disastrous to the Romans, and the only defeat Caesar received in Gaul.
Forty-six officers and seven hundred men fell. The siege was raised.
It was a serious position for Caesar. All Gaul was in flames.
Retreating at once, he formed a junction with Labiénus at Agendicum,
and with all his troops started for Gallia Narbonensis to protect it
from invasion.

On his route was ALESIA. Here Vercingetorix was intrenched with eighty
thousand troops. It was, like Gergovia, situated on a hill and
considered impregnable. Caesar laid siege to this place (52).
Vercingetorix appealed to all Gaul for aid. Hardly had the fortress
been invested when Caesar's army was surrounded by an immense force of
Gauls that had come to the rescue. Caesar needed now all his skill and
genius. But they did not fail him. The relieving army, though five
times as large as his, was driven back and sent flying home.

Seeing that all was over, Vercingetorix called a council of his chiefs
and advised surrender. A message was sent to Caesar. He demanded
unconditional surrender, and was obeyed. The people were sold into
slavery, and the money obtained distributed among the soldiers.
Vercingetorix was kept to be exhibited in the triumph at Rome, and
afterwards died in a dungeon.

With the fall of Alesia, the subjugation of Gaul was practically
completed.

The next year (51) Caesar honored several chiefs with privileges; some
of the nobles were granted the franchise, and some admitted to the
Senate. The work of Romanizing Gaul was fairly begun. Two provinces
were formed, Gallia and Belgica, and later (17 A. D.) the former of