Caesar hastened across the Alps, surmounted the difficulties of crossing
the Cevennes when the snow was very deep, collected his legions, marched
upon Genabum, and plundered and burnt the town.

Vercingetorix saw that he was no match for the legions in open battle.
He proposed, therefore, to cut off Caesar's supplies by burning all the
towns of the Bituriges, and laying the country waste. Avaricum alone
was spared. Within its walls were placed the best of their goods and
a strong garrison. Thither Caesar marched, and, after a well defended
siege, captured the town and killed every person in it, excepting eight
hundred, who escaped to the camp of Vercingetorix. Large quantities
of corn were taken, with which Caesar supplied his soldiers. He then
marched against Gergovia, the capital of the Averni. As the town was
on a high plateau, and too strong to be stormed, he laid siege to it. A
part of the army, contrary to instructions, one day attempted to assault
the place. The battle which followed was 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 Labienus 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, an