‘Source D Cross-section diagram showing the defences constructed by the Romans Antistius Reginus and G, Canninius Rebilus, Meanwhile they sent the rest of their forces to attack the Roman defence works near their camp. Then Vercingetorix again attacked from Alesia. Caesar tells us that he ‘allied ou with the fascines poles, sapper’ huts, grappling hooks, and other ‘implements that he had prepared for the purpose.’ These concerted attacks by the Gauls created new problems. ‘Distributed as they were along lines of such length, the Romans found it dificult to meet simultaneous aitacks in many different places. They were unnerved, too, by the shouts they could hear behind them as they fought, which indicated that their lives were tnot in their own havids but depended on the bravery of others’ Caesar describes the action at Mt Rea. ‘Some ofthe Gauls fang javelins, while others advanced to the attack with shields locked together above their heads, fies troops continually relieving them when they tired. All of them threw earth onto the Jertfcations, which enabled them to climb the rampart and covered the obstacles hidden in the ground.’ As the Roman troops weakened Caesar sent Labienus with six cohorts to help hold this position. Meanwhile Caesar constantly ‘visited other parts ofthe lines, urging the men to hold out.” ‘Vercingetorix’ forces gave up trying to get through the ‘main defences on the plain and attacked and destroyed cone of the towers. Caesar sent reinforcements to stop Vercingetorix but finally had to lead troops there in person to repulse the attack, Meanwhile back at Mt Rea the Gauls were gaining the upper hand. Labienus sent to Caesar for help. Caesar arrived with four fresh cohorts and some cavalry. He sent another force of cavalry around behind the Gauls. Immediately the morale of the Roman troops lifted. The Gauls realised that the situation was bad and, as Caesar tells us, ‘They broke and fled, but found their retreat cutoff by the cavalry and were mowin down... 74 standards were brought in to Caesar, and only a few of al te large army got back sunhurt to their camp’ The effect was devastating and the relief forces fled from their camps The aftermath ... Day four Vercingetorix surrendered himself and the other tribal chief to Caesar. 20 000 Aeduan and Avernian warriors were let go while the other Gauls were given a slaves to the Roman soldiers. Caesar tells us that & thanksgiving of 20 days was celebrated in Rome. hale text fom Caesar, The Conquest of Gaul, 80-90, Sequencing 1 Put these events in the correct chronological order. ‘a The Gauls attack the position held by G. Antistius Reginus, 1b Julius Caesar orders the construction of siege works. © T. Labienus arrives to save the forces led by Reginus. d_ Caesar's German cavalry defeats the Gallic relief forces. © The Gallic reinforcement army arrives. fVercingetorix is delivered up to Caesar. Comprehension 2a Using a dictionary dofine the following terms: propaganda; rampart; redoubts; pickets; palisade; fascines; grapplinghooks; cohort; booty Describe the armour and weapons of the Gallic warriors, What advantage did the Roman logionary have? What problems did Caesar have to overcome at Alesia? What methods were used by Jullus Caesar to protect his position at Alesia? What methods were used by the forces within Alesia to defend themselves? Mapping 3a Draw a larger version of Source C in your workbook. b Using the description of events desoribed by Caesar, draw In the troop movements and places of attack. You ‘may have to do this on different maps representing different stages of the battle. Using evidence 4a Who is our main source on the battle of Alesla? 'b What are two problems that could face an historian Using this source of evidence on the events? © What type of evidence could be investigated or used to verify Caesar's account? '5 Name two people who took part in the battle, other than Caesar, that you would like to interview. Explain why you chose these people. 6 How valuable Is Source 0 to our investigation? Analysing ‘7a Why was Caesar able to defeat Vercingetorix at Alesia? bb What do the actions of Julus Caesar at both of these sieges tellus about his ablity as a military leader? Empathy 8 Design a newspaper cover page. The main article is a report onthe fall of Vercingetors’ forces at Alesia. You are to be the reporter responsible fr the lead story and the layout ofthe page, Have some fun with the ads and ‘other front page information Examination-style questions a Describe what happened at the battle of Alesia. 'b How did Jullus Caesar defeat Vereingetorix at Alesia? ‘Ancient History Si: Personas and Groups TRB J, Lawless 6 aL 806, Maybe helooaed win te purchasing MsKaon rinadel MUGEN Use, 7[2G influence, contributions and achievements HEMI Sequencing and recalling In 52 BC the Gauls revolted under Vercingetorix. Cactar true defeated by Vercingetorix in a battle at Gergovia. He Then regained the upper hand and besieged Vercingeror SeXiese- What happened at this batle? How was Caesar aie to defeat a vastly superior Gallic force? Caestr’s ‘To justify is annexation of che tersitory and te publicise for the events of this battle. Source A Gallic warsior types Source B Caesar's preparations fivonacked in them with senties on duty.» « a trench 6.9 metres, which, having perpendicular sides, was as ‘road at the bottom as atthe top. The other works were kept ‘come 600 metres behind this trench, to protect them against Suprise attacks; for as such avast extent of ground had 10 be the entire drut of fortifications “ised in Tong trenches dug 1.5 metres de thas likely 10 impale himself on the sharp points. them «.. were pits nearly 1 metre deep, tapering gradually aoe tan of the Galle Wars, a piece of political propaganda Hieuchisvements to his fellow Romans, is our best source ‘Source C Caesar's entrenchments at Alesia The siege. had a creuference of 16 kilometres. Eight camps chav placed in strategie positions linked together by orion: von which 23 redoubts were built... at night song garzons 'Cansar started to construc more elaborate siege works. He dug sarc and ie was dificalt 10 man the whole rit, there would tea danger ofthe enemy's svooping down: in force on the lines at might, or hing javelin nthe daytime when the men were ted “Teun to their work. At this distance, therefore, Caesar dg 1v0 Pattlemented breastwork, with large forked branches projecting uh it joined the rampart to hinder the encmy if they tried 10 ‘imb ovee Towers were placed at intervals of 118 metres along ‘Parties had to be sent out constantly in search of timber and com . it seriously reduced the mamiber of men available for the ansthicion of the huge fortifications. Gauls tied many times to sttack the works... Caesar decided that he must strengthen them Still further Accordingly tee tru or very stout boughs were Si and their tops stripped of bark and sharpened; they were then with their Lower ends sive fast one another wo prevent their being pulled up and the tranches projecting. There were five rows in each trench touching tne another and interlaced, and anyone who went among ther In front of towards the bottom, in which were embedded smooth logs as thick SLL SHIR Parzoralition ond Groups TRB © J. Lawless et al. 1998. May be photocopier ‘as a man’s thigh, with the ends sharpened and charred, and ‘rejecting only centimetres above ground. To keep the logs Frniy i pation, earth ws thrown int the pits and trodden srr, to a depth of 30 centimetres the rest of the cavity being filed with wigs and brishwvod to hide the tp. These wee adi rs ah containing eight rows, 1 metre apart and ay ere nicknamed ies from their resemblance to that lower In font of these again were blocks of wood 30 centimaes on, rider hooks feed in them, called goads by the soldiers These veer sunk right into the ground and strewn thickly everywhere Caesar then constructed a similar line of fortifications “ing ous instead of rads, This Tine wis 24 en, and di purpose was to hold off attacks from outside, so that 5 the troops defending the siege works could not be surounded Ccondented from Caesar, Galle Wars, 7.69, 72-4 Vercingetorix sends for help Versingetorix sent messengers to the other Gallic tibes to ‘etmble 2 relief force. An army of 8000 cavalry and 3$0 000 infantry was gathered and marched towards Alesis to save Vercingetorix. Help arrives ... Day one Gekko day that the relief force arrived Vercingetorix sent fhs troops out to attack the Romans. The Roman Socupied their defences. The Roman and Gallic cavalry seep ee cach other as the infantry on both sides watched. Aver the Romans looked as though they were going t0 ‘ee but Caesar sent his German auxiliary cavalry into the Rate and the Gallic cavalry panicked and was defeated, ‘The action hots up ... Day two On the second day the Gallic relief force attacked the Reman defences before daylight. The fighting was fierce. ena cts us that the Gauls ‘suddenly raised shout ... and fear 10 throw facnes into the ences, and drove the Romans oo the rampart wrth arows, and stones discharged frm sigs shy hand: Vercingetorix started 10 attack from Alesis but Jaa oops took so long to ready themselves that the battle aa viorer before they could take part in it. The fighting Te place in the dark with heavy casualties on oth sides nally the relief force retired to their camp. Vercingetorix returned to Alesia. The Gauls had now suffered two defeats. ‘The battle continues ... Day three The Gallic leaders of the relief force sent a force of 60 000, during the night, to attack at noon the camps neat Mt Rea which were held by the Roman generals G. Fann he parchesrg atten for aul ada =e