Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 1.djvu/566

Rh 548 CAESAR. the Treviri, Lingones, and Senones, and departed to Cisalpine Gaul. Upon Caesar's arrival in Cisalpine Gaul, he heard of the death of Clodius, who was killed by l^filo at the latter end of January, b. c. 52. This event was followed by tumults, which rent both Rome and Italy asunder ; and it was currentlj' re- ported in Gaul that Caesar could not possibly leave Italy under these circumstances. The unsuccessful issue of last year's revolt had not yet damped the spirits of the Gauls; the execution of Acco had frightened all the chiefs, as every one feared that his turn might come next ; the hatred of the Ro- man 3'oke was intense ; and thus all the materials were ready for a general conflagration. It was first set alight by the Camutes, and in an incredi- bly short time it spread from country to country, till almost the whole of Gaul was in flames. Even the Aedni, who had been hitherto the faithful allies of the Romans, and had assisted them in all their wars, subsequently joined the general revolt. At the head of the insurrection was Vercingetorix, a young man of noble family belonging to the Arvemi, and by far the ablest general that Caer sar had yet encountered. Never before had the Gauls been so united : Caesar's conquests of the last six years seemed to be now entirel}'^ lost. The war, therefore, of this year, b. c. 52, was by far the most arduous that Caesar had yet carried on ; but his genius triumphed over every obstacle, and rendered it the most brilliant of all. It was in the depth of winter when the news of this revolt reached Caesar, for the Roman calendar was now nearly three months in advance of the real time of the 3'ear. Caesar would gladly have remained in Italy to watch the progress of events at Rome ; but not merely were his hard- won conquests at stake, but also his army, the loss of which would have ruined all his prospects for the future. He was therefore compelled to leave Rome in Pompey's power, and set oiit to join his army. It was, however, no easy matter to reach his troops, as the intermediate country was in the htinds of the enemy, and he could not order them to come to him without exposing them to be at- tacked on their march. Having provided for the safety of the province in Transalpine Gaul, he resolved to surprise the enemy by crossing the Cebenna and descending into the country of the Arvemi (Auvergne). With the forces already in the province, and with those which he had himself brought from Italy, he eiFected a passage over these mountains, though it was the depth of winter, and the snow lay six feet on the ground. The Arverni, who looked upon these mountains as an impregna- ble fortress, had made no preparations to resist Caesar, and accordingly sent to Vercingetorix to pray him to come to their assistance. This was what Caesar had anticipated : his only object was to direct the attention of the enemy to this point, while he himself stole away to his legions. Pie accordingly remained only two days among the Arverni, and leaving his troops there in command of D. Brutus, he arrived by rapid joumej-s in the country of the Lingones, where two of his legions were stationed, ordered the rest to join him, and had assembled his whole armj'^ before Vercingetorix heard of liis arrival in that part of the country. He lost no time in attacking the chief towns in the hands of the enemy. Vellaunodunum (in the coun- try of Chateau- I^an don), Genabum (Orleans), and CAESAR. Noviodunum (Nouan, between Orieans and Bour- ges), fell into his hands without difficulty. Alarmed at Caesar's rapid progress, Vercingetorix persuaded his countrymen to lay waste their country and destroy their towns, that Caesar might be deprived of all sustenance and quarters for his troops. This plan was accordingly carried into effect ; but Ava- ricum (Bourges), the chief town of the Bituriges, and a strongly fortified place, was spared from the general destruction, contrary to the wishes of Ver- cingetorix. This town Caesar accordingly laid siege to, and, notwithstanding the heroic resistance of the Gauls, it was at length taken, and all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, were in- discriminately butchered by the Roman soldiery. Caesar now divided his arm)-- into two parts : one division, consisting of four legions, he sent under the command of T. Labienus against the Se- nones and Parisii ; the other, comprising six legions, he led himself into the country of the Arvemi, and with them laid siege to Gergovia (near Clermont). The revolt of the Aedui shortly afterwards com- pelled him to raise the siege, but not until he had received a severe repulse in attempting to storm the town. Meantime, the Aedui had taken No- viodunum, in which Caesar had placed all his stores ; and, as his position had now become very critical, he hastened northwards to join Labienus in the country of the Senones. By rapid marches he eluded the pursuit of the enemy, crossed the Ligeris (Loire), and joined Labienus in safety. The revolt of the Aedui inspired fresh courage in the Gauls, and Vercingetorix soon found himself at the head of a much larger army than he had hitherto commanded. Fearing now for the safety of the province, Caesar began to march southwards through the country of the Lingones into that of the Sequani. The Gauls followed him in vast numbers, and attacked him on his march. After an obstinate engagement, in which Caesar is said to have lost his sword, the Gallic cavalry were repulsed by the German liorse whom Caesar had procured from beyond the Rhine. Thereupon, Vercingetorix led off" his infantry, and retreated towards Alesia ( Alise in Burgundy, between Semur and Dijon), whither he was pursued by Caesar. After dismissing his cavalry, Vercingetorix shut himself up in the town, which was considered im- pregnable, and resolved to wait for succours from his countrymen. Caesar immediately laid siege to the place, and drew lines of circumvallation around it. The Romans, however, were in their turn soon surrounded by a vast Gallic army, which had assembled to raise the siege. The Roman anny was thus placed in imminent peril, and in no instance in Caesar's whole life was his military genius so conspicuous. He was between two great armies : Vercingetorix had 70,000 men in Alesia, and the Gallic army without consisted of between 250,000 and 300,000 men. Still, he would not raise the siege. He prevented Vercingetorix from breaking through the lines, entirely routed the Gallic army without, and finally compelled Alesia to surrender. Vercingetorix himself thus fell into his hands. The fall of Alesia was followed by the submission of the Aedui and Arverni. Cae- sar then led his troops into winter-quarters, and resolved to pass the winter himself at Bibracte, in the country of the Aedui. After receiving Caesar's despatches, the senate voted him a public thanksgiving of twenty days, as in the year 55.