Batalla de Alesia

la Guerra de las Galias

Reconstruccin de una seccin de las fortificaciones de la batalla de Alesia.

Fecha: Septiembre y octubre del ao 52 a. C.

Lugar: Alesia, cerca de Alise-Sainte-Reine (Francia)
Coordenadas: 473214N 43001ECoordenadas: 473214N 43001E
Resultado: Victoria romana decisiva
Consecuencias: Destruccin del ejrcito galo

Beligerantes
Repblica romana
Tribus de la Galia

Comandantes
Cayo Julio Csar
Marco Antonio
Tito Acio Labieno
Quinto Tulio Cicern
Gayo Trebonio
Servio Sulpicio Galba
Cayo Antistio Regino
Gayo Caninio Rbilo
Gayo Fabio
Dcimo Junio Bruto Albino
Lucio Minucio Basilio
Lucio Munacio Planco
Marco Sempronio Rutilo
Gayo Volcacio Tulo
Vercingtorix
Comio
Vercasivelauno
Viridmaro
Epordorix
Sedulio

Fuerzas en combate
Total: 60 0001-80 0002
(10 legiones romanas)

40 000-50 000legionarios3
15 000 auxiliares1
5000 jinetes germanos1
Total: 330 0002
80 000 (Vercingtorix)4
250 000 (Comio)5

Guerra de las Galias

(58 a. C.-51 a. C.)
Campaa contra los helvecios
Ginebra Ro Arar Bibracte
Guerra contra los suevos
Vosgos
Conquista de Blgica
Ro xona Ro Sambre (1) Aduatuca (1)
Rebelin del 56 a. C.
Octoduro Morbihan Constandia Socio
Campaa contra los germanos
Aduatuca (2)
Invasiones a Britania
Rebelin de Ambirix
Aduatuca (3) Namur Ro Sambre (2) Trever
ia (1) Treveria (2)
Rebelin de Vercingettix
Avrico Gergovia Alesia Uxeloduno

La batalla de Alesia o el sitio de Alesia fue un enfrentamiento militar desarrollado en el

mes de septiembre del ao 52 a. C., en la regin de la tribu gala de los mandubios, y que
tuvo como escenario principal su capital, la fortaleza de Alesia. Estaba situada
probablemente encima del monte Auxois, sobre la moderna Alise-Sainte-Reine,
en Francia, si bien esta ubicacin est discutida. En efecto, algunos autores han discutido
que esta localizacin no concuerda con la descripcin de la batalla por Csar, y se han
presentado diversas alternativas de las que actualmente slo Chaux-des-Crotenay (en
Jura, Francia) es considerada como una alternativa posible. Sin embargo, los ms
recientes descubrimientos arqueolgicos parecen confirmar la ubicacin de Alise-SainteReine como la ms probable.
Esta batalla enfrent a los ejrcitos de la Repblica de Roma dirigidos por Julio Csar,
que contaba con la caballera al mando de Marco Antonio, y con legiones al mando de sus
legados, Tito Labieno y Cayo Trebonio, entre otros, contra una confederacin de tribus
galas bajo el liderazgo de Vercingtorix, jefe de la tribu de los arvernos. Alesia fue la

batalla clave que dio la victoria definitiva a los romanos frente a los galos en la
larga guerra de las Galias. El sitio de Alesia es considerado uno de las grandes xitos
militares de Csar e incluso en la actualidad es utilizado como un ejemplo clsico de sitio.
La batalla es descrita en detalle por numerosos autores contemporneos incluyendo a
Csar en sus Comentarios a la guerra de las Galias, Libro VII. Tras esta batalla, el lder
rebelde fue capturado y la Galia fue definitivamente derrotada convirtindose en una
provincia romana. El Senado romano se neg a otorgar a Csar los honores por sus
victorias en las guerras glicas siendo ste uno de los factores desencadenantes que
condujeron a la guerra civil romana de los aos 50-45 a. C.

Preludio]
Julio Csar llevaba en la Galia desde el ao 58 a. C. Era habitual que los cnsules, los
magistrados de mayor rango elegidos en Roma, al final de su ao consular, fuesen
elegidos por el Senado Romano como gobernadores de alguna de las provincias
romanas. Csar fue nombrado gobernador de la Galia Cisalpina (la regin entre los Alpes,
los Apeninos y el mar Adritico), e Ilrico (parte occidental de la pennsula balcnica en la
costa oriental del mar Adritico), y, posteriormente y por muerte inesperada de su
Gobernador, se le aadi la Galia Transalpina o Galia Narbonense ("Galia ms all de los
Alpes"); al contar con un imperium proconsular, tena autoridad absoluta en estas
provincias.
1. Una a una, Csar fue derrotando a las tribus galas como la de los helvecios,
los belgas o los nervios, y logr el juramento de alianza de otras muchas. El xito de
la guerra trajo consigo un aumento enorme de riqueza en la Repblica en la forma
de botn de guerra y de nuevas tierras sobre las que imponer impuestos. El propio
Csar se hizo inmensamente rico puesto que, como general, se beneficiaba de lo
obtenido por la venta de prisioneros como esclavos. A su
vez, el xito le trajo nuevos enemigos: El Primer
Triunvirato, una alianza poltica informal
con Pompeyo y Craso, lleg a su fin el 54 a. C., con las
muertes de Julia, hija de Julio Csar y mujer de
Pompeyo, y de Craso en Carras. Sin esta conexin
poltico-familiar con Pompeyo, hombres como Marco
Porcio Catn el Joven comenzaron una campaa poltica
contra Csar, levantando las sospechas de corrupcin y
acusndole de querer proclamarse rey de Roma.
Estatua de Julio Csar en Rmini, Italia.

En el invierno del ao 54 al 53 a. C., la tribu ya pacificada de

los eburones, dirigida por Amborix, se rebel contra la invasin romana y destruy
la Decimotercera legin dirigida por los generales Sabino y Lucio Aurunculeyo Cota (que
no estaba emparentado con la familia de la madre de Csar, los Aurelios Cotas) en una
emboscada planificada cuidadosamente. Este fue un importante golpe contra la estrategia
de Csar en la Galia, puesto que con ello haba perdido una parte de sus tropas y, lo que
era ms importante, el prestigio militar que le acompaaba, a lo que haba que aadir que
la situacin poltica en Roma le impeda conseguir refuerzos. La rebelin de los eburones
fue la primera derrota clara de los romanos en la Galia e inspir los sentimientos tribalistas
por toda la regin. Le llev casi un ao entero, pero Csar logr retomar el control de la
Galia y pacificar a las tribus. Sin embargo, el problema todava no haba terminado.

Las tribus galas empezaban a darse cuenta de que slo podran conseguir derrotar a
Roma mantenindose unidas. Se convoc un concilio de dirigentes en Bibracte por
iniciativa de los heduos, una tribu anteriormente leal a Csar. Slo los remos y
los lingones prefirieron mantener su alianza con Roma.
El concilio declar a Vercingtorix, lder de los arvernos, comandante de los ejrcitos
unidos de la Galia. Los jefes galos decidieron que la insurreccin empezara cuando
Csar estuviera en su Italia ocupado con la poltica romana. En cuanto a los heduos,
estos prometieron unirse a la rebelin en el momento que consideraran causaran mayor
impacto.6
Los galos esperaban lograr que para cuando Csar lograra regresar a la provincia ya
habran sublevado a toda la Galia Transalpina, haber invadido la Narbonense y derrotar
una a una las guarniciones romanas.6 El ejrcito galo contaba con 80.000 infantes y
15.000 jinetes al mando de Vercingtorix (las cifras son de Csar).1 Segn Julio Csar, la
asamblea de jefes reunidos antes de Alesia pidieron los siguientes contingentes a cada
tribu:7
Heduos, segusiavos, ambivaretos, aulercos branovices y blanovios: 35.000
guerreros.
Arvernos: 35.000.
Eleutetos, cadurcos, gbalos, velavios, scuanos, senones, bituriges, sntonos, rute
nos y carnutes: 12.000.
Belvacos: ofrecieron 10.000 (aunque al final slo aportaron 2.000).
Lemovices: 10.000.
Pictones, incluyendo tronos, parisios y suesiones eleuterios: 32.000.
Ambianos, mediomtricos, petrocorios, nervios, mrinos y nitibroges: 35.000.
Aulercos cenmanos: 5.000.
Atrebates: 4.000.
Veliocases, lexovios y aulercos eburovices: 9.000.
Ruracos y boyos: 30.000.
Armoricos (coriosolites, redones, ambibarios, cletes, osismos, vnetos y unelos):
6.000.
Csar se encontraba entonces en el campamento de invierno de la Galia Cisalpina,
desconociendo la alianza que se haba formado en su contra. La primera seal de los
problemas que se avecinaban procedi de los carnutes, que mataron a todos los colonos
romanos de la ciudad de Cnabo (actual Orleans). A esto le sigui la matanza de todos
los ciudadanos romanos, comerciantes y colonos, en las ciudades galas ms

importantes.6 Mientras que el grueso del ejrcito de Csar se hallaba en el territorio de

los senones, pero por una campaa de guerrillas y tierra quemada de parte de los galos,
las legiones no estaban en condiciones de actuar.6
Al conocer estas noticias, Csar despleg a sus hombres y march apresuradamente
cruzando los Alpes, todava cubiertos de nieve, en enero.8 Llegando a Narbona en febrero,
organizando rpidamente las defensas de la ciudad, reclut a 10.000 nuevos legionarios y
avanz hasta la Galia central tras atravesar las Cevenas an cubiertas de nieve
reuniendose luego con el grueso de sus tropas.6 Csar logr un tiempo rcord, y consigui
sorprender a las tribus galas. Vercingtorix contino su campaa de tierra quemada
dejando sin suministros a Csar que marcho a la tierra de los heduos. Los romanos
encontraron apoyo por parte de algunos jefes de la tribu y tras ejecutar a los sospechosos
de insurreccin reclutaron a unos 10.000 guerreros.9
Dividi sus fuerzas, mandando cuatro legiones con Tito Labieno a luchar contra
los senones y los parisios en el norte. Csar en persona se dirigi en persecucin de
Vercingtorix con seis legiones y su caballera germana aliada. El caudillo galo en tanto
continuo con su tctica de no presentar una campaa frontal y negarle los suministros a
los romanos. Pero finalmente los bituriges, tribu que ya haba destruido muchas de sus
ciudades y fortalezas se neg a quemar Avrico, ciudad con los suministros tan
necesitados por los romanos. Tras un desesperado asedio la tomaron y saquearon,
masacrando a casi todos sus habitantes. Suerte similar corrieron
los carnutes en Cnabo poco despus.10
Csar contino con su persecucin y los dos ejrcitos se encontraron en la colina
de Gergovia, en donde Vercingtorix mantena una posicin defensiva muy fuerte. Csar
se vio obligado a retirarse derrotado, tras sufrir ms de 700 bajas.10 La victoria dio nuevos
aires a la rebelin gala, parte de los heduos entonces se rebelaron y
asaltaron Noviodunum, liberando a todos los rehenes galos de Csar.10 Sin embargo, la
rebelin gala no volvi a conseguir mayores xitos. Las fuerzas de Csar se unieron a las
de Labieno que haba conseguido tomar Lutetia1 y juntos continuaron la persecucin.10 En
el verano de 52 a. C., hubo varios enfrentamientos entre ambas caballeras, en los
alrededores de Vingeanne,1en el actual Dijn,10 resultando con la victoria de Csar y la
prdida de 3.000 jinetes para los galos.1 Vercingtorix decidi que no era el momento para
una batalla a gran escala, y se reagrup en la fortaleza de Alesia. Csar vio en cambio la
oportunidad de acabar con la guerra de una vez por todas.10

Sitio y batalla

Las fortificaciones construidas por Csar en Alesia de acuerdo a la hiptesis de localizacin en Alise-Sainte-Reine.
En el mapa de la esquina la cruz muestra la localizacin de Alesia en la Galia Alesia estaba situada en la cima de una colina
rodeada por valles y ros y contaba con importantes defensas. Dado que un asalto (hoy Francia). En el esquema, el crculo
muestra el punto dbil en la circunvalacin..

Ya que un ataque frontal sobre la fortaleza sera una idea suicida, Csar consider mejor
forzar un asedio de la fortaleza para rendir a sus enemigos por hambre. Considerando
que haba ms de 90.000 hombres fortificados dentro de Alesia junto con la poblacin
civil,11 el hambre y la sed forzaran rpidamente la rendicin de los galos. Para garantizar
un bloqueo perfecto Csar orden la construccin de un permetro circular de
fortificaciones. Los detalles de los trabajos de ingeniera se encuentran en los
Comentarios de la guerra de las Galias (De Bello Gallico) de Julio Csar y han podido ser
confirmados por las excavaciones arqueolgicas en la zona. Se construyeron muros de 18
km de largo y 4 metros de alto con fortificaciones espaciadas regularmente en un tiempo
rcord de 3 semanas. Esta lnea fue seguida hacia el interior por dos fosos de cuatro
metros y medio de ancho y cerca de medio metro de profundidad. El ms cercano a la
fortificacin se llen de agua procedente de los ros cercanos. Asimismo, se crearon
concienzudos campos de trampas y zanjas frente a las empalizadas con el fin de que su
alcance fuese todava ms difcil, ms una serie de torres equipadas con artillera y
espaciadas regularmente a lo largo de la fortificacin.12
La caballera de Vercingtorix a menudo contraatacaba los trabajos romanos para evitar
verse completamente encerrados, ataques que eran contestados por la caballera
germana que volvi a probar su vala para mantener a los atacantes a raya. Tras dos
semanas de trabajo, la caballera gala pudo escapar de la ciudad por una de las
secciones no finalizadas.10 Csar, previendo la llegada de tropas de refuerzo, mand
construir una segunda lnea defensiva exterior protegiendo sus tropas. El nuevo permetro
era de 21 km, incluyendo cuatro campamentos de caballera. Esta serie de fortificaciones
les protegera cuando las tropas de liberacin galas llegasen: ahora eran sitiadores
preparndose para ser sitiados.13

Para entonces, las condiciones de vida en Alesia iban empeorando cada vez ms. Con los
80.000 guerreros que an quedaban14 ms la poblacin local haba demasiada gente
dentro de la fortaleza para tan escasa comida.15 A Vercingetrix se le dio por parte de los
jefes galos atrincherados dos opciones para evitar la capitulacin por hambre. Sacrificar
los 10.00014 caballos que tenan dentro o enviar a los civiles con los romanos. El caudillo
galo opto por expulsar de la ciudad a los no combatientes ya que esperaba usar a los
animales en la batalla y as podra ahorrar las provisiones para los combatientes y forzar a
los romanos a agotar las propias en alimentarlos. Sin embargo, Csar orden que no se
hiciese nada por esos civiles, y los ancianos, mujeres y nios se quedaron esperando a
morir de hambre en la tierra de nadie entre las paredes de la ciudad y la circunvalacin ya
que Vercingetrix se neg tambin a recibirlos de vuelta.16
A finales de septiembre las tropas galas, dirigidas por Comio, rey de
los atrebates (secundado por los eduos Viridmaro y Epordorix y el
arvernoVercasivelauno, primo de Vercingetorix),17 acudieron en refuerzo de los fortificados
en Alesia, y atacaron las murallas exteriores de Csar. Vercingtorix orden un ataque
simultneo desde dentro. Sin embargo, ninguno de estos intentos tuvo xito y a la puesta
del sol la lucha haba acabado. En total, el ejrcito galo de socorro reunido, segn Csar,
unos 8.000 jinetes, adems de aproximadamente 240.000 infantes,7 18 en el recuento que
se hizo en tierras de los heduos.19
Al da siguiente, el ataque galo fue bajo la cobertura de la oscuridad de la noche, y
lograron un mayor xito que el da anterior. Csar se vio obligado a abandonar algunas
secciones de sus lneas fortificadas. Slo la rpida respuesta de la caballera, dirigida por
Marco Antonio y Cayo Trebonio, salv la situacin. La muralla interna tambin fue
atacada, pero la presencia de trincheras, los campos plantados de "lirios" y de "ceppos",
que los hombres de Vercingtorix tenan que llenar para avanzar, les retrasaron lo
suficiente como para evitar la sorpresa. Para entonces, la situacin del ejrcito
romano tambin era difcil.20
El da siguiente, el 2 de octubre, Vercasivelauno, lanz un ataque masivo con 60.000
hombres,2 enfocado al punto dbil de las fortificaciones romanas, que Csar haba tratado
de ocultar hasta entonces, pero que haba sido descubierto por los galos. El rea en
cuestin era una zona con obstculos naturales en la que no se poda construir una
muralla continua conocida despus por los romanos como monte Rea, donde Csar ubico
a 4.000 de sus hombres. El ataque se produjo combinando las fuerzas del exterior con las
de la ciudad: Vercingtorix atac desde todos los ngulos las fortificaciones interiores.
Csar confi en la disciplina y valor de sus hombres, y orden mantener las lneas. l
personalmente recorri el permetro animando a sus legionarios.21

Reconstruccin actual de las fortificaciones de Alesia.

La caballera de Labieno fue enviada a aguantar la defensa

del rea en donde se haba localizado la brecha de las
fortificaciones. Csar, con la presin incrementndose cada
vez ms, se vio obligado a contraatacar la ofensiva interna, y
logr hacer retroceder a los hombres de Vercingtorix. Sin
embargo, para entonces la seccin defendida por Labieno se
encontraba a punto de ceder. Csar tom una medida
desesperada, tomando 13 cohortes de caballera (unos 6.000
hombres) para atacar el ejrcito de reserva enemigo (unos
60.000) por la retaguardia. La accin sorprendi tanto a
atacantes como a defensores.22
Viendo a su general afrontar tan tremendo riesgo, los
hombres de Labieno redoblaron sus esfuerzos. En las filas
galas pronto empez a cundir el pnico, y trataron de retirarse. Sin embargo, como sola
ocurrir en la antigedad, un ejrcito en retirada desorganizada es una presa fcil para la
persecucin de los vencedores, y los galos fueron masacrados. Csar anot en
sus Comentarios... que slo el hecho de que sus hombres estaban completamente
exhaustos salv a los galos de la completa aniquilacin.23
En Alesia, Vercingtorix fue testigo de la derrota del ejrcito exterior. Enfrentndose tanto
al hambre como a la moral, se vio obligado a rendirse sin una ltima batalla. Al da
siguiente, el lder galo present sus armas a Julio Csar, poniendo fin al asedio de Alesia
y a la conquista romana de la Galia.24

Eventos posteriores
Estatua en honor a Vercingtorix. Memorial en Alesia (Alise-Sainte-Rein).

Alesia demostr ser el final de la resistencia generalizada y organizada a la invasin

romana por parte de la Galia. A partir de entonces, con la salvedad del pequeo
levantamiento del ao siguiente, pas a ser una provincia romana y finalmente fue
separada en divisiones administrativas ms pequeas. No volvera a haber ninguna
independencia del poder central de Roma hasta el siglo III cuando Pstumo fue
reconocido como emperador por las provincias de Galia, Hispania, Germania y Britania,
frente a Galieno, reconocido en Roma. La guarnicin de Alesia fue tomada prisionera junto
con los supervivientes del ejrcito de liberacin. Fueron vendidos como esclavos o dados
como botn de guerra a los legionarios de Csar, excepto en el caso de los miembros de
las tribus hedua y arverna, que fueron liberados y perdonados como forma de asegurar la
alianza entre estas importantes tribus y Roma.10
Para Csar, Alesia fue un xito personal enorme, tanto militar como polticamente.
El Senado romano, manipulado por Catn y Pompeyo, declar 20 das de accin de
gracias (supplicatio) por esta victoria, pero deneg el honor a Csar de celebrar un triunfo,
el punto culminante de la carrera de un militar romano. Se fue incrementando la tensin
poltica hasta que dos aos despus, en el 50 a. C., Csar cruz el Rubicn, precipitando
la Guerra civil de los aos 49-45 a. C. Tras haber sido elegido cnsul durante todos y cada
uno de los aos de la Guerra civil, y nombrado en varias ocasiones dictador, finalmente
fue nombrado dictator perpetuus o dictador vitalicio, en el ao44 a. C. Su poder, cada vez
mayor, acab con la tradicin republicana y llev al final de la Repblica romana y al
comienzo del Imperio romano.

Los comandantes de caballera de Csar siguieron diferentes caminos. Tito Labieno se

puso del lado de los Optimates (el bando republicano) en la Guerra civil, y muri en
la batalla de Munda en el ao 45 a. C. Cayo Trebonio fue nombrado cnsul por Csar en
el ao 45 a. C., y fue uno de los senadores que tomaron parte en el asesinato de Csar
en los Idus de marzo (15 de marzo) de 44 a. C. Trebonio tambin fue asesinado un ao
despus.
Antonio continu siendo un seguidor fiel de Csar. Se convirti en el segundo al mando
como Magister Equitum, y se qued al cargo de Italia durante gran parte de la Guerra civil.
En el ao 44 a. C. fue elegido colega consular de Csar. Tras el magnicidio, Antonio
persigui a los asesinos de Csar, y luch por el poder supremo con Octavio (quien se
convertira ms tarde en Csar Augusto). Primero formaron una alianza junto con Marco
Emilio Lpido en el Segundo Triunvirato, y al final se enfrentaron y fue derrotado en
la batalla de Accio en el ao 31 a. C. Despus de la batalla huy a Egipto, junto con su
aliada y amante Cleopatra, en donde un ao ms tarde se suicidaron.
Vercingtorix fue hecho prisionero y tratado con honores de rey durante los siguientes
cinco aos, esperando ser exhibido en el triunfo de Csar. Al final de la procesin, tal y
como era costumbre en la poca, fue condenado a muerte y estrangulado.

Otros temas acerca de la reconstruccin histrica de los

hechos
Durante muchos aos se desconoci la localizacin exacta de la batalla. Las diferentes
teoras se centraron primero en dos ciudades: Alaise, en el Franco Condado y AliseSainte-Reine en la Cte-d'Or. El emperador Napolen III de Francia apoy la segunda
candidatura y durante la dcada de 1860 patrocin la investigacin arqueolgica que
revelase pruebas que apoyasen la existencia de campamentos romanos en el rea. Luego
dedic una estatua a Vercingtorix en las ruinas recientemente descubiertas. La
localizacin exacta de Alesia se identific en Alise-Sainte-Reine por medio de arqueologa
area en 2004.
Sin embargo, siempre han existido algunas dudas que ponan en duda la validez de esa
localizacin. Por ejemplo, la topografa del rea se dice que no encaja con la descripcin
hecha por Csar. El lugar es tambin demasiado pequeo como para acoger incluso las
cifras revisadas de 80.000 hombres de la infantera gala, junto con la caballera y el
personal auxiliar.
Otra teora apoya la localizacin de la batalla en Chaux-des-Crotenay, en la entrada de las
montaas del Jura. Las investigaciones preliminares descubrieron un sistema completo de
fortificaciones romanas que encajaban con la descripcin de Csar del asedio. Sin
embargo, todava es necesaria una mayor investigacin para confirmar definitivamente la
localizacin de Alesia.
En los cmics de Astrix (El escudo arverno), esta incertidumbre sobre la localizacin de
Alesia est caracterizada en clave de humor haciendo referencia al orgullo galo. El lbum
nos muestra a Astrix y Oblix hablando con otros galos familiares con la campaa, que
rpidamente recuerdan la victoria de Vercingtorix en la batalla de Gergovia, pero que
rechazan hablar de Alesia, e insisten en que nadie sabe dnde est.
Las cifras exactas sobre el tamao de los ejrcitos que tomaron parte en la batalla son
muy difciles de saber. Esas cifras siempre han sido poderosas armas de propaganda, y
por lo tanto estn bajo sospecha. Csar, en sus Comentarios..., se refiere a una fuerza
gala de un cuarto de milln de hombres, probablemente exagerada para dar ms valor a

su victoria. Desgraciadamente, dado que los nicos relatos de los hechos son romanos,
estn presumiblemente sesgados. Los historiadores modernos opinan que es ms creble
una cifra de entre 80.000 y 100.000 hombres.2 11 25 El nico hecho constatado es que cada
hombre en las legiones de Csar recibi un galo como esclavo, lo que nos da unos 40.000
prisioneros, la mayora de la guarnicin de Alesia,26 a lo que habra que aadir los 20.000
guerreros heduos y arvernos que sobrevivieron a la batalla fueron liberados, para
asegurar la alianza con esas importantes tribus galas con Roma.10 La fuerza gala de
Comio probablemente tambin sufri graves prdidas, como cualquier otro ejrcito que
pierde el orden de batalla y se retira huyendo bajo la persecucin de la caballera.

Referencias
Notas
1.

Saltar a:a b c d e f g Davis, 2001, pp. 33

2.

Saltar a:a b c d e Dando-Collins, 2002, pp. 59

3.

Volver arriba Dando-Collins, 2002, pp. 59; Davis, 2001, pp. 33; Tucker, 2010, pp. 68

4.

Volver arriba Carcopino, 2004, pp. 363

5.

Volver arriba Tucker, 2010, pp. 68

6.

Saltar a:a b c d e Youtube - Documental "En la lnea de Fuego": Julio Csar, el

conquistador de la Galia (parte 4)

7.

Saltar a:a b Logan, 1831, pp. 94

8.

Volver arriba Davis, 2001, pp. 32

9.

Volver arriba Davis, 2001, pp. 32-33

10.

Saltar a:a b c d e f g h i Youtube - Documental "En la lnea de Fuego": Julio Csar, el

conquistador de la Galia (parte 5)

11.

Saltar a:a b Lanning, 2003, pp. 90

12.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.69-70.

13.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.70, 2

14.

Saltar a:a b Mellado, 1864, pp 89

15.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.71-4.

16.

Volver arriba Corra el ao: "Julio Csar" (2007) - YouTube

17.

Volver arriba El cerco de Alesia. Consultado el 2009.

18.

Volver arriba Davis, 2001, pp. 34.

19.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII, 76.3

20.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.79-80.

21.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.82-83

22.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.87-88

23.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.88-6.

24.

Volver arriba Csar, La Guerra de las Galias, VII.89.

25.

Volver arriba Feijoo & Uzcanga Meinecke, 2009, pp. 312

26.

Volver arriba Carcopino, 2004, pp. 372

Bibliografa
Fuentes
Julio Csar, Cayo: Comentarios a la Guerra de las Galias,
Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-99080-3
Obras modernas
Berthier, Andr y Wartelle, Andr (1990): Alsia, Pars, les Nouvelles ditions
latines, Paris,
Berger, Kacques (2004): Alsia, Chaux-des-Crotenay : pourquoi ?
Carcopino, Jrme (2004). Julio Csar: el proceso clsico de la concentracin del
poder. Ediciones Rialp, Alcal, Madrid, ISBN 84-321-3510-0.
Dando-Collins, Stephen (2002). Caesar's legion: the epic saga of Julius Caeser's
elite tenth legion and the armies of Rome. Nueva York: John Wiley and
Sons, ISBN 0-471-09570-2.
Davis, Paul K. (2001). Besieged: an encyclopedia of great sieges from ancient times
to the present. ABC-CLIO, Santa Brbara, California.ISBN 1-57607-544-3.
Feijoo, Benito Jernimo & Meinecke, Francisco Uzcanga (2009). Cartas eruditas y
curiosas. Barcelona: Editorial Critica, ISBN 978-8-47423-918-8.
Fuller, J.F.C. (1991): Julio Csar: Hombre, Soldado y Tirano, Da Capo Press. ISBN
0-306-80422-0

 Goldsworthy, Adrian (2002): Roman Warfare. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36265-4

Lanning, Michael Lee (2003). The Battle 100: The Stories Behind History's Most
Influential Battles. Sourcebooks, Inc., Naperville, Illinois. ISBN: 1-57071-799-0
Logan, James (1831). The Scotish Gal. Volumen I. Editado por Elder Smith,
Londres.
Mellado, Francisco de Paula (1864). Enciclopedia moderna. Diccionario universal
de literatura, ciencias, artes, agricultura, industria y comercio. Tomo I.
Establecimiento Tipogrfico de Mellado a cargo de Joaqun Bernat, Madrid.
Picot, Jean-Pierre (2002): Le Dictionnaire historique de la Gaule, des origines
Clovis, Paris, d. La Diffrence, 2002,
Porte, Danielle (2000): Alsia, citadelle jurassienne, la Colline o soufflait lEsprit,
d. Cabdita, Yens sur Morge (Suisse. Pour la France :BP 16, 74500, StGingolph).

LImposture Alsia, d. Carnot, Paris, 2004, 297 p.

Tucker, Spencer (2010). Battles That Changed History: An Encyclopedia of World

Conflict. ABC-CLIO, Santa Brbara, California, ISBN 978-1-59884-430-6.

Enlaces externos[editar]

Wikimedia Commons alberga contenido multimedia sobre Batalla de Alesia.

Relatos de la batalla y eventos correlativos

Vdeo: Localizacin exacta de Alesia en Alise-Sainte-Reine (en alemn)
Foto: Inscripcin que muestra la forma en que los galos deletreaban Alesia:
"ALISIIA", encontrada en el "Forum" en Alise-Sainte-Reine, siglo I a. C., 50 X 34
cm
Localizacin de Alesia en Chaux-des-Crotenay (en francs)
Alesia en Chaux-des-Crotenay (en francs)
Instituto Vitruvio (en francs)
El asedio de Alesia, 52 adC (en ingls) (enlace roto disponible en Internet Archive; vase
el historial y la ltima versin).

Vercingetrix: Guerrero Galo, Pt. 2 Batalla de Alesia (en ingls)

 Alesia la batalla contra los romanos (en ingls)

Julio Csar: el asedio de Alesia (en ingls)
Youtube - Documental "Grandes Conquistadores: Julio Csar"
Categoras:
Batallas de la Guerra de las Galias
Asedios de la Antigua Roma
52 a. C.
Esta pgina fue modificada por ltima vez el 27 ene 2015 a las 00:24.
El texto est disponible bajo la Licencia Creative Commons Atribucin Compartir Igual 3.0

Siege of Alesia
http://www.unrv.com/fall-republic/mopping-up-gaul.php
After defeating the Gallic forces of Vercingetorix near Divio, Caesar followed his retreating army to
the fortified town of Alesia. With an alleged army of some 80,000 men, Vercingetorix and his Gauls
were in shock from Caesar's Germanic cavalry allies and were in no condition to meet the 60,000
Romans Legionaries on the battlefield. In the seasonal summer of 52 BC (late September by the
calendar of the time), Caesar approached Alesia with the Gauls holed up inside and was well
aware of his army's failures at Gergovia just a short time before.
Deciding to wisely forego a direct attack, Caesar knew that to hem the Gauls inside the fort would
eventually starve them out, as food was scarce prior to the fall harvest. Caesar, in his
commentaries, suggests that the Gauls had only as much as 30 day's food to feed his army, even
on limited rations. He ordered the complete circumvallation of the Alesian plateau, which would not
only enclose the Gauls, but keep his large army occupied during the siege. Walls, ditches and forts
of various sizes stretched the entire circle for a total length of 10 miles. A wide ditch was dug out in
front of the works, with a second water filled trench behind it, separating the open 3 mile field
between Alesia and the Roman wall. Caesar himself gives a detailed explanation of the
construction:
"he dug a trench twenty feet deep, with perpendicular sides, in such a manner that the base of this
trench should extend so far as the edges were apart at the top. He raised all his other works at a
distance of four hundred feet from that ditch. Having left this interval, he drew two trenches fifteen
feet broad, and of the same depth; the innermost of them, being in low and level ground, he filled
with water conveyed from the river. Behind these he raised a rampart and wall twelve feet high; to
this he added a parapet and battlements, with large stakes cut like stags' horns, projecting from
the junction of the parapet and battlements, to prevent the enemy from scaling it, and surrounded
the entire work with turrets, which were eighty feet distant from one another."
Though the construction went well, as would be expected with 60,000 laborers, Vercingetorix didn't
sit back and watch his army become encircled. Regular raids attempted to interrupt the Romans,
but the legions, accompanied by the fearsome Germanic cavalry, outmatched the attackers and
sent them scattering back to their own fort. To cut down the number of attacks, and likely escape
attempts, Caesar next ordered an elaborate system of traps and additional wall defenses. He
continued to explain,
"It was necessary, at one and the same time, to procure timber. Having, therefore, cut down the
trunks of trees or very thick branches, and having stripped their tops of the bark, and sharpened
them into a point, he drew a continued trench every where five feet deep. These stakes being

sunk into this trench, and fastened firmly at the bottom, to prevent the possibility of their being torn
up, had their branches only projecting from the ground. There were five rows in connection with,
and intersecting each other; and whoever entered within them were likely to impale themselves on
very sharp stakes. The soldiers called these "cippi." Before these, which were arranged in oblique
rows in the form of a quincunx, pits three feet deep were dug, which gradually diminished in depth
to the bottom. In these pits tapering stakes, of the thickness of a man's thigh; sharpened at the top
and hardened in the fire, were sunk in such a manner as to project from the ground not more than
four inches; at the same time for the purpose of giving them strength and stability, they were each
filled with trampled clay to the height of one foot from the bottom: the rest of the pit was covered
over with osiers and twigs, to conceal the deceit. Eight rows of this kind were dug, and were three
feet distant from each other. They called this a lily from its resemblance to that flower. Stakes a
foot long, with iron hooks attached to them, were entirely sunk in the ground before these, and
were planted in every place at small intervals; these they called spurs"
Now as the Romans approached completion of the enclosure which took them only 3 weeks,
Vercingetorix ordered some of cavalry to attempt a break out under cover of darkness. With some
gaps still in unfinished fortifications, some cavalry is able to escape to nearby tribes and call upon
them to help lift the siege. Caesar, however, because of desertions and captured cavalry is well
aware of the plan and realizes that his enclosure of Alesia won't help against a relief army. In one
of the most brilliant siege tactics in the history of warfare, and a testament to the skill of Roman
engineering, Caesar ordered a second wall to be built on the outside of the first. This wall, nearly
identical to the first in construction and type, extended as much as 15 miles around the inner wall
and left enough of a gap in between to fortify the entire Roman army. Protected from sally
attempts by Vercingetorix and the relief army that was sure to come, the Romans waited for the
relief force.
The cavalry that escaped did manage to rally support for Vercingetorix, and a massive army,
especially by 'barbarian' standards was raised. According to Caesar, nearly 250,000 Gauls came
in support of their besieged 'King', but most modern historians estimate this number at a less
daunting number of around 100,000. Even so, this force marched from the territory of the Aedui to
crush the Romans between two forces larger than that of their target. Inside Alesia, however,
conditions were terrible, with an estimated 180,000 people (including non-combatant women and
children) running out of food and supplies. The resident tribe, the Mandubii, sent out their women
and children as a delay tactic, hoping that Caesar would let them pass to safety, but the Romans
let them starve at the inner Roman wall to show the Gauls the error of their ways, and to prevent
foul play.
By the time the relief force arrived, Vercingetorix and his army were in dire straights, with many of
his men likely on the verge of surrender. The relief force arrived just in time however, heartening
the resolve of the besieged and setting the stage for the battle that would make or break Caesar's
fortunes in Gaul. In late Spetember, 52 BC, the battle began with a charge from the Gauls on the
exterior of the Roman fortifications. A hard fought engagement from noon to sunset ensued, with
neither side having a clear advantage. Both Romans and Gauls fought with equal valor and
inspired by the fight, Vercingetorix led his men out of Alesia towards the inner Roman wall. Unable
to penetrate the defenses, he was not able to lend support to his countrymen, and eventually
Caesar's Germanic cavalry turned the Gallic flank and sent them back to their camps.
The next day, the Gauls outside the Roman works prepared ladders, hooks and equipment for
scaling the walls. Around midnight, they put their equipment to use, launching an all out night
attack. The initial battle went very well for the Gauls, and many Roman defenders were killed. At
the hardest fought points in the defenses, Marcus Antonius and Caius Trebonius saved the day for
the Romans, by abandoning those posts that were free from attack and moving these
reinforcements into the heaviest action. Eventually, Roman artillery prevailed and the outer Gauls
were forced to retreat. On the inner wall, meanwhile, Vercingetorix had launched a simultaneous
attack, but because of the Roman trenches, which the Gauls had to fill, the attack was delayed too

long. As dawn began to break, Vercingetorix was forced to retreat as well, since his compatriots on
the outer wall had to retire.
The next day, around October 2, would prove to be the final battle for Alesia. Sometime around
mid day, a force of 60,000 Gauls under Vergasillaunus discovered a weakness in the Roman lines.
Because of natural obstructions, there were areas in the defense works where walls simply
couldn't be built. The Gauls on both the outside and inside launched a simultaneous attack on all
quarters of the Roman works. Vergasillaunus pressed hard on the weak part of the wall, while
Vercingetorix occupied the Romans all over the inner wall. The Gauls pushed the Romans back all
over and the battle was on the brink of disaster for Caesar. Only the vaunted Roman discipline
seems to have prevented a complete rout. Caesar himself, rode all over along the Roman lines
lending support and encouragement to his men to hold the lines. Reserves were moved wherever
the situation seemed the most dire, and the orders were simply to hold their positions. Labienus
was sent to relieve 2 legions of defenders against the large outer Gallic army of 60,000, with only
6 cohorts of 3,000 men. Overall, the Romans may have been outnumbered as many as 6 to 1.
Pressure was mounting all over and Caesar was forced to lead an assault on the inner wall
attackers, driving them back and temporarily granting a reprieve. Labienus, meanwhile was in
terrible trouble and reported that his lines were about to break. Unable to hold the defense, he
would have to launch an attack in order to attempt driving the Gauls back, rather than stand back
and wait for the slaughter to come. Caesar rode hard to aid Labienus and took a terrible risk in
order to inspire his men. With 13 cohorts, Caesar left the relative safety of the walls and rode
outside to attack the Gauls from the rear. Inspired by the sight of Caesar fighting on the outside,
the Romans under Labienus launched a full with brilliant success. Sandwiched between Caesar's
army at the rear and by Labienus in the front, the Gauls began to buckle and soon fell into an all
out retreat. The battle that was once very close to the possible end of Caesar, turned into an all
out rout and the Gauls outside the Roman walls were slaughtered. Caesar commented that if not
for the complete exhaustion of his men, he might've destroyed the entire Gallic army. Even so, by
the end of the action, the Germanic cavalry would virtually wipe out the retreating Gauls, leaving
only Vercingetorix on the inside.
Forced back into Alesia after the defeat of his relief force, with no hope of additional
reinforcements, and only with the starving remnants of his own army, Vercingetorix was forced to
surrender. Caesar sat at the head of his lines and waited for the approach of the Gallic chieftans.
Vercingetorix and his fellow leaders laid down their arms and surrendered quietly, where he was
eventually led away to Rome. There he would sit and rot in a Roman prison for 5 miserable years,
awaiting the day when Caesar could have his triumph, to be followed by the ritual execution of the
enemy leader. As a reward Caesar's men each received one Gallic slave in addition to monetary
spoils of war, but the war wasn't over just yet.
back to the Battle of Gergovia

Mopping Up in Gaul
After the battle of Alesia and the subsequent surrender of Vercingetorix, little changed in Gaul for Caesar
save for one important circumstance. A great number of tribes remained in revolt, but there was no longer a
coalition of tribes working together against the Roman presence.
Caesar now had the luxury of dealing with these Gallic tribes on an individual basis. Immediately after
Alesia, Caesar marched south into Aedui territory and reaffirmed their allegiance to Rome. The Arverni,
Vercingetorix's own tribe, submitted as well and both, despite their leading the revolt and betraying the
Roman alliance respectively were treated with honor.
As two major tribes within central Gaul, it was to Caesar's benefit to treat them favorably. After taking

advantage of the fall harvest, Caesar scattered his legions throughout Gaul in an attempt to minimize the
continuing revolt, and the Senate voted another 20 day festival (3rd in total) of thanks in Caesar's honor.
While wintering in Gaul at Bibracte, the revolt started in full effect once again. Caesar marched to the
territory of the Bituriges and brought them to submission within 40 days. Caesar returned to Bibracte by
February 51 BC and offered his men 200 sesterces per legionary and 2000 per Centurion as a reward for
their continuing sacrifice and hardship. Soon after returning however, the beaten Bituriges were under
assault from the Carnutes, and Caesar marched back to their lands again. Decisively routing the Carnutes,
the Bellovaci were the next source of trouble. In mid winter, Caesar's allies the Remi were under pressure
from these Bellovaci and Caesar marched to the lands of the Seussiones to meet them.
With 4 legions, Caesar met the Gallic army but was unable to lure them into an open battle. Small cavalry
engagements weren't decisive either way, and the Gauls did a good job of using guerrilla tactics against
Roman foragers. Caesar ordered more of his men to join him in what might seem to be the last major enemy
of the long war. Fending off ambush attempts and fighting the cold of winter, the Romans never seemed in
serious trouble, but weren't able to bring the issue to a close. Finally, sometime in mid February 51 BC, the
Romans met the rebellious Gauls in a major battle. The Gauls tried to ambush a foraging column, but were
soundly defeated, and by now Caesar had become merciless. Most remaining tribes now sent hostages to
Caesar in a show of loyalty, but a few brave tribes remained at odds.
The lands of former enemy Ambiorix, along the Rhine were burnt and pillages, while Labienus was sent to
destroy the Treveri for their involvement in the revolt. Caius Caninius and Caius Fabius were sent to destroy
an enemy force near Limonum, killing 12,000 Gauls and capturing a great deal of spoils in the process. The
remaining forces retreated to a fort in southwest Gaul called Uxellodunum, and Caesar's legates invested the
town in an Alesia like siege. Caesar meanwhile was traveling throughout Gaul with his victorious army as a
show of force securing loyalty from the numerous tribes. When word reached him of the situation at
Uxellodunum, he marched quickly to make a final example of this last hold out against Roman authority.
The Romans cut off the water supply of the town and let the people die of thirst and starvation. Caesar's
great successes left the remaining Gauls believing that their defeat was the will of the gods, and they
eventually capitulated. Caesar administered his most ruthless punishment yet, cutting off the hands of all
those men who bore arms against Rome. Any remaining resistance within Gaul quickly ended, and Caesar
spent the rest of the year 51 BC, assuring the loyalty of the tribes. The legions were once again spread
throughout Gaul to prevent further uprisings, but this time all of Gaul was exhausted and had lost the will to
fight.
After 8 long years and countless campaigns, the Gallic Wars had finally come to an end. Caesar had proven
himself not only as one of the greatest and most brutal conquerors of the ancient world, while also
conducting some of the most brilliant siege tactics witnessed by history. He conquered over 350,000 sq.
miles of territory, killing over 1 million Gauls and enslaving a likely equal number in the process. Of the
original estimated population of 3 to 6 million Gauls, (depending on which numbers are accurate) at best 1/3
of the population was wiped out and at worst only 1/3 remained after the wars of Caesar. He bridged the
Rhine not once but twice, and crossed the channel to Britain in an equal manner, becoming the first Roman
to accomplish both things.
No Roman had ever accomplished so much, and yet been so brutal to an enemy. Vast amounts of wealth and
slaves were brought back to Rome, and Gaul remained from that time on a loyal and generally Romanized
province of the growing empire.
back to the Siege of Alesia
Crossing the Rubicon

Did you know?

Gallia is the Roman name for the region of western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the
parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river.

De _______________________________
http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alesia/alesia.html
Siege of Aesia (52 BCE): one of the most important battles during Caesar's conquest of Gaul. After he had taken the
Gallic town, only mopping-up operations remained.

Brief account
Caesar's own words
In58BCE,JuliusCaesarstartedtheconquestofGaul,toputanendtothe(perceived)Gallicthreatofto
Italy.Aftertwocampaigns,hehadreachedtheMiddleMeuseandtheOcean,whichwassufficienttoboast
thatthemissionhadbeenaccomplished.However,whenCaesarwastryingtoinvadeBritain,theGauls
startedtoreorganizethemselves.

Celtic relief of a chariot, found in Alesia (Muse des antiquits nationales, St-Germain-en-Laye)

In the winter of 54/53, the tribes of Gaul revolted. The Belgians, in the north, started the rebellion. Eburones,
commanded by Ambiorix, destroyed the Fourteenth Legionand it took Julius Caesar a whole year before he
had restored order - or better: before he had killed all inhabitants of the general area between the rivers
Meuse and Rhine.
Next year, 52, the Gauls unitedly rebelled under Vercingetorix, a young, charismatic nobleman. The second
insurrection was well-timed, because the situation in Italy was unquiet too, and Caesar could not be
reinforced from the south. Vercingetorix tried to cut off the lines of contact of Caesar's twelve legions (about
50,000 legionaries, with allies). The Gauls destroyed their towns and stored their food supplies in several
well-defended towns. The Romans would be forced to attack these towns, which implied that they would
have to find their food in a restricted, well-defined area, where the legionaries would be easy targets for the
Gallic cavalry. For the first time during this war, the Romans had to defend themselves.

However, Caesar was able to regain the initiative and captured Bourges, an important Gallic stronghold
(text). He could now resupply his troops, and although he was unable to take Gergovia, he forced
Vercingetorix to regroup his enormous army and occupy Alesia, a town of the Mandubii, where the final
battle of the Gallic War was to take place. The town, which was called Alisiia by its inhabitants, has been
identified with modern Alise Ste Reine. (Here you can see a satellite photo.) The Roman siege works were
excavated in the nineteenth century and the finds are currently on display in the Muse des Antiquits
nationales in St.Germain-en-Laye, near Paris.

Roman siege works: in front the goads, then the lilies and grave stones (Archodrome, Beaune; **)

Because the Romans were in the minority, they surrounded Alesia with large fortifications, which were
about 15 km long. Gallic warriors who wanted to break out, had to cross several obstacles:
1. a field of stimuli, wood blocks with iron hooks fixed in them;
2. a field of lilies, sharpened stakes in pits;
3. trenches of grave-stones, impenetrable artificial underwood;
4. two trenches;
5. a palisade with towers.
The excavations have shown that the works were never fully completed. Still, these defenses were sufficient
to make sure that the Gauls would not escape. It would have taken many moments to cross the obstacles, and
the soldiers would have been exposed to Roman missiles.
Still, Vercingetorix' strategy was working. He had managed to pin down the Romans, who had to find food
in the immediate neighborhood, where they would be exposed to Gallic cavalry and a relief force
commanded by Vercassivellaunus. To keep this second army out, the Romans had to build a second line of
defenses.
If Vercassivellaunus had appeared in time, the Roman position would have been very precarious, but he was
late. In Alesia, Vercingetorix was forced to send away all his horses and part of his troops, who managed to
break through the Roman lines. Later, the citizens of Alesia were expelled as well; the Romans did not allow
them through their lines, so that they were caught between the Gallic village and the enemy walls. They
would have died from hunger, but fortunately, the end of the siege was near: the relief force finally arrived,
and took up a position southwest of Alesia.

A Gallic torque from Alesia (Neues Museum, Berlin)

By now, the second ring was almost closed. The only weak spot in Caesar's double line of siege works was a
small gap in the northwest. The Gauls desperately needed to break through this gap, because in Alesia, food

was scarce and the besieged Gauls needed either to break out or to prove to the Romans that their siege was
futile. Attacking Roman foragers was insufficient: an open battle had to be fought. This was exactly what
Caesar had been preparing for: a Gallic attack over the stimuli, lilies, grave stones, and trenches.
It was, on our calendar, 30 August; on the Roman calendar, it was the 23d of September. The first clash was
a cavalry fight west of Alesia, at a plain now called Les Laumes, which ended inconclusively. The aim of the
Gallic horsemen may have been to make a tour around the siege works, to find the weak places. In
his Commentaries, Caesar claims that his men had won the fight, but he can not deny that the relief force
could stay where it was. Worse, Gallic spies soon discovered the gap in the northwest.
Next day, both sides prepared for battle, and there was only one clash in the evening, during which the
Roman commander Marc Antony distinguished himself.
The preliminary movements leading to the main clash started on the evening after an uneventful third day.
The Gallic relief force was divided into two columns. One of them would attack at Les Laumes; at the same
time, Vercingetorix would push to the west from Alesia. While these forces were hammering at the western
part of the Roman siege works, the second column of the relief force would surface from behind the hills in
the northwest, and attack the weak spot during the afternoon of the fourth day.
If we are to believe Caesar's description, the Gauls came close to victory. The Roman lines west of Alesia
withstood the double attack, but in the northwest, the situation was precarious. Caesar sent his colonel Titus
Labienus to the threatened sector. At the same time, Vercingetorix had broken off his attack, and decided to
turn south, from where Labienus had withdrawn his men. Caesar still had a reserve, commanded by
Decimus Junius Brutus and Gaius Fabius, and later joined in the struggle personally. Vercingetorix was
pushed back, and his men returned to Alesia.
Only the northwestern sector was still threatened. Labienus had brought 39 cohorts to that place, but -if we
are to believe Caesar- it was only the arrival of the general himself, recognizable because of his red mantlethat decided the battle: the discouraged Romans suddenly got new energy, and pushed back their enemy. The
Gallic attack had failed, and Gaul was to become part of the Roman world.
Caesar's account is very artful: everything depends on one single siege, Alesia; during this siege, all is
decided on one single day; during that day, one single fight really matters, the one in the northwest; and the
fight over there is decided by one man, Julius Caesar. Things may have been a bit more complicated; but
Caesar had not sent all his troops to the western sector and had kept reserves to reinforce the northwest - he
could rightfully claim that it was his generalship that won the battle.
Next day (3 September 52), the Gallic leaders in Alesia met, and Vercingetorix said that they ought to decide
what to do. They sent envoys to Caesar, who demanded them to hand over their weapons, and waited for the
enemy leaders to arrive. The tribal leaders came and handed over Vercingetorix. At least, this is what Caesar
writes, stressing that the Gauls themselves abandoned their leader. It was a way of discouraging future rebel
leaders, and it is probably not what really happened: according to Cassius Dio, Vercingetorix remained in
charge to the very last moment, and surprised Caesar by appearing unexpectedly (Roman History, 40.41).
Nor was it really the end of the war: mopping-up operations continued for two summers. However, Alesia
had been decisive. The Romans had gained control of the situation again. About one million Gauls had been
sold as slaves and an equal number had been massacred; the remaining five million had to accept Roman
rule.
AlesiawasexcavatedinthenineteenthcenturybytheFrenchemperorNapoleonIII,whobelievedthatthe
FrenchnationcombinedthebestelementsoftheGallicandRomancultures.Heerectedastatueofa
defeatedbutunbrokenVercingetorixonthehillofAlesia.Accordingtoancientcoins,theGallicleaderhad
nomustache;theimpressiveoneonthisstatuewasaddedbecauseNapoleonhadafamoustache.