Defying Julius Caesar: The Legend of Vercingetorix

Vercingetorix: France's first national hero, enduring symbol of resistance against invaders. His name has endured for centuries. But how much do we really know about him?

Far from the cliché of the wild, undisciplined barbarian, Vercingetorix was an educated and ambitious nobleman, most likely trained by the Romans themselves. He was a skilled political leader who succeeded in uniting dozens of Gallic peoples behind a single cause against Rome, and a military genius, one of the very few men ever to defeat Caesar on the battlefield.

At the heart of this confrontation stand two men locked in a fight to the death: one to enslave Gaul, the other to set it free.

Three battles would seal their fate: Gergovia, Avaricum, and finally Alesia.

In just a few months, Vercingetorix left a permanent mark on the history of France. Today, archaeologists and historians finally uncover the man behind the legend. Who was he? How did an unknown chieftain unite Gaul against Rome? And what bold military strategies did he devise to stand against Caesar?