Vercingetorix and His Clash With Caesar ©
by Amy Gill

As much as Julius Caesar was a nemesis to the Celts of Provincial Gaul with his campaign for Roman expansion and personal power, the rallying cry of Vercingetorix came to epitomize the indomitable spirit of the Celtic peoples. Vercingetorix's clash with Caesar showed him to be an equivalent adversary against the onslaught of Romanization.

In 59 BCE Caesar was assigned as governor of an area known as Province. This region, which is located in modern day France, was acquired by the Romans in 121 BCE. His personal goal was to create a power base in which he could launch a campaign that would propel him to the seat of the sole ruler of Rome.

Although there is no mention in the writings attributed to him that his intentions were to conquer the whole of Gaul; the accomplishment afforded him the necessary political standing of military hero and a fortune in overthrown Celts turned slaves.

Vercingetorix's early years are not fully documented. It is known that he grew up the son of Celtillus, a former chieftain of the Averni tribe, and was well versed in horsemanship and military discipline.

The Celts of Gaul were a largely fragmented population, comprised of hundreds of tribes divided into three parts, none with fixed boundaries. Celtic warriors among these tribes were known for determination and courage, but their fierce tribal loyalties did not allow them to conceive of warfare on a large-scale national level. In spite of that, a number of tribal leaders had attempted unification against Caesar but failed to have the adversarial stamina and military tactics to oppose him.

When Vercingetorix came on the scene in 52 BCE, Celts were using their traditional devices of individual combat over organized regiments. Many tribes responded to Rome's oppression by choosing to die free as Celts rather than live as slaves.

These short, quick attacks were rooted in the Celtic practice of short-term allegiances. Celts were not inclined toward permanence in their pacts and were not aware of the need for changing strategies. Overcoming these romantic and idealistic notions would be a challenge for Vercingetorix. His political demeanor and abilities were known to outshine that of his predecessors. He was considered thoughtful and farsighted, able to make decisions surely and studied rather than leaping into situations unplanned. An understanding of human nature and how to use flattery and force helped him in his attempts to convince so many Provincial Celts to rise above petty rivalry on a local level and work in unison.

Although disunity existed among Celtic tribes and Romans held massive amounts of territory, Vercingetorix chose not to ally himself with Caesar but honor the code of his dying culture. Rather he sent delegates throughout central and western Gaul to assemble men and arms against the encroaching Romans. He amassed a force representing three quarters of Gaul.

Vercingetorix used a tactic that involved destroying Celtic towns in order to deprive Roman troops of the supplies they could ravage from them. The principal town of Avaricum was spared and used as a defensive position. In response Caesar built towers and ramps leading to the town's walls. During this time Celts lassoed the Romans' grappling hooks, tunneled under the ramp and created havoc by setting fire to the wooden supports. Burning missiles, stone volleys and pitch were lobbed between the two camps towers.

The Celtic warriors began to retreat and a melee ensued. Celtic women became angry and protested the withdrawal and a terrible rainstorm began that allowed the Romans to overtake the wall. Of 40,000 men only 800 were able to escape.

Vercingetorix bore on to the mountaintop town of his own people in Gergovia. At Averni, the Celts were able to fend off an attempt by Roman troops and new recruits were motivated to join Vercingetorix. At this late time in the assault, Gaul was finally uniting in the tens of thousands.

Shortly after this success, a headquarters was set up in Alesia where forces were sent to ambush Romans from their supply trains. This attempt backfired when Caesar's men followed the Celts back to their stockpiled fortress and began to trench the circumference of the town and divert its water supply.

As supplies dwindled and the occupants of the fort were starving Vercingetorix made a move that still baffles historians. Not all historical accounts document the account of women, children, and the aged being sent from the city's walls when supplies were dreadfully low. The Romans rejected taking them prisoner and they were left to die outside the fortress walls.

Reinforcements of what Caesar estimated at a quarter of a million men arrived on the plain. As they approached, Vercingetorix led his men from the encampment to meet the incoming group. The Roman's trenches proved all too secure and after four days of futile efforts the battle ended.

Vercingetorix consulted with the chieftains and ended his campaign for the liberty of the Gallic peoples. He was voluntarily handed over to Caesar and paraded as a captive in the city of Rome before a death at the hands of the Romans.

Despite the gallant attempts of Vercingetorix and the Celts of Provincial Gaul to protect their independence, Caesar and the Roman Empire left the once mighty Celts as little more than pawns in the growth of a newer empire. The Celtic culture remains embodied by Vercingetorix's story of determination and will.

Bibliography

The Celts by Duncan Norton-Taylor
http://members.aol.com/skyelander/vercin1.html
http://classics.mit.edu/caesar.gallic.html - link may not be active

Contact Amy Gill at amyegill@lycos.com.

Vercingetorix and His Clash With Caesar copyright © 2004 by Amy Gill, all rights reserved. Used with permission. Top of Page