Editing Gallic Wars (section)

=== 52&nbsp;BC: Vercingetorix's revolt ===
[[File:Alise-Sainte-Reine statue Vercingetorix par Millet.jpg|thumb|alt= Photograph of Vercingetorix's memorial | [[Vercingétorix monument|Vercingétorix's Memorial]] in Alesia, where he made his last stand]]
Gallic existential concerns came to a head in 52&nbsp;BC and caused the widespread revolt the Romans had long feared. The campaigns of 53&nbsp;BC had been particularly harsh, and the Gauls feared for their prosperity. Previously, they had not been united, which had made them easy to conquer. But this changed in 53&nbsp;BC, when Caesar announced that Gaul was now being treated as a Roman province, subject to Roman laws and religion. This was a subject of immense concern for the Gauls, who feared the Romans would destroy the Gallic holy land, which the [[Carnutes]] watched over. Each year the [[druid]]s met there to mediate between the tribes on the lands considered the center of Gaul. A threat to their sacred lands was an issue that finally united the Gauls. Over the winter the charismatic king of the Arverni tribe, [[Vercingetorix]], assembled an unprecedented grand coalition of Gauls.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=51–60}}

Caesar was still in Rome when news of the revolt reached him. He rushed to Gaul in an attempt to prevent the revolt from spreading, heading first to [[Provence]] to see to its defense, and then to [[Agedincum]] to counter the Gallic forces. Caesar took a winding route to the Gallic army to capture several ''[[Oppidum|oppida]]'' for food. Vercingetorix was forced to withdraw from his siege of the Boii capital of [[Gorgobina]] (the Boii had been allied to Rome since their defeat at Roman hands in 58 BC). However, it was still winter, and he realized the reason Caesar had detoured was that the Romans were low on supplies. Thus, Vercingetorix set out a strategy to starve the Romans. He avoided attacking them outright and raided foraging parties and supply trains instead. Vercingetorix abandoned a great many {{lang|la|oppida}}, seeking only to defend the strongest, and to ensure the others and their supplies could not fall into Roman hands. Once again, a lack of supplies forced Caesar's hand, and he besieged the {{lang|la|oppidum}} of [[Avaricum]] where Vercingetorix had sought refuge.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=51–60}}

Originally, Vercingetorix had been opposed to defending Avaricum, but the [[Bituriges Cubi]] had persuaded him otherwise. The Gallic army was camped outside the settlement. Even while defending, Vercingetorix wished to abandon the siege and outrun the Romans. But the warriors of Avaricum were unwilling to leave it. Upon his arrival, Caesar promptly began construction of a defensive fortification. The Gauls continuously harassed the Romans and their foraging parties while they built their camp and attempted to burn it down. But not even the fierce winter weather could stop the Romans, and they built a very sturdy camp in just 25 days. The Romans built [[Roman siege engines|siege engines]], and Caesar waited for an opportunity to attack the heavily fortified ''oppidum''. He chose to attack during a rainstorm when the sentries were distracted. Siege towers were used to assault the fort, and [[ballista]] [[Greek and Roman artillery|artillery]] battered the walls. Eventually, the artillery broke a hole in a wall, and the Gauls could not stop the Romans from taking the settlement. The Romans then looted and pillaged Avaricum; Caesar took no prisoners and claims the Romans slew 40,000. That the Gallic coalition did not fall apart after this defeat is a testament to the leadership of Vercingetorix. Even after losing Avaricum, the Aedui were willing to revolt and join the coalition. This was yet another setback to Caesar's supply lines, as he could no longer get supplies through the Aedui (though the taking of Avaricum had supplied the army for the moment).{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=51–60}}

Vercingetorix now withdrew to [[Gergovia]], the capital of his own tribe, which he was eager to defend. Caesar arrived as the weather warmed, and [[fodder]] finally became available, which somewhat eased supply issues. As usual, Caesar promptly set about building a fortification for the Romans. He captured territory closer to the ''oppidum''. What happened in the ensuing [[Battle of Gergovia]] remains somewhat unclear. Caesar claims that he had just ordered his men to take a hill near the ''oppidum'', and that he then sounded a retreat. But no such retreat occurred, and the Romans assaulted the settlement directly. Gilliver finds it probable that Caesar did not actually sound a retreat, and that it was his plan all along to take the settlement. Caesar's dubious claim was likely intended to distance himself from the ensuing and overwhelming Roman failure. Greatly outnumbered, the Roman assault ended in clear defeat. Caesar claims that 700 of his men died, including 46 [[centurion]]s, although the actual numbers are likely much higher. Caesar withdrew from the siege, and Vercingetorix's victory attracted many more Gallic tribes to his cause. Despite their loss, the Romans still convinced numerous Germanic tribes to join them after the battle.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=51–60}}
[[File:Gaule -52.png|alt=Map centered on France. From the previous year, territory has expanded all the way to the Rhine.|left|thumb|Campaign map 52 BC. Most of south and central Gaul is in revolt. Note the Gallic victory at the battle of Gergovia, and Caesar's rush north from Rome.]]

==== Siege of Alesia, end of the revolt ====
[[File:Muséoparc d'Alésia fortifications.JPG|alt=Battlefield|thumb|Modern recreation of the Alesia fortifications, featuring rows of stakes in front of a moat, a high banked approach, and regular towers for Roman sentries]]
Vercingetorix chose to defend the [[Mandubii]] ''oppidum'' of [[Alesia (city)|Alesia]] next, in what would become the [[siege of Alesia]]. He assembled some 70,000{{endash}}100,000 warriors.{{sfn|Delbrück|1990|p=46}}<ref name="bwoJ0" /> After the poor performance at Gergovia, Caesar felt a direct assault on the Gauls was no longer a viable solution, so he opted to simply besiege the settlement and starve out the defenders. Vercingetorix was fine with this, as he intended to use Alesia as a trap to lay a [[Pincer movement|pincer attack]] on the Romans and sent a call for a relieving army at once. Vercingetorix likely did not expect the intensity of the Roman siege preparations. Although modern archeology suggests that Caesar's preparations were not as complete as he describes, it is apparent that he laid some incredible siege works. Over the span of a month, the Romans built some {{convert|25|mi}} of fortifications. These included a trench for soldiers, an anti-cavalry moat, towers at regular intervals, and booby traps in front of the trenches. The fortifications were dug in two lines, one to protect from the defenders and one to protect from the relievers. Archeological evidence suggests the lines were not continuous as Caesar claims, and made much use of the local terrain, but it is apparent that they worked. Vercingetorix's relieving army arrived quickly, yet concerted coordinated attacks by both the defenders and relievers failed to oust the Romans.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=51–60}}[[File:SiegeAlesia.png|thumb|alt= A map of the fortifications Caesar built in Alesia |The [[fortification]]s built by Caesar in Alesia

Inset: cross shows location of Alesia in Gaul (modern France). The circle shows the weakness in the north-western section of the fortifications]]After numerous attacks, the Gauls realized they could not overcome the impressive Roman siege works. At this point, it became clear that the Romans would be able to outlast the defenders and that the revolt was doomed. The relieving army melted away. Vercingetorix surrendered and was held as a prisoner for the next six years until he was paraded through Rome and ceremonially [[garrote]]d at the [[Tullianum]] in 46&nbsp;BC.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=51–60}}{{sfn|Fields|2014}}

Having crushed the revolt, Caesar set his legions to winter across the lands of the defeated tribes to prevent further rebellion. He sent troops to protect the Remi, who had been steadfast allies to the Romans throughout the campaign. But resistance was not entirely over: Caesar had not yet pacified southwest Gaul.{{Sfn|Gilliver|2003|pp=51–60}}