Arverni [2/2]: Vingeanne and Alesia (central-SE Celtica)
Vercingetorix attacked Narbonensis, which was defended by just over two legions, spread along its frontier. Caesar led his army east, through the lands of the Lingones and those of the Sequani, down the Vingeanne Valley, a right (west) tributary of the Saone, to reach a position from where he could support the defenders of the province.
On the day before the battle Vercingetorix and his army camped about ten miles from the Romans. Having decided to risk an attack on the Roman column while it was marching, he split his cavalry into three divisions: one to attempt to hold the Roman march while the other two attacked the flanks.
Caesar already had some German cavalry and had hired more (and also light troops) from across the Rhine. He now also split his cavalry into three divisions and ordered them to charge the enemy. The Gauls must have had some initial success, for Caesar describes how he moved the legions to support any of his cavalry who were in difficulties. Eventually on the Roman right the German cavalry fought their way to the top of a hill, dislodging their Celtic opponents. The other two Gallic divisions broke and fled, pursued by the Roman cavalry. The Gauls lost three thousand men and the Romans captured three senior Aeduans: Cotus, the cavalry commander, Cavarillus, the infantry commander, and Eporedorix. Vercingetorix withdrew the remainder of his forces towards the stronghold of Alesia (central-northeast), in the territory of Mandubii, followed closely by Caesar.
Alesia (near Alise-Sainte-Reine) sat on top of a mesa-like hill (Mont Auxois, 1332 ft) having a flat top with sides that fell for some fifty metres. Flowing east-west, north and south of the town, were the Oze and Ozerain rivers. Either side of the hill trenches had been dug running north-south between the rivers. It is surrounded by hills of the same height except on the west side, where lies the Plain of Laumes. With his eighty thousand warriors and fifteen hundred horsemen Vercingetorix believed his position to be impregnable and sent cavalry to rally reinforcements from across Gaul.
Sometime in July the Romans began their siege by digging a deep ditch on the plain to prevent cavalry attacks on the working parties, then circumvallated Alesia with seven camps and twenty-three redoubts (forts) connected by a rampart and palisade, in a circuit of eleven miles (18 km). On its completion a similar line was then built outside, fourteen miles (23 km) in perimeter, to protect the besiegers from the relieving army. The whole system took about a month to complete.
In October the Gallic relieving force arrived and established a camp to the southwest. It was said to consist of two hundred and forty thousand infantry and eight thousand cavalry, under the joint command of Commius of the Atrebates, Viridomarus (2) and Eporedorix of the Aedui and Vercassivellaunus, a cousin of Vercingetorix, of the Arverni.
A cavalry battle took place and the Germanic horse, supported by Roman cohorts, was again victorious. Their next attempt was a night attack against the Roman defences on the Plain of Laumes. When their attack was thrown back they sent a force up Mount Rea, which lay on the north side, where the Roman walls extended across its downward slope and were therefore exposed to an attack from above.
At noon the Gauls mounted a simultaneous attack: Vercingetorix stormed the inner wall, while the relieving force pushed forward so strongly that the Romans seemed to be on the verge of defeat. Labienus, on Caesar’s orders, took some cavalry from the fortified area and led them up the mountain and attacked the Gauls in their flank and rear. The relieving force was shattered and could do no more; it promptly left the area and its warriors returned to their tribes. Vercingetorix surrendered and was taken to Rome where he put in chains to await Caesar’s triumph. He was executed in 46 BC.
Caesar wintered his legions in scattered camps – from Belgium to the borders of Narbonensis – in the hope of discouraging further revolts; Caesar himself remained at Bibracte, where he received the submissions of the Aedui and Arverni.
Bituriges [2/2]: central Celtica
His quaestor Marcus Antonius (5) (=Mark Antony; 53; fl. 57-30 BC) had successfully defended crucial positions during the siege of Alesia. Caesar, on being informed that several Gallic states were planning an insurrection, placed Antony in charge of his winter quarters and on the last day of December went to the country of the Bituriges (central). He caught them unawares and crushed the whole district, taking many prisoners and was back at his quarters in forty days.
Carnutes [2/2]: central-north Celtica
He was almost immediately approached by Biturigian envoys asking for aid against the Carnutes, who were attacking them. Though he had been only eighteen days at Bibracte, he drew the two legions from their quarters on the Saone River and went against the Carnutes (central-north). Learning of his approach the Carnutes deserted their homes and fled. Satisfied with their dispersal Caesar placed his two legions in quarters at Cenabum under Trebonius.
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