In the program "Historically yours", Stéphane Bern tells the story of the real story of Vercingétorix.

This Gallic warlord had to accept defeat and surrender Alesia's arms against Julius Caesar.

He was betrayed by his own people, and by politicians seeking to instrumentalize history.

It was rediscovered in the 19th century.

We know Vercingétorix, this Gallic leader who conquered the Roman legions at Gergovia and defeated at Alésia by the Imperator Julius Caesar.

He thus became the first "French resistance fighter" facing the invader.

However, during his short military career, he did not stop doing everything to unite a large part of the peoples who made up Gaul in the 1st century BC.

At the risk of being betrayed by his much courted allies.

As Stéphane Bern tells it in

Historically yours

, on Europe 1, Vercingétorix was chief of Arvernes, not of the Gauls… A real problem to be respected!

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Forget everything you've learned about Vercingetorix, there's a good chance it's wrong: the copper breastplate, the heavy bronze sword, the winged helmet ... As for his imposing mustache, it's a pure romantic invention.

A young rebel from Arvennes

As the sources describe it, Vercingetorix, born around -80, is a fellow with a prominent nose, strong will, with piercing eyes and a receding chin.

He would have grown up among the Arvernes, in transalpine Gaul, as opposed to Cisalpine Gaul, present-day northern Italy.

The Arverne population is rich.

She masters breeding, agriculture and is protected by the natural barrier of the Massif Central.

Historically, the Arvernes are also recognized for their military and leadership qualities.

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Conversely, among the 60 peoples who make up Gaul, the Aedui stand out for their commercial superiority.

And for good reason, they have sworn allegiance to Rome and maintain privileged links with the Roman Republic.

Vercingetorix, he cannot bear the idea of ​​having to obey an authority other than that of an Arverne.

So when Julius Caesar launches in -58 in his Gallic War in particular to plunder the Gauls of their wealth, Vercingétorix, at the height of his 20 years, cannot do so.

During the winter -53 to -52, the events precipitate.

Julius Caesar, who had succeeded in subduing a large part of Gaul, must return to extinguish new revolts.

Some peoples refuse to pay additional taxes to the Roman Republic.

Among them, the Arvernes and their leader Vercingétorix.

A strategist warlord

Some say that his ease of speaking, highly prized among the Gauls who do not know how to write, allows him to establish himself as leader of the revolt.

Moreover, the war is anything but foreign to him.

The sources even seem to indicate that a few years earlier, the young Arverne would have been one of Caesar's tent companions, or even the commander of a corps of Arvern cavaliers alongside the Romans.

Vercingetorix would therefore have been trained in Roman warfare methods… before setting himself up as the number 1 enemy of Proconsul Julius Caesar!

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In spring -52, Vercingétorix and his troops distinguished themselves in a conflict that has since become essential in the history books: the battle of Gergovie.

The men of Vercingétorix, positioned on the Gergovie plateau, manage to push back the 6 Roman legions.

Vercingetorix officially becomes supreme leader of the Gallic peoples.

A feat because he manages to achieve a fragile union between peoples deemed hostile to each other.

The betrayal of the Langres plateau

A few weeks later, the Roman legions marched from the Plateau de Langres, which would correspond to the current Gold Coast, towards the south.

Vercingetorix is ​​preparing to launch an attack which he hopes will be murderous and perhaps final in the war between him and Caesar.

The Gallic leader's plan, helped by his new allies in the war, the Aedui cavalry, to surprise the Roman legions.

On foot, the legionaries would be at the heart of an ambush.

According to the projections of Vercingetorix, the Aedui would pierce the enemy ranks while the Gallic soldiers suddenly fell on their adversaries already greatly diminished by the assault of the horsemen.

But nothing goes as planned.

Against all odds, the Romans valiantly resisted.

Supported by their German reinforcements, they repel the various assaults and force Vercingetorix's troops to fall back. 

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But one detail calls out to Vercingetorix: Caesar's troops seemed almost too well prepared for this surprise attack.

It would not surprise him if spies are hiding in his army and informing the Roman dictator very discreetly.

The Gallic chief then decides to put his men to safety in the oppidum of Alesia. We know that Vercingetorix unfortunately lost this final battle. But what is less known is that he was on the verge of defeating Julius Caesar, if he had not, among other reasons, probably been betrayed by his closest allies, the Aedui.