Siege of Alesia
| Battle of Alesia | |||||||||
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| Part of the Gallic Wars | |||||||||
 A reconstructed section of the Alesia investment fortifications |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Roman Republic | Gallic tribes | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Gaius Julius Caesar |
Vercingetorix  Commius |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 60,000 (12 legions with cavalry and auxiliaries) | 80,000 besieged, 120,000–250,000 relief forces, modern estimates: 100,000 |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| unknown (heavy) | unknown (heavy) 40,000 besieged captured |
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Coordinates: 47°32′13″N 4°30′00″E / 47.537°N 4.500°E
The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia was a military engagement in the Gallic Wars that took place in September, 52 BC, around the Gallic oppidum (fortified settlement) of Alesia, a major centre of the Mandubii tribe. It was fought by the army of Julius Caesar against a confederation of Gallic tribes united under the leadership of Vercingetorix of the Arverni. It was the last major engagement between Gauls and Romans, and is considered one of Caesar's greatest military achievements and a classic example of siege warfare and investment. The battle of Alesia marked the end of Gallic independence in France and Belgium.
The battle site was probably atop Mont Auxois, above modern Alise-Sainte-Reine in France, but this location, some have argued, does not fit Caesar's description of the battle. A number of alternatives have been proposed over time, among which only Chaux-des-Crotenay (in Jura in modern France) remains a challenger today.
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