect
Vercingetorix as their general. The latter forms his plans and makes Alcsia a strongholil to retreat to in case of
necessity ; he incites the tribes bordering on tlie Province to attack the Provincials ; and tries to win over the
AUobroges. Caesar's object is to protect the Pro\ ince. The AUobroges guard the fords of the Rhone ; and Lucius
Caesar is told off with 10,000 men to various points on the threatened frontier. Caesar also enlists German cavalry
from across tlie Rhine.
The Helvii on the frontiers of the Province risk a battle, but are defeated by the Romans with heavy loss.
Caesar rejoins Labienus to the south
(Augustobona), among the Lingones.
of Agedincum, and the united armies take up their quarters near Troyes
Caesar then moves down the valley ol the Tille, intending to march through
the country of the Sequani.
Vercingetorix. with his force, moves from Alesia to intercept him, and takes up a position not far from Dijon, about
ten miles south of the Roman camp. The next morning Vercingetorix attacks Caesar, whose German horse helps him
to gain a victory. Vercingetorix retires beaten to Alesia.
The next day Caesar marches to Alesia and invests the place with a ring of camps ten miles in circumference. While
the siege was being carried on with vigour, strong reinforcements of Gauls arrive to relieve the place. After a
desperate struggle between the Romans and (!auls, lioth those besieged and those come to the relief, Caesar is finally
victorious, and Vercingetorix surrenders Alesia and himself. He is taken prisoner and sent to Rome, where he
afterwards adorns Caesar's triumph, and is then put to death.
Caesar spends the winter in the Aeduan capital. The legions are quartered among the Remi, the Sequani, the
Aedui, the Ambivareti, the Bituriges and the Ruteni, so as to safeguard the loyal, to overawe the disaffected, and to
cover the Province.
the Bellovaci too had