Editing Vercingetorix (section)

==Background==
[[File:Cesare prima Gallia 58 a.C.jpg|thumb|upright=1.36|[[Gallia Narbonensis]] and the [[Roman Republic]] in 58&nbsp;BC]]
[[File:Statue-vercingetorix-jaude-clermont.jpg|thumb|upright=1.36|''Vercingetorix'' statue by [[Frédéric Bartholdi]], on Place de Jaude, in [[Clermont-Ferrand]], France]]
Having been appointed [[Roman governor|governor]] of the Roman province of [[Gallia Narbonensis]] (modern [[Provence]]) in 58&nbsp;BC, [[Julius Caesar]] proceeded to conquer the [[Gauls|Gallic]] tribes beyond over the next few years, maintaining control through a careful [[divide and rule]] strategy. He made use of the [[Political faction|factionalism]] among the Gallic elites, favouring certain noblemen over others with political support and Roman luxuries such as wine. Attempts at revolt, such as that of [[Ambiorix]] in 54&nbsp;BC, had secured only local support, but Vercingetorix, whose father, Celtillus, had been put to death by his own countrymen for seeking to rule all of Gaul, managed to unify the Gallic tribes against the Romans and adopted more current styles of warfare.

===Averni nobleman===
The revolt that Vercingetorix came to lead began in early 52&nbsp;BC while Caesar was raising troops in [[Cisalpine Gaul]]. Believing that Caesar would be distracted by the turmoil in [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] following the death of [[Publius Clodius Pulcher]], the [[Carnutes]], under Cotuatus and Conetodunus, made the first move, slaughtering the Romans who had settled in their territory.

Vercingetorix, a young nobleman of the Arvernian city of [[Gergovia]], roused his dependents to join the revolt, but he and his followers were expelled by Vercingetorix's uncle [[Gobanitio]] and the rest of the nobles because they thought that opposing Caesar was too great a risk. Undeterred, Vercingetorix raised an army of the poor, took Gergovia, and was hailed as king.<ref>Julius Caesar, ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'' Book VII, sect. 4.</ref>