Vercingetorix – Visionary Nobleman And Mighty Warrior Who Led Army Of Gallic People Against The Roman Empire
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Vercingetorix was an Arverni nobleman, a prince of Gaul and the most famous of all the Gaul. He was a mighty, brave warrior and a true enemy of the Romans.
The young man was ambitious and he knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish: his goal was to unite all of Gaul.
His name was not ‘Vercingetorix’ (which means (“supreme warlord” or “king of great warriors”) but it was rather his title.
He and his father were much alike. His father was Celtillos (Celtillus), the Avernian, leader of the Gallic tribes. In Ch. Pelling’s “Plutarch Caesar”, we read that Celtillus, had been put to death by the Gaul [his own countrymen] when they thought he was aiming for tyranny..” Celtillus had already held a position of primacy but he also “was aiming for kinship…”
Were the Gaul tribes perhaps afraid of Celtillus’ leadership giving him the power to act oppressively or unjustly? It’s difficult to say because there is a lack of historical records on Arvernian kings from the time between 121 BC and 52 BC, but Celtillus was already associated with assassinations, intrigue, and conspiracies.
When Celtillus, leader of the Arverni tribe was murdered, his son Vercingetorix blamed the Romans because it looked as if his father was killed by someone using Roman weapons. He wanted revenge and was not afraid to follow in his father’s steps. The only way to retain freedom was to unite forces and act together.
Vercingetorix’s uncle, worried about Roman retribution, expelled him from the Arverni town of Gergovia on the Gergovie plateau, but the young warrior did not give up.
The young man was aware that Caesar had already finished his campaign against the Gaul and his definitive goal was - to subdue all of them.
Getting little support from the nobles, he was forced to raise his own army from the poorest classes. He also raised support from young warriors from thirty tribes, and returned, proclaiming himself chief of his own Arverni tribe.
He was still prepared to do whatever was in his power to lead the Gallic people against the Roman Empire, but it wasn’t easy. His direct enemy was powerful - invincible Caesar and his army.
Vercingetorix adopted more current styles of warfare, but his military assets could not be compared to the great army of Caesar's soldiers.
On the other hand, Caesar knew that if the tribes of Gaul decided to form a strong Gallic alliance, it would be much more difficult for his soldiers to conquer them.
Taking of the mountain stronghold of Gergovia (52 BC) in a battle, it was a success for Vercingetorix and AncientPages described this military encounter.
But the Siege Of Alesia was the last decisive battle that ended Gallic independence in France and Belgium. The great Gallic leader, Vercingetorix, decided to surrender the next day.
He was not treated by his captors in the way his bravery deserved. He was taken into prison in Rome for six years. In 46 BC, Vercingetorix died, but not like a proud and very courageous warrior often dies in a battle.
He was publicly beheaded (or strangled) as a part of Caesar’s victory celebrations, and we can say that humiliation has never had limits. Thus, the last major threat to the complete Roman conquest of Gaul disappeared.
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer
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Expand for referencesReferences:
S. Sandler, Ground Warfare
M. L. Lanning, Battle 100: The Stories Behind History’s Most Influential Battles
Castleden R. Conflicts that Changed the World
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