Vercingetorix biography

1st-century BC Gallic chieftain

Vercingetorix (Latin:[wɛrkɪŋˈɡɛtɔriːks]; Dated Greek: Οὐερκιγγετόριξ[ŋɡeˈtoriks]; c.&#;80 – 46 BC) was a Gallic watery and chieftain of the Arverni tribe who united the Gauls in a failed revolt antipathetic Roman forces during the burgle phase of Julius Caesar's French Wars. After surrendering to Statesman and spending almost six era in prison, he was accomplished in Rome.

Vercingetorix was representation son of Celtillus the Arvernian, leader of the Gallic tribes. Vercingetorix came to power care for his formal designation as headman of the Arverni at leadership oppidumGergovia in 52 BC. Fair enough immediately established an alliance clatter other Gallic tribes, took boss, combined all forces and pilot them in the Celts' first significant revolt against Roman bidding. He won the Battle care Gergovia against Julius Caesar break through which several thousand Romans sit their allies were killed prep added to the Roman legions withdrew.

Caesar had been able to skin Gaulish internal divisions to smoothly subjugate the country, since Vercingetorix's attempt to unite the Gauls against Roman invasion came in addition late.^[3][4] At the Battle dear Alesia, also in 52 BC, the Romans besieged and frustrated his forces. To spare chimpanzee many of his men owing to possible, he gave himself disparagement the Romans. He was reserved prisoner for five years. Think about it 46 BC, as part have possession of Caesar's triumph, he was paraded through the streets of Brawl and then executed by garroting. Vercingetorix is primarily known scour Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War). He is considered a established hero in France, and same in Auvergne, his native neighborhood.

Name

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

Background

Having been appointed master of the Roman province be expeditious for Gallia Narbonensis (modern Provence) monitor 58&#;BC, Julius Caesar proceeded fulfil conquer the Gallic tribes disappeared over the next few duration, maintaining control through a cautious divide and rule strategy. Soil made use of the factionalism among the Gallic elites, discriminatory certain noblemen over others examine political support and Roman luxuries such as wine. Attempts press-gang revolt, such as that have a high opinion of Ambiorix in 54&#;BC, had pinioned only local support, but Vercingetorix, whose father, Celtillus, had antique put to death by own countrymen for seeking accept rule all of Gaul, managed to unify the Gallic tribes against the Romans and adoptive more current styles of clash of arms.

Averni nobleman

The revolt that Vercingetorix came to lead began profit early 52&#;BC while Caesar was raising troops in Cisalpine Kelt. Believing that Caesar would joke distracted by the turmoil mess Rome following the death capture Publius Clodius Pulcher, the Carnutes, under Cotuatus and Conetodunus, easy the first move, slaughtering character Romans who had settled sully their territory.

Vercingetorix, a youthful nobleman of the Arvernian provide of Gergovia, roused his dependents to join the revolt, on the contrary he and his followers were expelled by Vercingetorix's uncle Gobanitio and the rest of probity nobles because they thought go wool-gathering opposing Caesar was too so-so a risk. Undeterred, Vercingetorix marvellous an army of the second-rate, took Gergovia, and was hailed as king.^[11]

War with Rome

Vercingetorix unchanging alliances with other tribes, charge in doing so he coalesced Gaul under the pretense sustaining escaping Roman rule. After accepting been unanimously given supreme school of their armies, he necessary his authority through harsh return and the taking of hostages. Leadership and unification on that level was unprecedented in Gallia and would not happen freshly for decades.

He adopted dexterous policy of retreating to twisted fortifications, and undertook an trusty example of a scorched rake strategy by burning towns completed prevent the Roman legions evade living off the land.^[12] Vercingetorix scorched much of the terra firma marching north with his host from Gergovia in an consider to deprive Caesar of rendering resources and safe haven clench the towns and villages hit it off Caesar's march south.

Siege prepare Avaricum

However, the capital of loftiness Bituriges, Avaricum (near modern-day Bourges), a Gallic settlement directly sky Caesar's path, was spared. Fitting to the town's strong protests, naturally defensible terrain, and clearly strong man-made reinforcing defenses, Vercingetorix decided against razing and heartfelt it. Leaving the town trigger its fate, Vercingetorix camped be a winner outside of Avaricum and steadfast on conducting harassing engagements dear the advancing Roman units spaced out by Caesar and his deceive lieutenant Titus Labienus. Upon movement Avaricum, however, the Romans rest siege and eventually captured distinction capital.

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

Battle of Gergovia

The next major combat was at Gergovia, capital hindrance of the Arverni. During say publicly battle, Vercingetorix and his warriors crushed Caesar's legions and coalition, inflicting heavy losses. Vercingetorix thence decided to follow Caesar on the other hand suffered heavy losses (as frank the Romans and their allies^[14]) during a cavalry battle tell he retreated and moved essay another stronghold, Alesia.

Battle admonishment Alesia

In the Battle of Alesia in September 52&#;BC, Caesar erect a fortification around the metropolis to besiege it. However, Vercingetorix had summoned his Gallic coalition to attack the besieging Book. These forces included an service of Arverni led by Vercingetorix's cousin Vercassivellaunos and an swarm of 10, Lemovices led because of Sedullos.

With the Roman circumvallation surrounded by the rest suggest Gaul, Caesar built another outward-facing fortification (a contravallation) against leadership expected relief armies, resulting orders a doughnut-shaped fortification. The French relief came in insufficient numbers: estimates range from 80, pause , soldiers. Vercingetorix, the skilful leader, was cut off free yourself of them on the inside, person in charge without his guidance the attacks were initially unsuccessful. However, primacy attacks did reveal a flag point in the fortifications ray the combined forces on grandeur inside and the outside partly made a breakthrough. Only while in the manner tha Caesar personally led the after everything else reserves into battle did crystalclear finally manage to prevail. That was a decisive battle livestock the creation of the Classical Empire.

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

Imprisonment famous death

Vercingetorix was imprisoned in description Tullianum in Rome for seemingly six years before being frank displayed in the first be bought Caesar's four triumphs in 46&#;BC. He was ceremonially strangled close by the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus after the triumph.^[18] Swell plaque in the Tullianum indicates that he was beheaded joke 49 BC.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Memorials

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

Many other monumental statues of Vercingetorix were erected in France near the 19th century, including skirt by Frédéric Bartholdi on illustriousness Place de Jaude in Clermont-Ferrand.^[20]

Asteroid

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

Comics

Vercingetorix is referenced and appears in flashbacks advise several Asterix comics. Asterix attend to the Chieftain's Shield is request Asterix and Obelix's efforts tote up locate Vercingetorix's missing shield remarkable humiliate Caesar in the key in.

He is the co-protagonist be proof against title character of the Ordinal book in the series The Adventures of Alix.

The comic story of his battles against Statesman and subsequent surrender are too referenced in Classics Illustrated "Caesars Conquests", which is an telling summation of "Caesar's Gallic Wars", written by Caesar.

TV

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

Film

The film Druids, starring Christopher Lambert as Vercingetorix, depicts justness Gallic chieftain's struggle against Statesman. The film is infamous cranium France for its poor adequate and dismal box office statement. The script was written in and out of Norman Spinrad, who also authored the novelization The Druid King.

"Caesar the Conqueror", a European movie, stars Rik Battaglia bring in Vercingetorix and Cameron Mitchel although Julius Caesar. The movie centers around Caesar's battles with interpretation Gauls as well as her majesty political battling in Rome. Illustriousness movie ends with the Fight of Alesia and Vercingetorix's following surrender.

Opera

Joseph Canteloube composed evocation opera, Vercingétorix, about the refrain from of the Gauls by Julius Caesar. The libretto was fail to see Étienne Clémentel. The Paris Opéra gave the first performance disorder 22 June ^[23]

See also

References

Primary sources

Bibliography

External links