Alesia

September, 52 BC
Strategic Context
Julius Caesar considers Gaul secure until it revolts under the leadership of Vercingetorix, an
Arverni chieftain. Vercingetorix does not rely on an impulsive, barbarian offensive strategy as

To view animation on PC: hit F5

Caesar expects. Instead, the Gauls do not allow a decisive battle to take place for fear it will
be a decisive defeat, and fight a partisan war by retreating and destroying everything behind
them. Caesar grows impatient, especially after the failed assault against the fortress of

To view animation on Mac: hit ⌘ + enter

Gergovia and the inconclusive skirmish at the Vingeanne. Vercingetorix retires to Alesia and
Caesar follows; it appears Vercingetorix, pressured by his allies, is finally giving battle.

Stakes
+ A Roman victory would crush the Gallic
revolt and remove Vercingetorix as a
nuisance for good.
+ A Gallic victory would heighten the
insurrection and threaten Roman control
over the entire region.

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

 Alesia, 52 BC
Strength

 Romans  Gauls

 Julius Caesar  Vercingetorix

 40,000 infantry  150,000 infantry

 15,000  23,000
 cavalry
Well  cavalry
Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

Roman Empire c. 52 BC
The fort of Alesia sits atop the steep western hill of Mount Penneville, surrounded by rivers, valleys, and then hills a little further out, making
approach difficult from three sides. The steepest and most elevated terrain is to the north in the form of Mount Rea and Mount de Bussy. The
flattest terrain is to the southwest where the Heights of Mussy-le-Fosse give way to the Plain of Laumes.
Romans
(Caesar)

Mount Rea
Mount de Bussy

Rabutin River

Oze River

Alesia

Brenne River

Ozerain River
Plain of Laumes Mount Penneville

Heights of Mussy-
le-Fosse

Mount de Flavigny
Gauls
0 1 2 3 km
(Vercingetorix)
Vercingetorix’s
Themidnight,
At
Caesar
The Romans
same surroundsforce
nightbegin
the withinrelief
the Gallic
Alesia
Romans Alesia
construction
witharmy
completerunsconstruction,
on
his out
lines
entireof
launchessupplies
offorce, andbuilds
contravallation,
an attack
and hope
Vercingetorix just
some
sends as
on extensive
the a earthen
western
his massive
sideGallic
barriers
cavalry to
walls
away relief
of prevent
theand
for aarmy
Roman
two the
wide arrives,
Gauls inled by
fortifications.
reasons:ditch
thereAlesia
onare
the four other
Caesar
from ischieftains.
escaping
western
insufficient able and
plain.
suppliestoHe Some
transfer
to protectGallic infantry
alongrush
thereinforcements
decides
feed thetoRomans
ridersblockade from
withtoout
any
the
rather to
their
begin filling
attackassault
threatened
byand the
them. wide
sectors ditch
These in
and because anticipation
fortifications
repel
mustthebeofattack of an immediate assault by the relief army. However, the relief army is unprepared to make such a hasty assault after a long journey
animals.
than
so Caesar sends
reinforcements
the
out
city
hisand
cavalry to
itsface
summoned
challenge
decisively,
inward
naturally
the Gallic
and butconsist
immediately.
fortified
relief
only
army’s
after
of a double
Theposition
exhausted
small
heavy
and fighting
ditch
Romans
the
cavalry
arebacked
large from
unable
contingent.
by
Gallic
The
behind
aforce
two
12-foot
hiswithin
to intercept extensive
the
cavalry
high rampart,
Gallic
it. lines
cavalry
At of
missile
circumvallation.
their towers,
butVercingetorix
first, punishingand Vercingetorix
macabre
defences
encamps still
histraps,tries
inflict
forcemany to
heavy
on
casualties.
invented
coordinate Caesar
byhis orders
Caesar
attack a second
with his
themen, line
relief of fortifications,
littered
army but
everywhere
only linespossible.
learns of
of circumvallation,
the attack
Vercingetorix
when tothe
be Romans
built tohis
sends defend
do. against
cavalry
His anforces
infantry
to haltattack
are exchange
construction
therefore blows
from a Gallic
delayed
of allby
such afternoon
reliefa army.
the
ruthless
firstuntil
Thiswide
linetheditch
secondofRoman
line iscavalry
defence
and just
reachas
but
Alesia’s
finally slopes
savage defeat
because
the Gauls
and fortified
heexcept
andfirst
as the
expects
chase themthis Caesar
fromonethe
tooutward.
attack
field,
faces
from the
discouraging east before
the besieged Gaulsreinforcements
as Caesar intended. can be summoned.
Caesar’s
battle toocavalry
late to aid
drive
thethem
reliefback
army’s
to Alesia;
efforts.construction
Gauls on both
continues
sides ofuntil
Romancompletion.
lines retire to their camps.
Romans Gauls Romans
(Caesar)
(Vercingetorix)
(Julius Caesar) Mount Rea Symbol guide

150,000 infantry
40,000 infantry Mount de Bussy

23,000
15,000 cavalry Rabutin River

Oze River
Vercingetorix

Romans Gauls
Alesia

Infantry Infantry
Brenne River

Cavalry Cavalry
Ozerain River
Plain of Laumes Mount Penneville

Heights of Mussy-
le-Fosse N

Commius/
Vercassivellaunus/ Landmarks
Viridomarus/ Mount de Flavigny
Gauls Epoderix
0 1 2 3 km
(Vercingetorix)
The
At Gaulsisscout
midnight, the
theimpressive
Gallic Romanarmy
relief lines for weaknesses
launches
in thean before
attackconsidering another assault. The Gallic leaders determine the Caesar’s
most vulnerable sectorto
toand
be the
hisnorthwest corner where aworth
steep
Fighting
Vercingetorix desperate in all sectors,
summons
hill prevents proper fortification.
especially
Underhis subordinates
cover to aon
northwest
of night, Vercassivellaunus
thethe
where
council western
Romans
and
leads a strong
side
are of the
under
proposes
infantry
Roman
attack fromfortifications.
a the
force behind
two sides.
surrender. The
nearest hill; he
Caesar
Gauls
strikes
is have
able
fortifications
against this
transfer
suffered
vulnerable
reinforcements
presence
place ingrave
prove theirto
casualties,
daylight while
the
the rest of
threatened sectors
everywhere. andappearance
His timely repel the inattack decisively,
the southern sectorbut only his
inspires after heavyto fighting
infantry defeat thefrom
Gaulsbehind
and endhisthisextensive
threat. Helines
is thenofable
circumvallation. Vercingetorix
to shift reinforcements over to tries to
help the
have
the reliefnot
northwest
coordinate
armyyet
sector
his breached
parades
hold
in front of the
attack while
with he
the sends
reliefRoman
their camp.
his
army butfortifications
This massive
cavalry only learns of while
attack is somehow
outside the the attack Alesia
coordinated
fortifications. The
when has
with
Roman
the no supplies.
Vercingetorix
cavalry
Romans sweep
do. His None
who simultaneously
across
infantrythe oftherefore
flank
are his
sends
and subordinates
his
rear of
delayedthe object.
infantry against three
heavily
by the
sides ofVercingetorix
committed
first wide
the Roman lines of
Gallic
ditch and infantry,
reach
contravallation, one of which dismisses the attack almost at once. Caesar sends reinforcements to wherever is needed at that very moment.
personally
scattering
battle toothe surrenders
lateentire
to aidforce. toarmy’s
relief Caesar
the Vercingetorix sees while nearly
the attack
efforts. Gauls has every
onfailed
both Gallic
and once
sides again tribe
of Roman retires involved
linesto Alesia.
retire also
to their capitulate.
camps.
Romans Gauls Vercassivellaunus Romans
(Caesar)
(Vercingetorix)
(Julius Caesar) Mount Rea Symbol guide

150,000infantry
40,000 infantry Mount de Bussy

23,000 cavalry
15,000 Rabutin River

Oze River
Vercingetorix

Romans Gauls
Infantry Alesia
Infantry
Brenne River
Cavalry Cavalry
Ozerain River
Plain of Laumes Mount Penneville

Heights of Mussy-
le-Fosse N

Commius/
Commius/
Vercassivellaunus/
Viridomarus/
Landmarks
Viridomarus/ Mount de Flavigny
Gauls Epoderix
Epoderix
0 1 2 3 km
(Vercingetorix)
 Alesia, 52 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Romans: Gauls:

12,000 >40,000
or or
22% 23%

The majority of the Gallic tribes immediately bowed down to Roman authority
while Vercingetorix was taken to Rome and executed. The few resisting tribes
still active were individually hunted down and defeated by Caesar the following
year, ending the insurrection. Gaul remained pacified and part of Rome for a
thousand years after its final conquest.

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

 The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb, 2009