Asterix and the Laurel Wreath

Asterix and the Laurel Wreath (Les Lauriers de César)
Date	1974
Series	Asterix
Creative team
Writers	René Goscinny
Artists	Albert Uderzo
Original publication
Date of publication	1971
Language	French
Chronology
Preceded by	The Mansions of the Gods
Followed by	Asterix and the Soothsayer

Asterix and the Laurel Wreath (French: Les Lauriers de César, "Caesar's Laurels") is the eighteenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It was originally serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 621-642, in 1971 and translated into English in 1974.

The story begins in Rome where Asterix and Obelix are talking; but flashes back to Lutetia where Asterix, Obelix, Chief Vitalstatistix, and the chief's wife Impedimenta visit Impedimenta's brother Homeopathix: a rich businessman who immediately shows off his wealth. At dinner, Vitalstatistix quickly becomes drunk and boasts that as a Chief he can obtain for Homeopathix something money cannot possibly buy: a stew seasoned with Julius Caesar's laurel wreath; whereupon the equally drunk Obelix volunteers himself and Asterix to fetch the wreath.

In Rome, Asterix and Obelix see a man coming out of Caesar's palace; and upon discovering that he is a kitchen slave there, offer themselves to the slave trader Typhus, who supplies Caesar's palace. When Typhus' other slaves provoke the Gauls into a fight, the wealthy patrician Osseus Humerus is amused and offers to buy them; whereupon Asterix mistakes him for Caesar's major-domo, and completes the sale. Upon discovery of their mistake, the Gauls are placed under the supervision of Goldendelicius, Humerus' chief slave. Goldendelicius soon expresses dislike of the two Gauls on grounds that they come from Typhus (a mark of distinction among slaves), and fears that they might usurp his office.

Disappointed by their mistake, Asterix and Obelix cook a volatile stew, which accidentally cures Humerus' heavy-drinking son Metatarsus of his constant hangovers; and disturb the sleeping family by making noise, which only inspires the family to throw a party. As a result, Humerus suffers a headache and sends the Gauls to Caesar's palace to justify his absence to a secretary there. Goldendelicius, fearing that Asterix and Obelix will usurp his job, tells the palace's guards that the Gauls intend to kill Caesar. As a result, Asterix and Obelix are thrown into the palace prison upon arrival; but escape during the night and search the palace for the laurel wreath, to no avail. Frustrated and tired, they return to their cell, much to the confusion of the palace guards, and decide to seize the wreath from Caesar himself.

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