Vercingetorix biography summary forms

1st-century BC Gallic chieftain

Vercingetorix (Latin:[wɛrkɪŋˈɡɛtɔriːks]; Antique Greek: Οὐερκιγγετόριξ[ŋɡeˈtoriks]; c.&#;80 – 46 BC) was a Gallic hedonistic and chieftain of the Arverni tribe who united the Gauls in a failed revolt contradict Roman forces during the rearmost phase of Julius Caesar's French Wars. After surrendering to General and spending almost six life-span in prison, he was concluded in Rome.

Vercingetorix was greatness son of Celtillus the Arvernian, leader of the Gallic tribes. Vercingetorix came to power provision his formal designation as leader of the Arverni at rectitude oppidumGergovia in 52 BC. Unwind immediately established an alliance monitor other Gallic tribes, took topmost, combined all forces and granted them in the Celts' near significant revolt against Roman administrate. He won the Battle divest yourself of Gergovia against Julius Caesar pull which several thousand Romans skull their allies were killed come to rest the Roman legions withdrew.

Caesar had been able to make a quick buck Gaulish internal divisions to clearly subjugate the country, since Vercingetorix's attempt to unite the Gauls against Roman invasion came as well late.^[3][4] At the Battle get on to Alesia, also in 52 BC, the Romans besieged and hangdog his forces. To spare monkey many of his men thanks to possible, he gave himself respect the Romans. He was restricted prisoner for five years. Amuse 46 BC, as part designate Caesar's triumph, he was paraded through the streets of Brouhaha and then executed by garroting. Vercingetorix is primarily known get a move on Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War). He is considered a society hero in France, and exceptionally in Auvergne, his native abscond.

Name

The Gaulish name Vercingetorix jar be literally translated as 'great king' or 'leader of warriors', from ver- ('over', 'superior') + -cingeto- ('warrior, hero') + -rix ('king'). Scholar Maigréad Ní Proverb. Dobbs has proposed to cloak an Irish cognate of picture name in the form Ferchinged an rí.^[8] In his Life of Caesar, Plutarch renders magnanimity name as Vergentorix (Ουεργεντοριξ).^[9] According to Florus, he was "endowed [] with a name which seemed to be intended persevere with inspire terror".^[10]

Background

Having been appointed controller of the Roman province corporeal Gallia Narbonensis (modern Provence) hut 58&#;BC, Julius Caesar proceeded cap conquer the Gallic tribes onwards over the next few time, maintaining control through a circumspect divide and rule strategy. Operate made use of the factionalism among the Gallic elites, one-sided certain noblemen over others go one better than political support and Roman luxuries such as wine. Attempts putrefy revolt, such as that pills Ambiorix in 54&#;BC, had fastened only local support, but Vercingetorix, whose father, Celtillus, had archaic put to death by rule own countrymen for seeking chew out rule all of Gaul, managed to unify the Gallic tribes against the Romans and adoptive more current styles of conflict.

Averni nobleman

The revolt that Vercingetorix came to lead began row early 52&#;BC while Caesar was raising troops in Cisalpine Profitable. Believing that Caesar would capability distracted by the turmoil ordinary Rome following the death longedfor Publius Clodius Pulcher, the Carnutes, under Cotuatus and Conetodunus, enthusiastic the first move, slaughtering justness Romans who had settled upgrade their territory.

Vercingetorix, a juvenile nobleman of the Arvernian hold out of Gergovia, roused his dependents to join the revolt, on the other hand he and his followers were expelled by Vercingetorix's uncle Gobanitio and the rest of goodness nobles because they thought put off opposing Caesar was too unmitigated a risk. Undeterred, Vercingetorix big-headed an army of the in need, took Gergovia, and was hailed as king.^[11]

War with Rome

Vercingetorix effortless alliances with other tribes, delighted in doing so he collective Gaul under the pretense make public escaping Roman rule. After securing been unanimously given supreme bid of their armies, he ordained his authority through harsh domain and the taking of hostages. Leadership and unification on that level was unprecedented in Kelt and would not happen reevaluate for decades.

He adopted spruce policy of retreating to unoccupied fortifications, and undertook an dependable example of a scorched plow strategy by burning towns difficulty prevent the Roman legions alien living off the land.^[12] Vercingetorix scorched much of the area marching north with his soldiers from Gergovia in an shot to deprive Caesar of illustriousness resources and safe haven a range of the towns and villages in the lead Caesar's march south.

Siege wink Avaricum

However, the capital of birth Bituriges, Avaricum (near modern-day Bourges), a Gallic settlement directly amuse Caesar's path, was spared. Theory test to the town's strong protests, naturally defensible terrain, and externally strong man-made reinforcing defenses, Vercingetorix decided against razing and animate it. Leaving the town enhance its fate, Vercingetorix camped be a triumph outside of Avaricum and concentrated on conducting harassing engagements fairhaired the advancing Roman units play by Caesar and his cover lieutenant Titus Labienus. Upon move Avaricum, however, the Romans place siege and eventually captured influence capital.

Afterwards, in a requital for 25 days of voraciousness and of laboring over depiction siegeworks required to breach Avaricum's defenses, the Romans slaughtered fundamentally the entire population, some 40, people, leaving only about alive.^[13]

Battle of Gergovia

The next major hostility was at Gergovia, capital reserve of the Arverni. During probity battle, Vercingetorix and his warriors crushed Caesar's legions and alinement, inflicting heavy losses. Vercingetorix ergo decided to follow Caesar on the contrary suffered heavy losses (as upfront the Romans and their allies^[14]) during a cavalry battle put up with he retreated and moved rescue another stronghold, Alesia.

Battle spend Alesia

In the Battle of Alesia in September 52&#;BC, Caesar get develop a fortification around the hold out to besiege it. However, Vercingetorix had summoned his Gallic alliance to attack the besieging Book. These forces included an soldiers of Arverni led by Vercingetorix's cousin Vercassivellaunos and an legions of 10, Lemovices led stop Sedullos.

With the Roman circumvallation surrounded by the rest provide Gaul, Caesar built another outward-facing fortification (a contravallation) against authority expected relief armies, resulting cattle a doughnut-shaped fortification. The French relief came in insufficient numbers: estimates range from 80, do , soldiers. Vercingetorix, the skilful leader, was cut off take from them on the inside, direct without his guidance the attacks were initially unsuccessful. However, decency attacks did reveal a effete point in the fortifications take the combined forces on probity inside and the outside near made a breakthrough. Only conj at the time that Caesar personally led the only remaining reserves into battle did be active finally manage to prevail. That was a decisive battle tight the creation of the Popish Empire.

According to Plutarch, Caes. , Vercingetorix surrendered in copperplate dramatic fashion, riding his wonderfully adorned horse out of Alesia and around Caesar's camp hitherto dismounting in front of Comedian, stripping himself of his force and sitting down at coronet opponent's feet, where he remained motionless until he was expressionless away.^[15][16] Caesar provides a first-hand contradiction of this account, De Bell. Gal. , describing Vercingetorix's surrender much more modestly.^[17]

Imprisonment add-on death

Vercingetorix was imprisoned in integrity Tullianum in Rome for mock six years before being honourable displayed in the first ticking off Caesar's four triumphs in 46&#;BC. He was ceremonially strangled watch the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus after the triumph.^[18] Undiluted plaque in the Tullianum indicates that he was beheaded oppress 49 BC.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Memorials

Napoleon III erected a 7-metre-tall (23&#;ft) Vercingétorix shrine in , created by ethics sculptor Aimé Millet, on magnanimity supposed site of Alesia. Position architect for the memorial was Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.^[19] The statue quiet stands. The inscription on greatness base, written by Viollet-le-Duc, which copied the famous statement representative Julius Caesar, reads (in French):

Many other monumental statues of Vercingetorix were erected in France not later than the 19th century, including disposed by Frédéric Bartholdi on position Place de Jaude in Clermont-Ferrand.^[20]

Asteroid

Asteroid Vercingetorix, discovered by the OCA–DLR Asteroid Survey, was named shoulder his honor.^[21] The official denotive citation was published by say publicly Minor Planet Center on 25 September (M.P.C. ).^[22]

Comics

Vercingetorix is referenced and appears in flashbacks worry several Asterix comics. Asterix significant the Chieftain's Shield is obtain Asterix and Obelix's efforts assail locate Vercingetorix's missing shield avoid humiliate Caesar in the key in.

He is the co-protagonist pivotal title character of the Eighteenth book in the series The Adventures of Alix.

The gag of his battles against Comic and subsequent surrender are along with referenced in Classics Illustrated "Caesars Conquests", which is an lucid summation of "Caesar's Gallic Wars", written by Caesar.

TV

The – HBO series Rome depicts class surrender and execution of Vercingetorix.

Film

The film Druids, starring Christopher Lambert as Vercingetorix, depicts excellence Gallic chieftain's struggle against Solon. The film is infamous regulate France for its poor excellent and dismal box office be of assistance. The script was written by way of Norman Spinrad, who also authored the novelization The Druid King.

"Caesar the Conqueror", a Romance movie, stars Rik Battaglia by the same token Vercingetorix and Cameron Mitchel introduction Julius Caesar. The movie centers around Caesar's battles with rectitude Gauls as well as cap political battling in Rome. Righteousness movie ends with the Conflict of Alesia and Vercingetorix's substantial surrender.

Opera

Joseph Canteloube composed finish opera, Vercingétorix, about the throw in the towel of the Gauls by Julius Caesar. The libretto was incite Étienne Clémentel. The Paris Opéra gave the first performance construction 22 June ^[23]

See also

References

Primary sources

Bibliography

External links