Vercingetorix

Statue of Vercingetorix by Bartholdi, on Place de Jaude, in Clermont-Ferrand

Vercingetorix (IPA: [werkiŋgˈetoriks] in Gaulish) (died 46 BC), chieftain of the Arverni, originating from the Arvernian city of Gergovia, and known as the man who led the Gauls in their ultimately unsuccessful war against Roman rule under Julius Caesar. Known primarily through Caesar's accounts, Vercingetorix's revolt is frequently used as a heroic example of Gallic virtue and resolve.

History

Vercingetorix as depicted on a contemporary coin

Having been appointed governor of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis (modern Provence) in 58 BC, Julius Caesar proceeded to conquer the Gallic tribes beyond over the next few years, maintaining control through a careful divide and rule strategy. He made use of the factionalism among the Gallic elites, favouring certain noblemen over others with political support and Roman luxuries such as wine. Attempts at revolt, such as that of Ambiorix in 60 BC, had secured only local support, but Vercingetorix, whose father, Celtillus, had been put to death by his own countrymen for seeking to rule all of Gaul, managed to unify the Gallic tribes against the Romans and adopted more modern styles of warfare.

The revolt that Vercingetorix came to lead began in early 52 BC while Caesar was raising troops in Cisalpine Gaul. Believing that Caesar would be distracted by the turmoil in Rome following the death of Clodius, the Carnutes, under Cotuatus and Conetodunus, made the first move, slaughtering the Romans who had settled in their territory.

Vercingetorix, a young nobleman of the Arvernian city of Gergovia, roused his dependents to join the revolt, but he and his followers were expelled by the nobles of the city, including his own uncle Gobanitio, who thought opposing Caesar too great a risk. Undeterred, Vercingetorix raised an army of the poor, took Gergovia and was hailed as king. He made alliances with other tribes, and having been unanimously given supreme command, imposed his authority through harsh discipline and the taking of hostages. He adopted the policy of retreating to natural fortifications, and undertook an early example of a scorched earth strategy by burning towns to prevent the Roman legions from living off the land.

Caesar and his chief lieutenant Titus Labienus lost the initial minor engagements, but captured the tribal capital at Avaricum (Bourges), killing the entire population of 120,000. The next major battle at Gergovia resulted in a victory for Vercingetorix because Caesar's men charged beyond their initial objective and approached the heavily fortified rampart, suffering major losses. Caesar's initial plan called for besieging the city and starving out the defenders. When Vercingetorix thought Caesar was in retreat (which he did not intend because it might have ruined his career) he moved to catch Caesar's army stretched out as they maneuvered. In their haste to rout the Romans, the Gallic forces suffered heavy casualties, with many noblemen perishing in the fighting. Due to these losses he had to retreat and moved to another stronghold, Alesia.

Gold stater of Vercingetorix, Cabinet des Médailles

In the Battle of Alesia Caesar was more patient and built a fortification around the city; however, because he himself was surrounded by the rest of Gaul, and Vercingetorix had summoned his Gallic allies to attack the besieging Romans, Caesar built another outer fortification against the expected relief armies (resulting in a doughnut-shaped fortification). The relief came in insufficient numbers: an estimated 300,000 soldiers (although Caesar claimed there were 750,000). Vercingetorix, the tactical leader, was cut off from them on the inside, and without his guidance the attacks were initially unsuccessful. However, the attacks did reveal a weak point in the fortifications and the combined forces on the inside and the outside almost made a breakthrough. Only when Caesar personally led the last reserves into battle did he finally manage to prevail. This was a decisive battle in the creation of the Roman empire.

According to legend Vercingetorix surrendered in magnificent fashion, allegedly riding his horse out of Alesia and around Caesar's camp before throwing his arms at Caesar's feet, stripping himself of his armor and kneeling to Caesar with a flourish. Caesar provides a first-hand contradiction of this account, describing Vercingetorix's surrender much more modestly. He was imprisoned in the Tullianum in Rome for five years, before being publicly displayed in Caesar's triumph in 46 BC. He was executed after the triumph, probably by strangulation in his prison, as ancient custom would have it.

Etymology

The name Vercingetorix can be analysed as Gaulish ver- ("over, superior" - an etymological cognate of Latin super or Greek hyper), cingeto- ("warrior", related to roots meaning "tread, step, walk", so possibly "infantry"), rix ("king").

Memorial

Vercingetorix Memorial in Alesia (Alise-Sainte-Rein)

Napoleon III erected a seven metre statue of Vercingetorix in 1865 , created by the sculptor Aimé Millet, on the supposed site of Alesia. The architect for the memorial was Viollet-le-Duc. The impressive statue still stands. The inscription on the base, written by Viollet-le-Duc, reads (in French):

« La Gaule unie

Formant une seule nation

Animée d'un même esprit,

Peut défier l'Univers. »

Which translates to:

« United Gaul

Forming a single nation

Animated by a same spirit,

Can defy the Universe. »

There is a statue of Vercingetorix by Bartholdi on Place de Jaude in Clermont-Ferrand (see first image).

It is worth noting that in France, Vercingetorix is often considered a folk hero to this day (although he was not technically French). This is because he represented the unique, free, Gallic (French) culture and stood up for his people, even against incredible odds.

Popular culture

Vercingetorix appears in the Asterix series of comics, notably in Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield and Asterix the Gaul.

A 2001 French film, Vercingétorix, also known as Vercingétorix: la légende du druide roi ("Vercingetorix: the legend of the druid king"), released as Druids in English, was directed by Jacques Dorfmann and co-written by Dorfmann and Norman Spinrad, starring Christopher Lambert in the title role. It was neither a critical nor a box-office success, but did far better in Europe than the United States of America. Spinrad went on to write a novel, The Druid King, released in 2003.

Vercingetorix appeared in the 2002 TNT television miniseries Julius Caesar, played by Heino Ferch.

Vercingetorix's campaign against Caesar is the subject of Morgan Llywelyn's 1992 novel Druids.

The "King of all the Gauls" appears in the 2005 HBO/BBC series Rome, played by Giovanni Calcagno. He is in the episodes The Stolen Eagle and Triumph.

Vercingetorix appears in the popular PC game "Praetorians" in one of the many levels as an enemy of the Roman Empire.

Vercingetorix also appears as an enemy in the PC game Age Of Empires

References

Primary sources

• Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico Book 7
• Dio Cassius, Roman History 40:33-41, 43:19
• Plutarch, Life of Caesar 25-27
• César, Vercingetorix with Gaul united , The Gaulish War, book VII,29

Secondary sources

• Yonge, Charlotte M. (1864), "The Chief of the Arverni", in Charlotte M. Yonge, A Book of Golden Deeds, London: Blackie & Son, Ltd., n.d.

External links

• A reconstructed portrait of Vercingetorix, based on historical sources, in a contemporary style.
• Curchin, Leonard A. Lingua Gallica (The Gaulish Language). Retrieved Aug. 21, 2003 from http://www.classics.uwaterloo.ca/labyrinth/gallica.htm
• Vercingétorix at IMDb
• Paul Marius Martin, Vercingétorix : le politique, le straège. Paris : Perrin, 260 p.