Alesia, Siege of

Julius Caesar's final defeat of the Gauls 52 BC, completing the Roman conquest of Gaul. Napoleon III erected a statue of the Gallic chief Vercingetorix on the site of the battle in 1864.

The town, identified with Alise-Ste-Reine in northern France, was the Gauls' last stronghold. It was held by about 80,000 foot and 15,000 horse troops under Vercingetorix, while the Romans besieging them consisted of about 50,000 troops, mainly legionaries. The Belgii, another Gallic tribe, sent a relief force which attempted to break through the Roman lines but was so decisively defeated that the town immediately surrendered.