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Alesia September, 52 BC Strategic Context Julius Caesar considers Gaul secure until it revolts under the leadership of Vercingetorix, an Arverni chieftain. Vercingetorix does not rely on an impulsive, barbarian offensive strategy as Caesar expects. Instead, the Gauls do not allow a decisive battle to take place for fear it will be a decisive defeat, and fight a partisan war by retreating and destroying everything behind them. Caesar grows impatient, especially after the failed assault against the fortress of Gergovia and the inconclusive skirmish at the Vingeanne. Vercingetorix retires to Alesia and Caesar follows; it appears Vercingetorix, pressured by his allies, is finally giving battle. To view animation on PC: hit F5 To view animation on Mac: hit ⌘ + enter Stakes + A Roman victory would crush the Gallic revolt and remove Vercingetorix as a nuisance for good. + A Gallic victory would heighten the insurrection and threaten Roman control over the entire region. By Jonathan Webb, 2009 Alesia, 52 BC Strength Romans Gauls Julius Caesar Vercingetorix 40,000 infantry 15,000 cavalry 150,000 infantry 23,000 cavalry Well Well By Jonathan Webb, 2009 Roman Empire c. 52 BC The fort of Alesia sits atop the steep western hill of Mount Penneville, surrounded by rivers, valleys, and then hills a little further out, making approach difficult from three sides. The steepest and most elevated terrain is to the north in the form of Mount Rea and Mount de Bussy. The flattest terrain is to the southwest where the Heights of Mussy-le-Fosse give way to the Plain of Laumes. Romans (Caesar) Mount Rea Mount de Bussy Rabutin River Oze River Alesia Brenne River Ozerain River Plain of Laumes Mount Penneville Heights of Mussyle-Fosse N Gauls (Vercingetorix) Mount de Flavigny 0 1 2 3 km Vercingetorix’s force within Alesia runs out of supplies and hope just as ahis massive Gallic relief army arrives, ledditch byare four other chieftains. Some Gallic rush Themidnight, At Romans the begin construction relief army on launches lines ofan contravallation, attack on builds the western extensive side barriers of the walls Roman to two prevent fortifications. Gauls Caesar ininsufficient Alesia is able from to transfer escaping reinforcements and protect the to The same night theGallic Romans complete construction, Vercingetorix sends cavalry away for reasons: there supplies to feed theinfantry riders along Caesar surrounds Alesia with his entire force, and some earthen and a the wide on the western plain. He decides to out to begin filling the wide ditch in anticipation of an immediate assault by the relief army. However, the relief army is unprepared to make such a hasty assault Romans the threatened from any sectors attack by and them. repel These the fortifications attack decisively, face inward but only and after consist heavy of a fighting double ditch from backed behind by his a 12-foot extensive high lines rampart, of circumvallation. missile towers, with their animals. and reinforcements must be summoned immediately. The exhausted Romans are unable to intercept the Gallic cavalry but their punishing blockade rather than assault theout city because ofchallenge its naturally fortified position andcavalry the large Gallic The force within it.forces At first, Vercingetorix after a long so Caesar sendshis his cavalry thefortifications, Gallic relieflearns army’s small contingent. exchange blows all defences stilljourney inflict casualties. Caesar orders atosecond line army of lines of circumvallation, to bethe built to two defend against an attack from a Gallic and macabre Vercingetorix traps, triesheavy to many coordinate invented byattack Caesar with and the his relief men, littered buteverywhere only possible. of the attack Vercingetorix when sends Romans his cavalry cavalry do. His toinfantry halt construction are therefore of encamps his force on Alesia’s slopes because he expects Caesar to attack from the east before reinforcements can be summoned. afternoon until the Roman cavalry finally defeat the Gauls and chase them from the field, discouraging the besieged Gauls as Caesar intended. relief army. This second line is just as savage and fortified as the first except this one faces outward. such a ruthless delayed by the first line wide of defence ditch and but reach Caesar’s battle cavalry too late drive tothem aid the back relief to Alesia; army’s construction efforts. Gaulscontinues on both sides untilof completion. Roman lines retire to their camps. Gauls Romans (Vercingetorix) (Julius Caesar) 150,000 infantry 40,000 infantry 23,000 cavalry 15,000 Romans (Caesar) Symbol guide Mount Rea Mount de Bussy Rabutin River Oze River Vercingetorix Romans Gauls Alesia Infantry Infantry Cavalry Cavalry Brenne River Ozerain River Plain of Laumes Mount Penneville Heights of Mussyle-Fosse Gauls (Vercingetorix) N Commius/ Vercassivellaunus/ Viridomarus/ Epoderix Landmarks Mount de Flavigny 0 1 2 3 km The Gauls isscout theGallic impressive Roman lines for weaknesses before considering another assault. The Gallic leaders theCaesar’s most vulnerable sectorreinforcements to be his the presence northwest At midnight, the relief army launches anthe attack on the western side the fortifications. is able to transfer to Fighting desperate in all sectors, in northwest the Romans areRoman under attack fromdetermine twoCaesar sides. fortifications and Vercingetorix hisespecially subordinates to aofwhere council andof proposes a surrender. have suffered grave corner where a steepsummons hill prevents proper fortification. Under cover night, Vercassivellaunus leads a strong infantry force The behindGauls the nearest hill; he strikes against this the threatened sectors and attack decisively, butsector only inspires after heavy fighting from the behind linesHeofis circumvallation. prove their worth everywhere. Hisrepel timelythe appearance in the southern his infantry to defeat Gauls his and extensive end this threat. then able to shift vulnerable place in daylight while the breached rest of the relief armyRoman parades infortifications front of their camp. while This massive attackhas is somehow coordinated None with Vercingetorix who simultaneously casualties, have not yet the noRoman supplies. of infantry histhesubordinates reinforcements over to the northwest sector hold while he sends his but cavalry outside fortifications. The cavalry sweep across flank rear of Vercingetorix tohelp coordinate hisRoman attack with the relief army only learnsthe ofAlesia the attack when Romans do. His are and therefore sends his infantrytries against three sides of the lines of contravallation, one of which dismisses the attack almost at once.the Caesar sends reinforcements to wherever is needed the heavily committed Gallic infantry, scattering the entire force. Vercingetorix sees the attack has failed and once again retires to Alesia. object. Vercingetorix personally surrenders to Caesar while nearly every Gallic tribe involved also capitulate. delayed by the first wide ditch and reach battle too late to aid the relief army’s efforts. Gauls on both sides of Roman lines retire to their camps. at that very moment. Gauls Romans (Vercingetorix) (Julius Caesar) 150,000infantry infantry 40,000 23,000 cavalry 15,000 Romans (Caesar) Vercassivellaunus Symbol guide Mount Rea Mount de Bussy Rabutin River Oze River Vercingetorix Romans Infantry Brenne River Cavalry Gauls Alesia Infantry Cavalry Ozerain River Plain of Laumes Mount Penneville Heights of Mussyle-Fosse Gauls (Vercingetorix) N Commius/ Commius/ Vercassivellaunus/ Viridomarus/ Viridomarus/ Epoderix Epoderix Landmarks Mount de Flavigny 0 1 2 3 km Alesia, 52 BC Casualties & Aftermath Romans: Gauls: 12,000 >40,000 or or 22% 23% The majority of the Gallic tribes immediately bowed down to Roman authority while Vercingetorix was taken to Rome and executed. The few resisting tribes still active were individually hunted down and defeated by Caesar the following year, ending the insurrection. Gaul remained pacified and part of Rome for a thousand years after its final conquest. By Jonathan Webb, 2009 The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps http://www.theartofbattle.com By Jonathan Webb, 2009