A Complete Good Works Translation from De Bello Gallico 7.32-56

Caesar's Gergovia sequence is not only a Roman defeat narrative. It preserves a dense hostile witness to Aeduan law and faction, Convictolitavis, Litaviccus, Eporedorix and Viridomarus, Vercingetorix's defensive system, the failed Roman assault at Gergovia, and the later seizure of Noviodunum. Read as a whole, it shows the Gallic revolt as a political crisis of allies, councils, hostages, grain, and river crossings as much as a battlefield story.

Translation

Section 32

Caesar remained several days at Avaricum, and, having found there the highest supply of grain and other provisions, refreshed the army from labor and want. Now, with winter nearly finished, when the season itself was calling him to wage war, he had decided to set out against the enemy, whether he could draw him out from the marshes and woods or press him by siege. Then envoys, the chief men of the Aedui, came to him to ask that he help the state at a very necessary time. They said that the matter was in the highest danger, because, although from ancient times single magistrates had been customarily created and had held royal power for a year, two men were holding the magistracy, and each said that he had been created according to law. One of these was Convictolitavis, a flourishing and distinguished young man; the other was Cotus, born from a very old family and himself a man of the greatest power and great kinship, whose brother Valetiacus had held the same magistracy the previous year. The whole state, they said, was under arms; the senate was divided, the people divided, and each man had his own client-groups. If the dispute were fed longer, one part of the state would fight with the other. That this not happen rested on Caesar's diligence and authority.

Section 33

Although Caesar judged it harmful to withdraw from the war and from the enemy, nevertheless, because he was not ignorant how great troubles were accustomed to arise from divisions, and because he did not want so great a state, and one so closely joined to the Roman people, which he himself had always nourished and honored with every advantage, to descend to force and arms, nor the side that trusted less in itself to call in help from Vercingetorix, he thought this matter had to be dealt with first. Since by Aeduan laws those who held the highest magistracy were not allowed to leave their borders, lest he seem to have diminished anything from their right or laws, he himself decided to set out into the territory of the Aedui. He summoned the whole senate, and those between whom the dispute stood, to Decetia. When almost the whole state had gathered there, and he was informed that, with a few people called secretly, in a different place and at a different time than was proper, brother had been announced by brother, although the laws forbade not only that two men from one family be created magistrates while both were alive, but even that they be in the senate, he forced Cotus to lay down command and ordered Convictolitavis, who had been created by the priests in the custom of the state while the magistracy was interrupted, to hold power.

Section 34

After this decree was made, Caesar encouraged the Aedui to forget disputes and division, to put all these matters aside and serve this war, and to expect from him, once Gaul had been conquered, the rewards they had deserved. He ordered them to send him all their cavalry and ten thousand infantry quickly, whom he would distribute among garrisons for the sake of the grain supply. He divided the army into two parts: he gave four legions to Labienus to lead into the lands of the Senones and Parisii; he himself led six into the land of the Arverni, toward the town of Gergovia, along the river Allier. He assigned part of the cavalry to Labienus and kept part for himself. When Vercingetorix learned this, after all bridges on that river had been cut, he began to make his march on the other side of the river.

Section 35

When both armies had come out on opposite sides, they placed camp almost in sight and over against one another, with scouts arranged so that the Romans would not bridge the river anywhere and lead forces across. Caesar was in great difficulty, lest he be kept back from the greater part of summer by the river, because the Allier can generally not be crossed by ford before autumn. Therefore, lest this happen, he placed camp in a wooded place opposite one of the bridges that Vercingetorix had arranged to be cut. On the next day he stayed hidden with two legions. He sent the remaining forces with all the baggage in the usual way, with certain cohorts opened out so that the number of legions might seem unchanged. After ordering these to go as far as they could, and when from the time of day he had guessed that they had reached camp, he began to rebuild the bridge on the same piles, the lower part of which remained whole. After the work was quickly completed, the legions were led across, a suitable place for camp was chosen, and he recalled the remaining forces. When Vercingetorix learned the matter, lest he be forced to fight against his will, he went ahead by great marches.

Section 36

From that place Caesar reached Gergovia in five camps. After a light cavalry battle had been fought that day and the position of the city had been examined, since it was placed on a very high mountain and had all approaches difficult, he despaired of storming it. He decided that siege should not be attempted before he had settled the grain supply. But Vercingetorix, with camp placed near the town, had placed the forces of the separate states around himself with moderate intervals between them. Having occupied all the hills of that ridge from which there could be a view, he offered a terrifying sight. He ordered the chiefs of those states, whom he had chosen for taking counsel, to come to him each day at first light, whether anything seemed to need sharing or managing. He allowed almost no day to pass without testing, by cavalry battle with archers set among them, what spirit and courage each of his people had. Opposite the town, under the very roots of the mountain, was a hill excellently fortified and cut off on every side. If our men held it, they seemed likely to cut the enemy off from a great part of their water and from free foddering. But that place was held by a guard not too strong. Nevertheless Caesar went out from camp in the silence of night, overthrew the guard before help could come from the town, seized the place, placed two legions there, and carried a double ditch of twelve feet each from the larger camp to the smaller, so that even individuals could pass safely from sudden enemy attack.

Section 37

While these things were being done at Gergovia, Convictolitavis the Aeduan, to whom, as we have shown, the magistracy had been assigned by Caesar, was stirred by money from the Arverni and spoke with certain young men. Chief among them were Litaviccus and his brothers, young men born from a very high family. He shared the reward with them and urged them to remember that they were free and born for command. The Aeduan state alone, he said, was delaying the surest victory of Gaul; by its authority the rest were held back, and once it had been brought across, there would be no place for the Romans to stand in Gaul. He had received some benefit from Caesar, yes, yet only in such a way that he had obtained from him a very just case; but he gave more weight to common liberty. Why should the Aedui come to Caesar as judge about their own right and laws, rather than the Romans come to the Aedui? When the young men had quickly been led on by the speech of the magistrate and by the reward, and when they professed that they would even be leaders of that plan, a way of completing it was sought, because they did not trust that the state could rashly be brought to undertake war. It was agreed that Litaviccus should be put in charge of the ten thousand men who were being sent to Caesar for the war, and should see to leading them, and that his brothers should run ahead to Caesar. They settled how the remaining matter should be done.

Section 38

After Litaviccus received the army, when he was about thirty miles from Gergovia, he suddenly called the soldiers together and, weeping, said: 'Where are we going, soldiers? All our cavalry, all our nobility has perished. The chiefs of the state, Eporedorix and Viridomarus, accused of betrayal, have been killed by the Romans without a hearing. Learn these things from those who fled from the slaughter itself; for I, with my brothers and all my relatives killed, am kept by grief from telling what has been done.' Those whom he had taught what he wanted said were brought forward, and they explained to the multitude the same things that Litaviccus had announced: that many Aeduan horsemen had been killed because they were said to have spoken with the Arverni; that they themselves had hidden among the multitude of soldiers and fled from the middle of the killing. The Aedui shouted and begged Litaviccus to look to them. 'As if,' he said, 'this were a matter of planning, and not a necessity for us to hurry to Gergovia and join ourselves with the Arverni. Do we doubt that, after so wicked a deed has been committed, the Romans are already running together to kill us? Therefore, if there is any spirit in us, let us avenge the death of those who have died most undeservedly, and let us kill these robbers.' He pointed out Roman citizens who were with the column in trust of his protection. He plundered a great amount of grain and provisions, and killed the men themselves after cruel torture. He sent messengers through the whole Aeduan state, stirred it by the same falsehood about the slaughter of the horsemen and chiefs, and urged them to avenge their wrongs in the same way he had done.

Section 39

Eporedorix the Aeduan, a young man born in the highest rank and of the greatest power at home, and with him Viridomarus, equal in age and favor but unequal in birth, whom Caesar, after Diviciacus had entrusted him to him, had raised from a humble place to the highest dignity, had come among the cavalry, summoned by name by Caesar. There was a contest between these two men over leadership, and in that dispute over the magistrates one had fought with all his resources for Convictolitavis, the other for Cotus. Of them Eporedorix, after learning the plan of Litaviccus, reported the matter to Caesar about the middle of the night. He begged him not to allow the state to defect from friendship with the Roman people through the wicked plans of young men. He foresaw that this would happen if so many thousands of men joined themselves with the enemy, men whose safety neither their relatives could neglect nor the state reckon a light matter.

Section 40

Caesar was affected with great anxiety by this report, because he had always shown special favor to the Aeduan state. Without any hesitation inserted, he led four unburdened legions and all the cavalry out of camp. There was no time at such a moment for drawing together the camp, because the matter seemed to rest on speed. He left the lieutenant Gaius Fabius with two legions as guard for the camp. After he ordered the brothers of Litaviccus to be seized, he learned that a little before they had fled to the enemy. He encouraged the soldiers not to be disturbed by the labor of the march at a necessary time, and, with all most eager, advanced twenty-five miles. When he caught sight of the Aeduan column, he sent in the cavalry, delayed and hindered their march, and forbade all his men to kill anyone. He ordered Eporedorix and Viridomarus, whom the Aedui thought killed, to move among the horsemen and call to their own people. When these men were recognized and the fraud of Litaviccus seen clearly, the Aedui began to stretch out their hands, signal surrender, throw down their arms, and beg off death. Litaviccus fled to Gergovia with his clients, whom, by the custom of the Gauls, it is impious to abandon a patron even in the last fortune.

Section 41

Caesar sent messengers to the Aeduan state to teach that by his kindness those had been preserved whom he could have killed by the right of war. After giving the army three hours of the night for rest, he moved camp toward Gergovia. About the middle of the march, horsemen sent by Fabius explained how great danger the matter had been in. They showed that the camp had been attacked with the highest forces, while fresh men frequently replaced the tired and wore out our men by unbroken labor, since, because of the size of the camp, they had always to remain on the same rampart. Many had been wounded by the multitude of arrows and every kind of missile; the artillery had been of great use in sustaining these things. Fabius, after Caesar's departure, had blocked all gates except two, added screens to the rampart, and prepared himself for the next day and a similar chance. When these things were learned, Caesar, with the greatest zeal of the soldiers, reached camp before sunrise.

Section 42

While these things were being done at Gergovia, the Aedui, after receiving the first reports from Litaviccus, left themselves no time for learning the truth. Greed drove some, anger and rashness drove others, qualities especially inborn in that kind of people, so that they took light hearing as a thing known. They plundered the goods of Roman citizens, committed killings, and dragged people into slavery. Convictolitavis helped the slanting matter and drove the common people into fury, so that after committing the deed they would be ashamed to return to sanity. Marcus Aristius, a military tribune making his way to the legion, was drawn out from the town of Cabillonum under pledge of faith; they forced those who had settled there for the sake of trade to do the same. They at once attacked these people on the road and stripped them of all baggage. When they resisted, they besieged them day and night; with many killed on both sides, they stirred up a larger multitude of armed men.

Section 43

Meanwhile, when a report was brought that all their soldiers were held in Caesar's power, they ran together to Aristius and showed that nothing had been done by public plan. They decreed an inquiry about the goods that had been plundered, confiscated the property of Litaviccus and his brothers, and sent envoys to Caesar to clear themselves. They did these things for the sake of recovering their own people. But stained by the deed, captured by profit from the plundered goods because that matter belonged to many, and terrified by fear of punishment, they began secretly to form plans about war and to stir the remaining states by embassies. Although Caesar understood these things, nevertheless he addressed the envoys as mildly as he could: he said that he judged nothing more serious against the state because of the ignorance and lightness of the crowd, and that he diminished nothing from his goodwill toward the Aedui. Expecting a greater rising of Gaul, and so that he would not be surrounded by all the states, he began forming plans for how he might depart from Gergovia and gather the whole army again, lest a departure born from fear of defection seem like flight.

Section 44

As he was thinking these things, an opportunity seemed to have happened for conducting the matter well. For when he had come into the smaller camp to inspect the work, he noticed that the hill held by the enemy was stripped of people, though in previous days it could scarcely be seen because of the multitude. Wondering at this, he asked the reason from deserters, a great number of whom flowed to him daily. It was agreed among all, as Caesar had already learned through scouts, that the back of that ridge was nearly level, but wooded and narrow where there was an approach to the other part of the town. The enemy feared that place greatly and now thought nothing else: if, after one hill had been occupied by the Romans, they lost the other, they would seem almost surrounded and cut off from every exit and from foddering. All had been called out by Vercingetorix to fortify this place.

Section 45

When this was learned, Caesar sent several squadrons of cavalry and ordered them to wander everywhere a little more noisily from midnight. At first light he ordered a great number of baggage animals and mules to be led out from camp, their pack-saddles removed, and the muleteers, with helmets, to be led around the hills in the appearance and imitation of cavalry. To these he added a few horsemen who should wander more widely for the sake of display. He ordered all of them to make for the same regions by a long circuit. These things were seen from the town at a distance, since from Gergovia there was a view down into the camp, but at such a distance it could not be learned for certain what the thing was. He sent one legion to the same ridge, and after it had advanced a little, placed it in a lower place and hid it in the woods. The suspicion of the Gauls was increased, and all their forces were brought across there to the fortification. When Caesar saw the enemy camps empty, he covered the marks of rank of his own men, hid the military standards, and led scattered soldiers from the larger camp into the smaller, lest they be noticed from the town. He showed the lieutenants whom he had placed over each legion what he wanted done. Above all he warned them to hold the soldiers back, lest from zeal for fighting or hope of plunder they advance too far. He set out what disadvantage the unfairness of the ground held: this could be changed by speed alone; the matter was one of opportunity, not of battle. After explaining these things, he gave the signal and at the same time sent the Aedui on another ascent from the right side.

Section 46

The wall of the town was twelve hundred paces from the plain and the beginning of the ascent in a straight line, if no turn stood between; whatever circuit had been added to soften the slope increased the length of the route. About halfway up the hill, following the nature of the mountain, the Gauls had drawn a wall of great stones six feet high along the length, to slow the attack of our men. They left all the lower space empty and filled the upper part of the hill, up to the wall of the town, with very dense camps. When the signal was given, the soldiers quickly reached the fortification, crossed it, and took three camps. So great was the speed in taking the camps that Teutomatus, king of the Nitiobroges, suddenly surprised in his tent where he had rested at noon, with the upper part of his body uncovered and his horse wounded, scarcely tore himself from the hands of plundering soldiers.

Section 47

Having obtained what he had set before his mind, Caesar ordered the recall sounded and immediately halted the standards of the tenth legion, with which he was. The soldiers of the remaining legions did not hear the sound of the trumpet because a valley of sufficient size stood between; nevertheless, as Caesar had instructed, they were being held back by military tribunes and lieutenants. But lifted up by hope of quick victory, by the flight of the enemy, and by the successful battles of earlier times, they thought nothing so steep that they could not attain it by courage, and they did not make an end of pursuing before they had approached the wall and gates of the town. Then indeed, when a shout arose from every part of the city, those who were farther away, terrified by the sudden disturbance and thinking the enemy was inside the gates, threw themselves out of the town. Mothers of families were throwing clothing and silver from the wall; leaning out with bare breasts and hands spread, they begged the Romans to spare them and not, as they had done at Avaricum, hold back not even from women and infants. Some women, lowered from the walls by hands, handed themselves over to the soldiers. Lucius Fabius, a centurion of the eighth legion, who was known to have said among his own people that day that he was stirred by the rewards at Avaricum and would not allow anyone to climb the wall before him, found three of his fellow soldiers, was lifted by them, and climbed the wall; then, catching each of them in turn, he lifted them onto the wall.

Section 48

Meanwhile those who had gathered for the sake of fortification on the other side of the town, as we showed above, were first stirred by hearing the shout, then by frequent messages that the town was being held by the Romans. They sent horsemen ahead and hurried there with a great rush. As each of them came first, he stood under the wall and increased the number of his own people fighting. When a great multitude of them had gathered, the mothers of families, who a little before were stretching their hands from the wall to the Romans, began to beg their own people, and in the Gallic custom to show their loosened hair and bring their children into sight. For the Romans the contest was equal neither in place nor in number; at the same time, tired by running and by the length of the fight, they did not easily withstand fresh and unworn men.

Section 49

Caesar, when he saw that the fighting was taking place on unfair ground and that the forces of the enemy were increasing, fearing for his own men, sent to the lieutenant Titus Sextius, whom he had left as guard in the smaller camp, ordering him to lead the cohorts out from camp quickly and place them at the lowest part of the hill on the enemy's right side, so that, if he saw our men driven from the place, he might frighten the enemy and keep them from pursuing freely. Caesar himself advanced a little from the place where he had stood with the legion and waited for the outcome of the fight.

Section 50

When the fighting was most fierce hand to hand, the enemy trusting in place and number, our men in courage, suddenly the Aedui were seen on our open flank, whom Caesar had sent from the right side by another ascent to divide the enemy's force. They greatly terrified our men by the likeness of their arms; and although they were noticed with right shoulders uncovered, which was customarily the agreed sign, the soldiers nevertheless thought that this very thing had been done by the enemy to deceive our men. At the same time Lucius Fabius the centurion, and those who had climbed the wall with him, were surrounded and killed and thrown down from the wall. Marcus Petronius, a centurion of the same legion, after he had tried to break open the gate, was overwhelmed by the multitude and, despairing for himself after many wounds had already been received, said to his fellow soldiers who had followed him: 'Since I cannot save myself together with you, at least I will look to your lives, whom, led by desire for glory, I have brought into danger. You, with the opportunity given, look to yourselves.' At the same time he burst into the middle of the enemy, killed two, and moved the rest a little away from the gate. When his men tried to help him, he said: 'You try in vain to come to the help of my life, which blood and strength are already leaving. Therefore go, while there is opportunity, and return to the legion.' Fighting in this way, he fell a little afterward and was safety for his own men.

Section 51

Our men, pressed from every side and with forty-six centurions lost, were driven from the place. But the tenth legion, which had taken its position as support on somewhat more level ground, delayed the Gauls as they pursued too fiercely. In turn, the cohorts of the thirteenth legion received the tenth; these had been led out from the smaller camp with the lieutenant Titus Sextius and had taken higher ground. As soon as the legions reached the plain, they halted with standards turned against the enemy. Vercingetorix led his people back from the roots of the hill inside the fortifications. On that day a little fewer than seven hundred soldiers were missing.

Section 52

On the next day Caesar called an assembly and rebuked the rashness and desire of the soldiers, because they had judged for themselves where it seemed they should advance or what should be done, had not halted when the signal for recall was given, and could not be held back by military tribunes and lieutenants. He explained what the unfairness of ground could do, and what he himself had thought at Avaricum, when, after the enemy had been caught without leader and without cavalry, he had let an inspected victory go, lest even a small loss happen in the contest because of the unfair ground. As greatly as he admired their greatness of spirit, which neither the fortifications of camp nor the height of the mountain nor the wall of the town had been able to slow, just as greatly he rebuked their license and arrogance, because they thought that they understood more than their commander about victory and the outcome of events. He desired modesty and self-control from a soldier no less than courage and greatness of spirit.

Section 53

After holding this assembly, and after encouraging the soldiers at the end of his speech not to be disturbed in spirit because of this matter, nor to attribute to the courage of the enemy what the unfairness of the place had brought, Caesar, thinking the same about departure as he had felt before, led the legions out from camp and drew up the battle line in a suitable place. When Vercingetorix would not come down more into level ground, Caesar fought a light and successful cavalry battle and led the army back into camp. When he had done the same on the next day, judging that enough had been done to lessen Gallic display and strengthen the spirits of the soldiers, he moved camp toward the Aedui. Not even then did the enemy follow. On the third day he came to the river Allier, repaired the bridge, and led the army across.

Section 54

There he was addressed by Viridomarus and Eporedorix, the Aedui, and learned that Litaviccus had set out with all the cavalry to stir up the Aedui; they said that they themselves needed to go ahead to confirm the state. Although in many matters he now had clear knowledge of Aeduan faithlessness, and although he thought that by their departure the defection of the state would be hastened, nevertheless he did not decide that they should be held back, lest he seem either to inflict injury or to give some suspicion of fear. As they departed, he briefly set out his services to the Aedui: how low he had received them, driven into towns, deprived of fields, stripped of all forces, with tribute imposed and hostages extorted with the highest insult; and into what fortune and greatness he had led them, so that they seemed not only to have returned to their former condition, but to have surpassed the dignity and favor of all times. After giving them these instructions, he dismissed them from himself.

Section 55

Noviodunum was a town of the Aedui placed in a useful position on the banks of the Loire. Caesar had brought there all the hostages of Gaul, grain, public money, and a great part of his own baggage and the army's baggage. He had sent there a great number of horses bought in Italy and Spain for the sake of this war. When Eporedorix and Viridomarus came there and learned the state of affairs in the country, that Litaviccus had been received by the Aedui at Bibracte, which is a town of the greatest authority among them, that Convictolitavis the magistrate and a great part of the senate had come to him, and that envoys had been publicly sent to Vercingetorix about arranging peace and friendship, they judged that so great an advantage should not be passed over. Therefore, after killing the guards at Noviodunum and those who had gathered there for the sake of trade, they divided the money and horses among themselves. They saw to it that the hostages of the states were led to the magistrate at Bibracte. The town, because they judged it could not be held by them, they burned so that it would not be of any use to the Romans. As much grain as they could quickly move they carried away by ships; the rest they spoiled by river and fire. They themselves began to gather forces from neighboring regions, arrange guards and watch posts on the banks of the Loire, and show cavalry everywhere for the sake of causing fear, in hope that they could shut the Romans out from the grain supply or drive them, compelled by need, into the Province. This hope helped them greatly, because the Loire had grown from the snows, so that it seemed entirely impossible to cross by ford.

Section 56

When these things were learned, Caesar judged that he had to hurry, if there would be danger in completing bridges, so that he might fight before greater forces were gathered there. For to change plan and turn the route into the Province, he thought, should not be done even under necessary fear. Both the disgrace and indignity of the matter, and the opposed mountain Cevenna and the difficulty of the roads, stood in the way; above all he feared greatly for Labienus, separated with the legions he had sent with him. Therefore, after completing very great marches by day and night, against everyone's expectation he came to the Loire. A ford was found by the cavalry, suitable for the necessity of the situation, so that only the arms and shoulders could be free of the water to hold up weapons. With the cavalry arranged to break the force of the river, and with the enemy disturbed at the first sight, he led the army across unharmed. Having found grain in the fields and an abundance of cattle, and having replenished the army with these things, he decided to make his march into the territory of the Senones.

Colophon

This page translates Caesar, De Bello Gallico 7.32-56 from Latin for the Celtic continental expansion of the Good Work Library. Caesar's report is Roman command prose and hostile political narrative; the translation keeps that frame visible while preserving the full Gergovia and Aeduan crisis source-unit.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: Caesar, De Bello Gallico 7.32-56

Latin source text from The Latin Library's text of Caesar, De Bello Gallico, Book 7. This page gives the complete Gergovia and Aeduan crisis source-unit, from the Aeduan magistracy dispute through the failed assault at Gergovia and the Noviodunum supply break.

Section 32

Caesar Avarici complures dies commoratus summamque ibi copiam frumenti et reliqui commeatus nactus exercitum ex labore atque inopia refecit. Iam prope hieme confecta cum ipso anni tempore ad gerendum bellum vocaretur et ad hostem proficisci constituisset, sive eum ex paludibus silvisque elicere sive obsidione premere posset, legati ad eum principes Aeduorum veniunt oratum ut maxime necessario tempore civitati subveniat: summo esse in periculo rem, quod, cum singuli magistratus antiquitus creari atque regiam potestatem annum obtinere consuessent, duo magistratum gerant et se uterque eorum legibus creatum esse dicat. Horum esse alterum Convictolitavem, florentem et illustrem adulescentem, alterum Cotum, antiquissima familia natum atque ipsum hominem summae potentiae et magnae cognationis, cuius frater Valetiacus proximo anno eundem magistratum gesserit. Civitatem esse omnem in armis; divisum senatum, divisum populum, suas cuiusque eorum clientelas. Quod si diutius alatur controversia, fore uti pars cum parte civitatis confligat. Id ne accidat, positum in eius diligentia atque auctoritate.

Section 33

Caesar, etsi a bello atque hoste discedere detrimentosum esse existimabat, tamen non ignorans quanta ex dissensionibus incommoda oriri consuessent, ne tanta et tam coniuncta populo Romano civitas, quam ipse semper aluisset omnibusque rebus ornasset, ad vim atque arma descenderet, atque ea pars quae minus sibi confideret auxilia a Vercingetorige arcesseret, huic rei praevertendum existimavit et, quod legibus Aeduorum eis, qui summum magistra tum obtinerent, excedere ex finibus non liceret, ne quid de iure aut de legibus eorum deminuisse videretur, ipse in Aeduos proficisci statuit senatumque omnem et quos inter controversia esset ad se Decetiam evocavit. Cum prope omnis civitas eo convenisset, docereturque paucis clam convocatis alio loco, alio tempore atque oportuerit fratrem a fratre renuntiatum, cum leges duo ex una familia vivo utroque non solum magistratus creari vetarent, sed etiam in senatu esse prohiberent, Cotum imperium deponere coegit, Convictolitavem, qui per sacerdotes more civitatis intermissis magistratibus esset creatus, potestatem obtinere iussit.

Section 34

Hoc decreto interposito cohortatus Aeduos, ut controversiarum ac dissensionis obliviscerentur atque omnibus omissis his rebus huic bello servirent eaque quae meruissent praemia ab se devicta Gallia exspectarent equitatumque omnem et peditum milia decem sibi celeriter mitterent, quae in praesidiis rei frumentariae causa disponeret, exercitum in duas partes divisit: quattuor legiones in Senones Parisiosque Labieno ducendas dedit, sex ipse in Arvernos ad oppidum Gergoviam secundum flumen Elaver duxit; equitatus partem illi attribuit, partem sibi reliquit. Qua re cognita Vercingetorix omnibus interruptis eius fluminis pontibus ab altera fluminis parte iter facere coepit.

Section 35

Cum uterque utrimque exisset exercitus, in conspectu fereque e regione castris castra ponebant dispositis exploratoribus, necubi effecto ponte Romani copias traducerent. Erat in magnis Caesaris difficultatibus res, ne maiorem aestatis partem flumine impediretur, quod non fere ante autumnum Elaver vado transiri solet. Itaque, ne id accideret, silvestri loco castris positis e regione unius eorum pontium, quos Vercingetorix rescindendos curaverat, postero die cum duabus legionibus in occulto restitit; reliquas copias cum omnibus impedimentis, ut consueverat, misit, apertis quibusdam cohortibus, uti numerus legionum constare videretur. His quam longissime possent egredi iussis, cum iam ex diei tempore coniecturam ceperat in castra perventum, isdem sublicis, quarum pars inferior integra remanebat, pontem reficere coepit. Celeriter effecto opere legionibusque traductis et loco castris idoneo delecto reliquas copias revocavit. Vercingetorix re cognita, ne contra suam voluntatem dimicare cogeretur, magnis itineribus antecessit.

Section 36

Caesar ex eo loco quintis castris Gergoviam pervenit equestrique eo die proelio levi facto perspecto urbis situ, quae posita in altissimo monte omnes aditus difficiles habebat, de expugnatione desperavit, de obsessione non prius agendum constituit, quam rem frumentariam expedisset. At Vercingetorix castris, prope oppidum positis, mediocribus circum se intervallis separatim singularum civitatium copias collocaverat atque omnibus eius iugi collibus occupatis, qua despici poterat, horribilem speciem praebebat; principesque earum civitatium, quos sibi ad consilium capiendum delegerat, prima luce cotidie ad se convenire iubebat, seu quid communicandum, seu quid administrandum videretur; neque ullum fere diem intermittebat quin equestri proelio interiectis sagittariis, quid in quoque esset animi ac virtutis suorum perspiceret. Erat e regione oppidi collis sub ipsis radicibus montis, egregie munitus atque ex omni parte circumcisus; quem si tenerent nostri, et aquae magna parte et pabulatione libera prohibituri hostes videbantur. Sed is locus praesidio ab his non nimis firmo tenebatur. Tamen silentio noctis Caesar ex castris egressus, priusquam subsidio ex oppido veniri posset, deiecto praesidio potitus loco duas ibi legiones collocavit fossamque duplicem duodenum pedum a maioribus castris ad minora perduxit, ut tuto ab repentino hostium incursu etiam singuli commeare possent.

Section 37

Dum haec ad Gergoviam geruntur, Convictolitavis Aeduus, cui magistratum adiudicatum a Caesare demonstravimus, sollicitatus ab Arvernis pecunia cum quibusdam adulescentibus colloquitur; quorum erat princeps Litaviccus atque eius fratres, amplissima familia nati adulescentes. Cum his praemium communicat hortaturque, ut se liberos et imperio natos meminerint. Unam esse Aeduorum civitatem, quae certissimam Galliae victoriam detineat; eius auctoritate reliquas contineri; qua traducta locum consistendi Romanis in Gallia non fore. Esse nonnullo se Caesaris beneficio adfectum, sic tamen, ut iustissimam apud eum causam obtinuerit; sed plus communi libertati tribuere. Cur enim potius Aedui de suo iure et de legibus ad Caesarem disceptatorem, quam Romani ad Aeduos veniant? Celeriter adulescentibus et oratione magistratus et praemio deductis, cum se vel principes eius consili fore profiterentur, ratio perficiendi quaerebatur, quod civitatem temere ad suscipiendum bellum adduci posse non confidebant. Placuit ut Litaviccus decem illis milibus, quae Caesari ad bellum mitterentur, praeficeretur atque ea ducenda curaret, fratresque eius ad Caesarem praecurrerent. Reliqua qua ratione agi placeat constituunt.

Section 38

Litaviccus accepto exercitu, cum milia passuum circiter XXX ab Gergovia abesset, convocatis subito militibus lacrimans, "Quo proficiscimur," inquit, "milites? Omnis noster equitatus, omnis nobilitas interiit; principes civitatis, Eporedorix et Viridomarus, insimulati proditionis ab Romanis indicta causa interfecti sunt. Haec ab ipsis cognoscite, qui ex ipsa caede fugerunt: nam ego fratribus atque omnibus meis propinquis interfectis dolore prohibeor, quae gesta sunt, pronuntiare." Producuntur hi quos ille edocuerat quae dici vellet, atque eadem, quae Litaviccus pronuntiaverat, multitudini exponunt: multos equites Aeduorum interfectos, quod collocuti cum Arvernis dicerentur; ipsos se inter multitudinem militum occultasse atque ex media caede fugisse. Conclamant Aedui et Litaviccum obsecrant ut sibi consulat. "Quasi vero," inquit ille, "consili sit res, ac non necesse sit nobis Gergoviam contendere et cum Arvernis nosmet coniungere. An dubitamus quin nefario facinore admisso Romani iam ad nos interficiendos concurrant? Proinde, si quid in nobis animi est, persequamur eorum mortem qui indignissime interierunt, atque hos latrones interficiamus." Ostendit cives Romanos, qui eius praesidi fiducia una erant: magnum numerum frumenti commeatusque diripit, ipsos crudeliter excruciatos interficit. Nuntios tota civitate Aeduorum dimittit, eodem mendacio de caede equitum et principum permovet; hortatur ut simili ratione atque ipse fecerit suas iniurias persequantur.

Section 39

Eporedorix Aeduus, summo loco natus adulescens et summae domi potentiae, et una Viridomarus, pari aetate et gratia, sed genere dispari, quem Caesar ab Diviciaco sibi traditum ex humili loco ad summam dignitatem perduxerat, in equitum numero convenerant nominatim ab eo evocati. His erat inter se de principatu contentio, et in illa magistratuum controversia alter pro Convictolitavi, alter pro Coto summis opibus pugnaverant. Ex eis Eporedorix cognito Litavicci consilio media fere nocte rem ad Caesarem defert; orat ne patiatur civitatem pravis adulescentium consiliis ab amicitia populi Romani deficere; quod futurum provideat, si se tot hominum milia cum hostibus coniunxerint, quorum salutem neque propinqui neglegere, neque civitas levi momento aestimare posset.

Section 40

Magna adfectus sollicitudine hoc nuntio Caesar, quod semper Aeduorum civitati praecipue indulserat, nulla interposita dubitatione legiones expeditas quattuor equitatumque omnem ex castris educit; nec fuit spatium tali tempore ad contrahenda castra, quod res posita in celeritate videbatur; Gaium Fabium legatum cum legionibus duabus castris praesidio relinquit. Fratres Litavicci cum comprehendi iussisset, paulo ante reperit ad hostes fugisse. Adhortatus milites, ne necessario tempore itineris labore permoveantur, cupidissimis omnibus progressus milia passuum XXV agmen Aeduorum conspicatus immisso equitatu iter eorum moratur atque impedit interdicitque omnibus ne quemquam interficiant. Eporedorigem et Viridomarum, quos illi interfectos existimabant, inter equites versari suosque appellare iubet. His cognitis et Litavicci fraude perspecta Aedui manus tendere, deditionem significare et proiectis armis mortem deprecari incipiunt. Litaviccus cum suis clientibus, quibus more Gallorum nefas est etiam in extrema fortuna deserere patronos, Gergoviam profugit.

Section 41

Caesar nuntiis ad civitatem Aeduorum missis, qui suo beneficio conservatos docerent quos iure belli interficere potuisset, tribusque horis noctis exercitui ad quietem datis castra ad Gergoviam movit. Medio fere itinere equites a Fabio missi, quanto res in periculo fuerit, exponunt. Summis copiis castra oppugnata demonstrant, cum crebro integri defessis succederent nostrosque assiduo labore defatigarent, quibus propter magnitudinem castrorum perpetuo esset isdem in vallo permanendum. Multitudine sagittarum atque omnis generis telorum multos vulneratos; ad haec sustinenda magno usui fuisse tormenta. Fabium discessu eorum duabus relictis portis obstruere ceteras pluteosque vallo addere et se in posterum diem similemque casum apparare. His rebus cognitis Caesar summo studio militum ante ortum solis in castra pervenit.

Section 42

Dum haec ad Gergoviam geruntur, Aedui primis nuntiis ab Litavicco acceptis nullum sibi ad cognoscendum spatium relinquunt. Impellit alios avaritia, alios iracundia et temeritas, quae maxime illi hominum generi est innata, ut levem auditionem habeant pro re comperta. Bona civium Romanorum diripiunt, caedes faciunt, in servitutem abstrahunt. Adiuvat rem proclinatam Convictolitavis plebemque ad furorem impellit, ut facinore admisso ad sanitatem reverti pudeat. Marcum Aristium, tribunum militum, iter ad legionem facientem fide data ex oppido Cabillono educunt: idem facere cogunt eos, qui negotiandi causa ibi constiterant. Hos continuo (in) itinere adorti omnibus impedimentis exuunt; repugnantes diem noctemque obsident; multis utrimque interfectis maiorem multitudinem armatorum concitant.

Section 43

Interim nuntio allato omnes eorum milites in potestate Caesaris teneri, concurrunt ad Aristium, nihil publico factum consilio demonstrant; quaestionem de bonis direptis decernunt, Litavicci fatrumque bona publicant, legatos ad Caesarem sui purgandi gratia mittunt. Haec faciunt reciperandorum suorum causa; sed contaminati facinore et capti compendio ex direptis bonis, quod ea res ad multos pertinebat, timore poenae exterriti consilia clam de bello inire incipiunt civitatesque reliquas legationibus sollicitant. Quae tametsi Caesar intellegebat, tamen quam mitissime potest legatos appellat: nihil se propter inscientiam levitatemque vulgi gravius de civitate iudicare neque de sua in Aeduos benevolentia deminuere. Ipse maiorem Galliae motum exspectans, ne ab omnibus civitatibus circumsisteretur, consilia inibat quemadmodum ab Gergovia discederet ac rursus omnem exercitum contraheret, ne profectio nata ab timore defectionis similis fugae videretur.

Section 44

Haec cogitanti accidere visa est facultas bene rei gerendae. Nam cum in minora castra operis perspiciendi causa venisset, animadvertit collem, qui ab hostibus tenebatur, nudatum hominibus, qui superioribus diebus vix prae multitudine cerni poterat. Admiratus quaerit ex perfugis causam, quorum magnus ad eum cotidie numerus confluebat. Constabat inter omnes, quod iam ipse Caesar per exploratores cognoverat, dorsum esse eius iugi prope aequum, sed hunc silvestrem et angustum, qua esset aditus ad alteram partem oppidi; huic loco vehementer illos timere nec iam aliter sentire, uno colle ab Romanis occupato, si alterum amisissent, quin paene circumvallati atque omni exitu et pabulatione interclusi viderentur: ad hunc muniendum omnes a Vercingetorige evocatos.

Section 45

Hac re cognita Caesar mittit complures equitum turmas; eis de media nocte imperat, ut paulo tumultuosius omnibus locis vagarentur. Prima luce magnum numerum impedimentorum ex castris mulorumque produci deque his stramenta detrahi mulionesque cum cassidibus equitum specie ac simulatione collibus circumvehi iubet. His paucos addit equites qui latius ostentationis causa vagarentur. Longo circuitu easdem omnes iubet petere regiones. Haec procul ex oppido videbantur, ut erat a Gergovia despectus in castra, neque tanto spatio certi quid esset explorari poterat. Legionem unam eodem iugo mittit et paulum progressam inferiore constituit loco silvisque occultat. Augetur Gallis suspicio, atque omnes illo ad munitionem copiae traducuntur. Vacua castra hostium Caesar conspicatus tectis insignibus suorum occultatisque signis militaribus raros milites, ne ex oppido animadverterentur, ex maioribus castris in minora traducit legatisque, quos singulis legionibus praefecerat, quid fieri velit ostendit: in primis monet ut contineant milites, ne studio pugnandi aut spe praedae longius progrediantur; quid iniquitas loci habeat incommodi proponit: hoc una celeritate posse mutari; occasionis esse rem, non proeli. His rebus expositis signum dat et ab dextra parte alio ascensu eodem tempore Aeduos mittit.

Section 46

Oppidi murus ab planitie atque initio ascensus recta regione, si nullus anfractus intercederet, MCC passus aberat: quidquid huc circuitus ad molliendum clivum accesserat, id spatium itineris augebat. A medio fere colle in longitudinem, ut natura montis ferebat, ex grandibus saxis sex pedum murum qui nostrorum impetum tardaret praeduxerant Galli, atque inferiore omni spatio vacuo relicto superiorem partem collis usque ad murum oppidi densissimis castris compleverant. Milites dato signo celeriter ad munitionem perveniunt eamque transgressi trinis castris potiuntur; ac tanta fuit in castris capiendis celeritas, ut Teutomatus, rex Nitiobrigum, subito in tabernaculo oppressus, ut meridie conquieverat, superiore corporis parte nudata vulnerato equo vix se ex manibus praedantium militum eriperet.

Section 47

Consecutus id quod animo proposuerat, Caesar receptui cani iussit legionique decimae, quacum erat, continuo signa constituit. Ac reliquarum legionum milites non exaudito sono tubae, quod satis magna valles intercedebat, tamen ab tribunis militum legatisque, ut erat a Caesare praeceptum, retinebantur. Sed elati spe celeris victoriae et hostium fuga et superiorum temporum secundis proeliis nihil adeo arduum sibi esse existimaverunt quod non virtute consequi possent, neque finem prius sequendi fecerunt quam muro oppidi portisque appropinquarunt. Tum vero ex omnibus urbis partibus orto clamore, qui longius aberant repentino tumultu perterriti, cum hostem intra portas esse existimarent, sese ex oppido eiecerunt. Matres familiae de muro vestem argentumque iactabant et pectore nudo prominentes passis manibus obtestabantur Romanos, ut sibi parcerent neu, sicut Avarici fecissent, ne a mulieribus quidem atque infantibus abstinerent: nonnullae de muris per manus demissae sese militibus tradebant. Lucius Fabius, centurio legionis VIII, quem inter suos eo die dixisse constabat excitari se Avaricensibus praemiis neque commissurum, ut prius quisquam murum ascenderet, tres suos nactus manipulares atque ab eis sublevatus murum ascendit: hos ipse rursus singulos exceptans in murum extulit.

Section 48

Interim ei qui ad alteram partem oppidi, ut supra demonstravimus, munitionis causa convenerant, primo exaudito clamore, inde etiam crebris nuntiis incitati, oppidum a Romanis teneri, praemissis equitibus magno concursu eo contenderunt. Eorum ut quisque primus venerat, sub muro consistebat suorumque pugnantium numerum augebat. Quorum cum magna multitudo convenisset, matres familiae, quae paulo ante Romanis de muro manus tendebant, suos obtestari et more Gallico passum capillum ostentare liberosque in conspectum proferre coeperunt. Erat Romanis nec loco nec numero aequa contentio; simul et cursu et spatio pugnae defatigati non facile recentes atque integros sustinebant.

Section 49

Caesar, cum iniquo loco pugnari hostiumque augeri copias videret, praemetuens suis ad Titum Sextium legatum, quem minoribus castris praesidio reliquerat, misit, ut cohortes ex castris celeriter educeret et sub infimo colle ab dextro latere hostium constitueret, ut, si nostros loco depulsos vidisset, quo minus libere hostes insequerentur terreret. Ipse paulum ex eo loco cum legione progressus, ubi constiterat, eventum pugnae exspectabat.

Section 50

Cum acerrime comminus pugnaretur, hostes loco et numero, nostri virtute confiderent, subito sunt Aedui visi ab latere nostris aperto, quos Caesar ab dextra parte alio ascensu manus distinendae causa miserat. Hi similitudine armorum vehementer nostros perterruerunt, ac tametsi dextris humeris exsertis animadvertebantur, quod insigne pactum esse consuerat, tamen id ipsum sui fallendi causa milites ab hostibus factum existimabant. Eodem tempore Lucius Fabius centurio quique una murum ascenderant circumventi atque interfecti muro praecipitabantur. Marcus Petronius, eiusdem legionis centurio, cum portam excidere conatus esset, a multitudine oppressus ac sibi desperans multis iam vulneribus acceptis manipularibus suis, qui illum secuti erant, "Quoniam," inquit, "me una vobiscum servare non possum, vestrae quidem certe vitae prospiciam, quos cupiditate gloriae adductus in periculum deduxi. Vos data facultate vobis consulite." Simul in medios hostes irrupit duobusque interfectis reliquos a porta paulum summovit. Conantibus auxiliari suis "Frustra," inquit, "meae vitae subvenire conamini, quem iam sanguis viresque deficiunt. Proinde abite, dum est facultas, vosque ad legionem recipite." Ita pugnans post paulum concidit ac suis saluti fuit.

Section 51

Nostri, cum undique premerentur, XLVI centurionibus amissis deiecti sunt loco. Sed intolerantius Gallos insequentes legio decima tardavit, quae pro subsidio paulo aequiore loco constiterat. Hanc rursus XIII legionis cohortes exceperunt, quae ex castris minoribus eductae cum Tito Sextio legato ceperant locum superiorem. Legiones, ubi primum planitiem attigerunt, infestis contra hostes signis constiterunt. Vercingetorix ab radicibus collis suos intra munitiones reduxit. Eo die milites sunt paulo minus septingenti desiderati.

Section 52

Postero die Caesar contione advocata temeritatem cupiditatemque militum reprehendit, quod sibi ipsi iudicavissent quo procedendum aut quid agendum videretur, neque signo recipiendi dato constitissent neque ab tribunis militum legatisque retineri potuissent. Exposuit quid iniquitas loci posset, quid ipse ad Avaricum sensisset, cum sine duce et sine equitatu deprehensis hostibus exploratam victoriam dimisisset, ne parvum modo detrimentum in contentione propter iniquitatem loci accideret. Quanto opere eorum animi magnitudinem admiraretur, quos non castrorum munitiones, non altitudo montis, non murus oppidi tardare potuisset, tanto opere licentiam arrogantiamque reprehendere, quod plus se quam imperatorem de victoria atque exitu rerum sentire existimarent; nec minus se ab milite modestiam et continentiam quam virtutem atque animi magnitudinem desiderare.

Section 53

Hac habita contione et ad extremam orationem confirmatis militibus, ne ob hanc causam animo permoverentur neu quod iniquitas loci attulisset id virtuti hostium tribuerent, eadem de profectione cogitans quae ante senserat legiones ex castris eduxit aciemque idoneo loco constituit. Cum Vercingetorix nihil magis in aequum locum descenderet, levi facto equestri proelio atque secundo in castra exercitum reduxit. Cum hoc idem postero die fecisset, satis ad Gallicam ostentationem minuendam militumque animos confirmandos factum existimans in Aeduos movit castra. Ne tum quidem insecutis hostibus tertio die ad flumen Elaver venit; pontem refecit exercitumque traduxit.

Section 54

Ibi a Viridomaro atque Eporedorige Aeduis appellatus discit cum omni equitatu Litaviccum ad sollicitandos Aeduos profectum: opus esse ipsos antecedere ad confirmandam civitatem. Etsi multis iam rebus perfidiam Aeduorum perspectam habebat atque horum discessu admaturari defectionem civitatis existimabat, tamen eos retinendos non constituit, ne aut inferre iniuriam videretur aut dare timoris aliquam suspicionem. Discedentibus his breviter sua in Aeduos merita exposuit, quos et quam humiles accepisset, compulsos in oppida, multatos agris omnibus ereptis copiis, imposito stipendio, obsidibus summa cum contumelia extortis, et quam in fortunam quamque in amplitudinem deduxisset, ut non solum in pristinum statum redissent, sed omnium temporum dignitatem et gratiam antecessisse viderentur. His datis mandatis eos ab se dimisit.

Section 55

Noviodunum erat oppidum Aeduorum ad ripas Ligeris opportuno loco positum. Huc Caesar omnes obsides Galliae, frumentum, pecuniam publicam, suorum atque exercitus impedimentorum magnam partem contulerat; huc magnum numerum equorum huius belli causa in Italia atque Hispania coemptum miserat. Eo cum Eporedorix Viridomarusque venissent et de statu civitatis cognovissent, Litaviccum Bibracti ab Aeduis receptum, quod est oppidum apud eos maximae auctoritatis, Convictolitavim magistratum magnamque partem senatus ad eum convenisse, legatos ad Vercingetorigem de pace et amicitia concilianda publice missos, non praetermittendum tantum commodum existimaverunt. Itaque interfectis Novioduni custodibus quique eo negotiandi causa convenerant pecuniam atque equos inter se partiti sunt; obsides civitatum Bibracte ad magistratum deducendos curaverunt; oppidum, quod a se teneri non posse iudicabant, ne cui esset usui Romanis, incenderunt; frumenti quod subito potuerunt navibus avexerunt, reliquum flumine atque incendio corruperunt. Ipsi ex finitimis regionibus copias cogere, praesidia custodiasque ad ripas Ligeris disponere equitatumque omnibus locis iniciendi timoris causa ostentare coeperunt, si ab re frumentaria Romanos excludere aut adductos inopia in provinciam expellere possent. Quam ad spem multum eos adiuvabat, quod Liger ex nivibus creverat, ut omnino vado non posse transiri videretur.

Section 56

Quibus rebus cognitis Caesar maturandum sibi censuit, si esset in perficiendis pontibus periclitandum, ut prius quam essent maiores eo coactae copiae dimicaret. Nam ut commutato consilio iter in provinciam converteret, id ne metu quidem necessario faciendum existimabat; cum infamia atque indignitas rei et oppositus mons Cevenna viarumque difficultas impediebat, tum maxime quod abiuncto Labieno atque eis legionibus quas una miserat vehementer timebat. Itaque admodum magnis diurnis nocturnisque itineribus confectis contra omnium opinionem ad Ligerem venit vadoque per equites invento pro rei necessitate opportuno, ut brachia modo atque humeri ad sustinenda arma liberi ab aqua esse possent, disposito equitatu qui vim fluminis refringeret, atque hostibus primo aspectu perturbatis, incolumem exercitum traduxit frumentumque in agris et pecoris copiam nactus repleto his rebus exercitu iter in Senones facere instituit.

Source Colophon

The Latin source was captured from The Latin Library on 2026-05-13 and inspected on disk at Tulku/Tools/celtic/sources/continental_batch_2026-05-13/caesar_gallic_war_7_latin_library.html. The English translation is a New Tianmu Anglican Church Good Works Translation made from the Latin source.

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