Map Description

Historical Map of Caesar's Campaigns in Gaul - The Gallic Wars

MAP:

Alesia and Vicinity - The Siege of Alesia 52 BC

GRAPH:

Roman Field Fortifications



Illustrating:

• Roman Camps
  
• Contravallation
  
• Circumvallation
  
• Material from the ditches
  
• Turf Walls
  
• Log Corduroy below rampart
  
• Interior of Camp
  
• Cervi (Stags) = Branches projecting horizontally from a wall
  
• Cippi (Tombstones) = Tree branches partly buried in trenches
  
• Lilia (Lilies) = Sharp stakes in a small pit
  
• Stimuli (Goads) = Barbed hooks in the ground
  

After Gergovia, Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls, retreated with his army to the fortified hilltop city of Alesia, where Caesar surrounded him with an elaborate double ring of fortifications:

• Circumvallation: An 11-mile (18 km) inner wall that trapped the defenders inside.
  
• Contravallation: A 14-mile (21 km) outer wall that blocked Gallic reinforcements from breaking through.
  

Roman engineers dug two main trenches in front of the circumvallation. The first trench, filled with water from nearby rivers, acted as a moat, while the second was lined with sharpened stakes to deter any attempts to cross. Additionally, the Romans planted rows of wooden stakes, known as "cippi," and created concealed pits, or "lilia," filled with sharpened sticks to trap and injure attacking forces.

These defensive measures were complemented by watchtowers and fortified camps, ensuring that the Roman legions had a secure and well-defended position from which to conduct the siege.


The Romans, numbering between 30,000 and 50,000 soldiers (including auxiliaries), faced 80,000 Gauls inside Alesia and an estimated 250,000 reinforcements attempting to break the siege.

Despite fierce resistance, the Roman fortifications held, cutting off supplies and forcing the defenders into starvation.

The siege lasted about two weeks.

When the Roman army repelled Gallic reinforcements yet again, Vercingetorix surrendered on October 3, 52 BC.


The Roman victory at Alesia marked the end of major Gallic resistance, and thus the end of the Gallic Wars.

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

Related Links

Click map to enlarge.

×

− ⟲ +

Click map to enlarge.

×

− ⟲ +