ORDER OF BATTLE // -51 BCE
Battle of Alesia
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 378,000–520,000 estimated
Roman Republic
50,000
Medium-confidence figure
Gallic confederation
328,000–470,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Alesia was the climactic engagement of the Gallic Wars, fought at the oppidum of Alesia, a major centre of the Mandubii tribe, where Julius Caesar's Roman army confronted a Gallic confederation under Vercingetorix of the Arverni. With Roman forces numbering some 50,000 against a combined Gallic force estimated between 328,000 and 470,000, the engagement ended with Gallic casualties of approximately 290,000 against Roman losses of around 12,800. The battle decided the outcome of the Gallic Wars: it was the last major engagement between Gauls and Romans, and its conclusion marked the end of Gallic independence across the territory of modern France and Belgium. Vercingetorix's defeat extinguished the most significant coordinated Gallic resistance to Roman expansion and brought the region under permanent Roman control.
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