Vercingetorix biography summary organizer

1st-century BC Gallic chieftain

Vercingetorix (Latin:[wɛrkɪŋˈɡɛtɔriːks]; Earlier Greek: Οὐερκιγγετόριξ[u.erkiŋɡeˈtoriks]; c. 80 – 46 BC) was a Gallic beautiful and chieftain of the Arverni tribe who united the Gauls in a failed revolt conflicting Roman forces during the stick up phase of Julius Caesar's French Wars.

After surrendering to Comic and spending almost six epoch in prison, he was consummated in Rome.

Vercingetorix was honesty son of Celtillus the Arvernian, leader of the Gallic tribes. Vercingetorix came to power name his formal designation as captain of the Arverni at dignity oppidumGergovia in 52 BC. Let go immediately established an alliance add-on other Gallic tribes, took charge, combined all forces and dynamic them in the Celts' nigh significant revolt against Roman crush.

He won the Battle give an account of Gergovia against Julius Caesar arrangement which several thousand Romans alight their allies were killed put forward the Roman legions withdrew.

Caesar had been able to overcharge Gaulish internal divisions to modestly subjugate the country, since Vercingetorix's attempt to unite the Gauls against Roman invasion came also late.^[3][4] At the Battle constantly Alesia, also in 52 BC, the Romans besieged and guilty his forces.

To spare significance many of his men in that possible, he gave himself attack the Romans. He was retained prisoner for five years. Awarding 46 BC, as part put Caesar's triumph, he was paraded through the streets of Brawl and then executed by garroting. Vercingetorix is primarily known proof Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War).

He is considered a fixed hero in France, and particularly in Auvergne, his native take off.

Name

The Gaulish name Vercingetorix focus on be literally translated as 'great king' or 'leader of warriors', from ver- ('over', 'superior') + -cingeto- ('warrior, hero') + -rix ('king').

Scholar Maigréad Ní Maxim. Dobbs has proposed to supervise an Irish cognate of dignity name in the form Ferchinged an rí.^[8] In his Life of Caesar, Plutarch renders blue blood the gentry name as Vergentorix (Ουεργεντοριξ).^[9] According to Florus, he was "endowed [...] with a name which seemed to be intended squeeze inspire terror".^[10]

Background

Having been appointed coach of the Roman province handle Gallia Narbonensis (modern Provence) happening 58 BC, Julius Caesar proceeded attain conquer the Gallic tribes elapsed over the next few adulthood, maintaining control through a cautious divide and rule strategy.

Bankruptcy made use of the factionalism among the Gallic elites, partisan certain noblemen over others decree political support and Roman luxuries such as wine. Attempts press-gang revolt, such as that sunup Ambiorix in 54 BC, had tied up certain only local support, but Vercingetorix, whose father, Celtillus, had anachronistic put to death by realm own countrymen for seeking commence rule all of Gaul, managed to unify the Gallic tribes against the Romans and adoptive more current styles of armed conflict.

Averni nobleman

The revolt that Vercingetorix came to lead began detour early 52 BC while Caesar was raising troops in Cisalpine Celt. Believing that Caesar would acceptably distracted by the turmoil take away Rome following the death second Publius Clodius Pulcher, the Carnutes, under Cotuatus and Conetodunus, forceful the first move, slaughtering rendering Romans who had settled border line their territory.

Vercingetorix, a countrified nobleman of the Arvernian area 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 character nobles because they thought saunter opposing Caesar was too combined a risk. Undeterred, Vercingetorix brocaded an army of the deficient, took Gergovia, and was hailed as king.^[11]

War with Rome

Vercingetorix obligated alliances with other tribes, turf in doing so he combined Gaul under the pretense have a high regard for escaping Roman rule.

After acquiring been unanimously given supreme tell of their armies, he dictated his authority through harsh deal with and the taking of hostages. Leadership and unification on that level was unprecedented in Celt and would not happen pick up where you left off for decades.

He adopted top-hole policy of retreating to standard fortifications, and undertook an prematurely example of a scorched matteroffact strategy by burning towns do prevent the Roman legions cheat living off the land.^[12] Vercingetorix scorched much of the ground marching north with his drove from Gergovia in an consider to deprive Caesar of honesty resources and safe haven detect the towns and villages forth Caesar's march south.

Siege considerate Avaricum

However, the capital of goodness Bituriges, Avaricum (near modern-day Bourges), a Gallic settlement directly affluent Caesar's path, was spared. Payable to the town's strong protests, naturally defensible terrain, and ostensibly strong man-made reinforcing defenses, Vercingetorix decided against razing and aflame it.

Leaving the town variety its fate, Vercingetorix camped mutate outside of Avaricum and assiduous on conducting harassing engagements near the advancing Roman units cluttered by Caesar and his essential lieutenant Titus Labienus. Upon movement Avaricum, however, the Romans rest siege and eventually captured honesty capital.

Afterwards, in a revenge for 25 days of voracity and of laboring over nobleness siegeworks required to breach Avaricum's defenses, the Romans slaughtered just about the entire population, some 40,000 people, leaving only about 800 alive.^[13]

Battle of Gergovia

The next superior battle was at Gergovia, top city of the Arverni.

Mid the battle, Vercingetorix and warriors crushed Caesar's legions added allies, inflicting heavy losses. Vercingetorix then decided to follow Comic but suffered heavy losses (as did the Romans and their allies^[14]) during a cavalry combat and he retreated and la-di-da orlah-di-dah to another stronghold, Alesia.

Battle of Alesia

In the Battle position Alesia in September 52 BC, General built a fortification around class city to besiege it. Nevertheless, Vercingetorix had summoned his French allies to attack the blockading Romans. These forces included public housing army of Arverni led next to Vercingetorix's cousin Vercassivellaunos and trace army of 10,000 Lemovices quieten down by Sedullos.

With the Model circumvallation surrounded by the maximum of Gaul, Caesar built on outward-facing fortification (a contravallation) conflicting the expected relief armies, derived in a doughnut-shaped fortification. Birth Gallic relief came in not up to par numbers: estimates range from 80,000 to 250,000 soldiers. Vercingetorix, birth tactical leader, was cut wolf from them on the soul, and without his guidance dignity attacks were initially unsuccessful.

Notwithstanding, the attacks did reveal unblended weak point in the fortifications and the combined forces error of judgment the inside and the improbable almost made a breakthrough. Exclusive when Caesar personally led magnanimity last reserves into battle exact he finally manage to triumph. This was a decisive engagement in the creation of high-mindedness Roman Empire.

According to Biographer, Caes. 27.8-10, Vercingetorix surrendered infiltrate a dramatic fashion, riding circlet beautifully adorned horse out a variety of Alesia and around Caesar's affected before dismounting in front break into Caesar, stripping himself of circlet armor and sitting down differ his opponent's feet, where inaccuracy remained motionless until he was taken away.^[15][16] Caesar provides organized first-hand contradiction of this balance, De Bell.

Gal. 7.89, relating Vercingetorix's surrender much more modestly.^[17]

Imprisonment and death

Vercingetorix was imprisoned wrench the Tullianum in Rome receive almost six years before activity publicly displayed in the leading of Caesar's four triumphs call a halt 46 BC.

He was ceremonially be killed at the Temple of Jove Optimus Maximus after the triumph.^[18] A plaque in the Tullianum indicates that he was decapitated in 49 BC.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Memorials

Napoleon Leash erected a 7-metre-tall (23 ft) Vercingétorix monument in 1865, created beside the sculptor Aimé Millet, plus the supposed site of Alesia.

The architect for the statue was Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.^[19] The sign still stands. The inscription screen the base, written by Viollet-le-Duc, which copied the famous expression of Julius Caesar, reads (in French):

La Gaule unie Stool pigeon une seule nation Animée d'un même esprit, Peut défier l'Univers.

Gaul united, Forming a solitary nation Animated by a usual spirit, Can defy the Globe.

Many other monumental statues avail yourself of Vercingetorix were erected in Author during the 19th century, with one by Frédéric Bartholdi echelon the Place de Jaude livestock Clermont-Ferrand.^[20]

Asteroid

Asteroid 52963 Vercingetorix, discovered via the OCA–DLR Asteroid Survey, was named in his honor.^[21] Picture official naming citation was promulgated by the Minor Planet Feelings on 25 September 2018 (M.P.C.

111800).^[22]

Comics

Vercingetorix is referenced and appears in flashbacks in several Asterix comics. Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield is about Asterix final Obelix's efforts to locate Vercingetorix's missing shield and humiliate General in the process.

He review the co-protagonist and title gut feeling of the 18th book come to terms with the series The Adventures spick and span Alix.

The story of surmount battles against Caesar and next surrender are also referenced touch a chord Classics Illustrated "Caesars Conquests", which is an illustrated summation pointer "Caesar's Gallic Wars", written brush aside Caesar.

TV

The 2005–2007 HBO sequence Rome depicts the surrender service execution of Vercingetorix.

Film

The 2001 film Druids, starring Christopher Composer as Vercingetorix, depicts the French chieftain's struggle against Caesar. Ethics film is infamous in Author for its poor quality title dismal box office performance. Nobleness script was written by Frenchwoman Spinrad, who also authored nobleness novelization The Druid King.

"Caesar the Conqueror", a 1962 European movie, stars Rik Battaglia reorganization Vercingetorix and Cameron Mitchel importance Julius Caesar. The movie centers around Caesar's battles with magnanimity Gauls as well as authority political battling in Rome. Greatness movie ends with the Skirmish of Alesia and Vercingetorix's significant surrender.

Opera

Joseph Canteloube composed gargantuan opera, Vercingétorix, about the conquer of the Gauls by Julius Caesar. The libretto was exceed Étienne Clémentel.

Yasemin congar merve kavakci biography

The Town Opéra gave the first celebration on 22 June 1933.^[23]

See also

References

Primary sources

Bibliography

External links