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Alesia Gallic Wars, 52 B.C. Julius Caesar's victory over the Gauls at Alesia in 52 8.C. established Roman dominance over Europe that would continue for the next five hundred years. It also established Caesar as the most influential Roman leader and led to the end of the Republic and the formation of the Empire. Julius Caesar spent the first half of his life in Rome as a successful politician. In his early forties, he sensed the decline of the Roman Senate's power and sought alliances to increase his personal influence. In 60 8.C., Caesar joined Gnaeus Pompey and Marcis Crassus in the First Triumvirate, with each taking charge of individual parts of the government and portions of the empire. Within Caesar's area were Cisalpine Gaul (now northern Italy) and Narbonese Gaul (now the southern French coast). Along with his governing responsibilities, Caesar inherited four Roman legions composed of about 20,000 well-armed, well-trained soldiers. Caesar immediately began to use his legions to increase his territory and power by expanding his borders into northern France, or Gaul as it was known at the time. The Celtic tribesmen who inhabited Gaul vastly outnumbered the Roman legions, but Caesar was aware that the Celts spent about as much time fighting each other as opposing external enemies. Caesar, with no prior military experience, kept his tactics simple. Instead of innovations, he relied on the fighting proficiency of his legions and his personal leadership to motivate them. Caesar's initial forays into Gaul were successful. He also invaded and pacified the British Isles and modern Belgium during his first five years of command. In 53 B.C., the first major threat to Caesar's expansion arose when the Celts in Gaul rebelled against Roman occupation. The previously fragmented Celtic tribes had been united under the leadership of Vercingetorix, who had attacked and massacred the Roman garrison at Cenebum. When he learned of the defeat, Caesar, who feared the loss of all Roman territory northwest of the Alps, went to Provence and personally assumed command of his legions that now numbered more than 50,000 men. He met and defeated a Gaul force at Cenabum on the Loire River and then pursued Vercingetorix and his army northward. Caesar gained several victories in the early months of 52 B.C., but the harsh winter and the Gauls' scorched-earth policy left little food or resources for the advancing Romans. By late spring, both sides were tiring of the mobile warfare, so Vercingetorix occupied the fortress town of Alesia, north of Dijon, evacuated the city's civilian population, and moved provisions, including livestock, inside the walls. To gain additional time to build his supplies and fortifications, Vercingetorix sent his cavalry to attack the Romans. The Roman legions formed their traditional fighting hollow square and easily fought off the Gauls, but the delay allowed Vercingetorix to reinforce his defenses. Alesia provided an excellent defensive position for the Gauls. It stood on a flat hilltop that dropped off in steep cliffs on all sides. City walls were an extension of the mountainside. The Oze and Ozerain Rivers, which ran east to west at the base of the hill, provided further protection. Vercingetorix added trenches along the approaches to the city, which now protected his army of 90,000. Caesar approached the fortification, but he did not attack; rather he lay siege and began digging a ten-mile-long trench around the town. When Caesar realized that Vercingetorix had dispatched messengers throughout Gaul to assemble a relief force, he ordered his army to dig a second, fifteen-mile trench around the first. Caesar and his legions now stood between two trench lines, one oriented to besiege Alesia, the other to defend against a relief force. In early October, an army of more than 100,000 Gauls approached Caesar's outer trenches from the west. The veteran Roman legions beat back the mostly inexperienced farmers and peasants. Vercingetorix tried to break out of Alesia but the Romans turned back that assault as well. A third attack then resumed from outside the Roman trenches. The Gauls concentrated at a weak spot in the defenses and almost broke through. Just when it seemed they would be successful, Caesar, wearing a bright red cloak so all would recognize him, hurried to the front, rallied his troops, and beat back the attackers. The Gauls could not mount another assault, and their supplies were nearly depleted within the walls of Alesia. Vercingetorix surrendered. No record of the casualties from the fight exist, but Caesar recorded later in his Commentaries of the Gallic Wars that each of his soldiers was awarded a captured Gaul as a slave. Caesar also noted in his third-person account in Commentaries the style of leadership that secured his victory at Alesia and other battlefields. According to Caesar, "The situation was critical and as no reserves were available, Caesar seized a shield from a soldier in the rear and made his way to the front line. He addressed each centurion by name and shouted encouragement to the rest of the troops, ordering them to push forward and open their ranks so they could use their swords more easily. His coming gave them fresh heart and hope. Each man wanted to do his best under the eyes of his commander despite the peril." Following the battle, the Romans placed Vercingetorix in chains and brought him to Rome where, after displaying him at victory parades and imprisoning him for years, they executed him. All of Gaul now belonged to Rome and would for the next five hundred years, and the Roman occupation influenced the language as well as the Gaul's culture and civilization. Not everyone was happy with Caesar's victories and assumed power. The Roman Senate ordered him home to become a private citizen in 49 B.C. Caesar returned to Rome at the head of his Legions and defeated all opposition to his leadership, making way for the end of the Republic and the establishment of the Empire. In 45 s.c., Rome declared Caesar dictator for life and consul for the next decade. A year later, he fell to the knives of assassins. The influence of Caesar, which began with his victory at Alesia, did not end with his death on the Ides of March, 44 s.C. The Roman Empire became the largest of its age and was the most influential power for more than five centuries. Roman culture and civilization continue to exert influence even today.