Vercingetorix Surrenders

A de Neuville made the original Illustration for the book "A popular History of France from earliest times" The image is of Vercingetorix, the best known Ruler of the Arverni nation, and Gaul in general, surrendering to Julius Caesar at the conclusion of the Gallic Wars.

The Arverni had a radically unstable monarchy with strong theocratic overtones, the state politics would change from era to era but it is known that in its earliest history the Arverni were governed by a series of petty kings and that in union they would elect from amongst their number the noble whom they felt was the human manifestation of their god “Arvernos.” Whether these nobles were sincere in their religious beliefs or simply used this process to elect a series of puppet kings is unknowable but the result was consistent. Strong warrior kings with fanatically devoted followers. During the third and second centuries BC it is known that a exhausting civil war was being waged in south central Gaul. The religious and political efforts of the Arverni had upset the ancient orders of the western Celtic world.

Sure in the belief that God himself was leading them The Arverni became the premier power of southern Gaul and gained the ire of the Aedui nation, the traditional druidic based republic that had previously held the most political prestige in Gaul.) Both factions regarded the other as heretics and blasphemers and the two battled among themselves for centuries. Despite the sporadic appearances of outside factions, Celtic or otherwise the stalemate continued almost indefinitely.

In 123BC finding itself at advantage the Arverni had indeed acquired homogeny over the entirety of south and central Gaul. The Aedui and their few remaining allies were in a state of complete exhaustion and turned towards the Romans for support. Rome complied, flush from its conquests in the Far East the Romans appeared eager to aid a country governed by a senate, rather then an imperium ruled by a mad prophet and a hoard of fanatics. Rome brought elephants to the battlefield and after a harsh battle the Arverni army was scattered. The Arverni king Bituitus was deposed and his office was closed permanently. The Arverni now also governed by a senate ruled over the nation as a roman client state from that point on.

In the wars aftermath Rome was violently thrown into the Cimbrian War, which raged for 12 years and did much to debase what little control Rome had over the Arverni. Whatever the reason may be the Arverni were not consumed by the Roman political system on an even superficial level. In the first sixty years of client ship Arverni noblemen married into the ruling class of another Celtic nation, the Sequani, The Arverni-Sequani alliance was further stratified by an alliance with the Suebi nation east of the Rhine and with the balance of power reversed the ancestral war for Gaul resumed. On the verge of ultimate victory Their new found allies the Suebi betrayed them, temporarily putting an end to their plans for pan Gallic homogeny



The Romans felt that they could afford to sit back and watch the Arverni and the Aedui destroy each other, both were nominal allies of Rome and the Romans assumed that after one faction inevitably came to rule over the other their alliance would remain. In truth, most in the senate were content to allow even the Suebi to rule over Gaul, assuming that the status quo established since the end of the Cimbrian War would stand. One Roman could see the writing on the walls, Gaul had since before the time of Alexander been coalescing into singular political entities and would in a few short generations be one political block one way or another. The ancient pan Celtic confederacy, lead by the “Bituriges” (World Kings) known from the time of Herodotus and their cross continental conquest of Europe wasn’t far from his mind. Resolving to install himself as the sole ruler of Gaul and already the governor of Transalpine Gaul he leapt at the opportunity to “rescue” his “allies” from the “Germans.” With worldly vision and naked ambition that far exceeded those of his peers Gaius Julius entered the world stage.


While Julius was reveling in the initial phases of the war Arvernian politics continued in a secretive and cutthroat fashion. Many of the Arverni were still dearly attached to the concept of Arvernos ascendant, the human manifestation of God who would return and lead their people to absolute victory or whatever else pleased them. Others were invertebrate democrats and devoted to their senate. From one political block a noble man by the name of Celtillus rose and attempted to install himself as king but was ripped apart by a partisan mob. Though it’s unknown how many relations he had, he had at least one son of note, Vercingetorix…

Vercingetorix had escaped the mob and biding his time in the countryside his cunning and ambition grew exponentially. Through time, extraordinary effort and the events set in motion by a crusading Roman he came to control not only the Arverni but was elected warlord of an anti Roman block of Celtic nations stretching from Armorica to Noricum. In an ironic twist of fate, their ancestral enemies of centuries the Aedui joined in the war. With the Arverni and the Aedui having abandoned their ancestral hatreds this hyper militarized block threw itself against Rome’s forces and won several engagements.

However the rest of their originally enthusiastic allies didn’t follow their example. Many detachments would refuse service for Vercingetorix if he allowed the presence of a rival group. This demand for exclusivity deprived Vercingetorix of the numbers necessary to win the war. Some rivalries were so ingrained that legions of fighting men would flock to the Roman banner.

In the final stages of the war Vercingetorix adopted a scorched earth policy, burning all vital points of his own home country and many others. Though greatly successful it was the Bituriges who refused to destroy their capital Avaricum. Once captured (and destroyed anyways) Julius’ resupplied army, was able to corner Vercingetorix and the core of his army. Trapped at Alesia and abandoned by the various nations sponsoring him, Vercingetorix knew his war was over.

Chased his entire life (sometimes literally) by accusations of dictatorship, Vercingetorix of his own accord offered his life to Julius in exchange for a universal pardon for Arverni soldiers. He is possibly the only leader in world history to make such a gesture. Though he was indeed executed his last request was granted, all the Arverni soldiers in Alesia were allowed to return home unmolested. Aside from the warriors of a few select other nations the remaining fighters were enslaved.

Vercingetorix was the only one of his people to be executed in the wars aftermath.

The battle explosively concluded the Gallic wars, and though claims of Romanization are made and grossly exaggerated, only a fraction of Gauls military power was exhausted. By Julius own testimony 60 of 62 Gallic powers retained home rule. The Arverni and Aedui senates were restored to power, at Romes expense no less, and the vast majority of other Gallic powers remained as well. Though Julius made sure that the Gallic chieftains swore loyalty to him.

Julius soon to be Caesar gained the pan Gallic hegemony dreamed of by thousands and time has chosen to honor him accordingly. A deified public office followed, as well as a mob assassination. In spite of total victory he never escaped the shadow of Celtillus.

Each Gallic power owed loyalty to the each subsequent emperor and required the emperors consent before engaging in a war with another client state. Such opportunities were rare and the Arverni never again had the ability to assert itself internationally. As a republic the Arverni continue to exist for another 600 years. Gregory of Tours made the last mention of the Arverni republic in 550 AD. Stating that the Arverni had entered an alliance with Clovis’ Frankish dynasty. The date of the republics dissolution is unknown but the senate and its people have imparted France with the region still known today as “Auvergne”