The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters - December 06, 2024


PREVIEW： Epochs #188 ｜ Pompey & Caesar： Part XIII


Episode Stats

Length

21 minutes

Words per Minute

184.41284

Word Count

4,006

Sentence Count

2

Misogynist Sentences

3

Hate Speech Sentences

19


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Hello and welcome to this episode of Epochs where I should be continuing my narrative of the decline and fall of the Roman Republic
00:00:05.780 and also the narrative of Caesar's campaigns in Gaul and we get into the most important bit or the most interesting bit
00:00:12.120 the denouement of the peace almost when the Gaulic tribes form their last big giant resistance
00:00:20.520 and Caesar, I hope it's no spoiler alert, Caesar defeats them all
00:00:24.760 and we're introduced to Vercingetorix, it is the rebellion, book 7, the rebellion of Vercingetorix
00:00:30.060 the siege of Elysia and all that sort of thing
00:00:32.880 so let's get straight into it because it's quite a long chapter
00:00:35.840 I'd want to try and get through this whole chapter, this episode if we can
00:00:39.400 then we'll have one more, the final year 51 BC where Caesar and Caesar's captains wrap everything up
00:00:47.920 and then we can cut straight back to Rome
00:00:50.460 however I do need to mention at this point things that have been going on in Rome
00:00:54.200 because it's been quite a few years since I was last talking about what actually happened in Rome
00:00:58.360 and there's been all sorts that have gone on
00:01:00.220 when I go back to that we will go back in time and talk about everything that happened in Rome
00:01:05.840 since Caesar's left which is years ago, years ago
00:01:08.920 and there's lots and lots of intrigues and important things, interesting things
00:01:12.660 with Pompey and Crassus and Cato and in some of the previous episodes which hopefully you've watched
00:01:18.760 you'll know a lot of those, I did episodes on Cato and Crassus already
00:01:24.820 but at this point going into the year 52 BC
00:01:28.460 that's where we're talking about Caesar is in Gaul in 52 BC
00:01:31.820 what's happened quite recently is the murder of Clodius
00:01:36.220 now I've already gone into that in a bit of detail
00:01:39.840 but when I cut back to Rome we'll go into it in full detail
00:01:44.500 but you need to know about it here because it matters
00:01:47.120 the death of Clodius, the murder of Clodius should I say
00:01:50.880 does turn Rome itself upside down politically
00:01:54.100 you know his supporters burn down the forum or burn down the senate house in the forum
00:01:58.620 and a few temples and various bits and bobs
00:02:01.060 and anyway, Rome is turned on its head politically at that point
00:02:05.740 and it's really important for Caesar
00:02:07.680 and Caesar's career and Caesar's political machinations
00:02:10.980 and the rumour goes round Gaul
00:02:13.380 that Caesar is going to have to return to Rome
00:02:16.580 to shore up his position
00:02:18.260 to make sure he's not completely ousted politically
00:02:20.620 to make sure, you know, all his political enemies
00:02:23.360 don't take advantage of his position too badly
00:02:26.900 to sort of do away with him
00:02:28.860 to ruin him politically or legally or financially
00:02:32.840 because if you remember Clodius is one of the leading lights
00:02:36.420 of the Popularius faction as is Caesar
00:02:38.880 so Clodius getting murdered is a really big deal
00:02:43.680 particularly for Caesar's political position
00:02:46.820 so as I say the rumour goes round Gaul
00:02:48.540 and people in Gaul know, you know, they might not be as sophisticated
00:02:51.880 as the Romans in terms of logistics and government and bureaucracy
00:02:55.680 but they're not stupid, they're absolutely not stupid people
00:02:58.080 so they hear this and they know what's going on
00:03:00.780 and they think that not only will Caesar have to return to Rome
00:03:04.120 but he probably won't come back
00:03:06.140 he's been in Gaul way longer than any other Roman general
00:03:10.840 who has really ever been away
00:03:13.080 it's unprecedented that he's spent so long in Gaul already
00:03:16.140 and that now he's going to go away
00:03:18.100 and they see that, they calculate that that's their chance
00:03:20.900 if they can rise up in one last big giant rebellion
00:03:24.200 push Caesar out and prevent him from coming back
00:03:27.160 this is their moment, this is their chance
00:03:29.300 and that is exactly what they do
00:03:31.360 and so their new leader is Vercingetorix
00:03:35.340 because this chapter is so long
00:03:37.560 I won't actually read every last word of it
00:03:39.560 as I've been doing in the last few episodes
00:03:41.760 I have to give you the York Notes version of some of it
00:03:44.820 but I will introduce you to Vercingetorix
00:03:47.120 Caesar tells us there, he means in Gaul
00:03:50.040 there, the lead given by the Carnutes
00:03:52.540 that's a tribe, the Carnutes
00:03:54.340 was followed by Vercingetorix
00:03:56.460 a very powerful young Arvernian
00:03:58.820 whose father, Celtillus
00:04:00.880 had held suzerainty over all Gaul
00:04:03.160 and had been put to death by his compatriots
00:04:05.720 for seeking to make himself king
00:04:07.060 assembling his retainers
00:04:08.800 Vercingetorix had no difficulty
00:04:10.660 in exciting their passions
00:04:12.300 and the news of what was afoot
00:04:14.120 soon brought others out in arms
00:04:16.100 and we go on to get quite a few pages of description
00:04:18.600 of how lots of different tribes
00:04:21.200 it's classic Caesar in Gaul
00:04:23.180 where he just gives you a list of tribes
00:04:25.120 that join Vercingetorix
00:04:26.880 and it's lots of them
00:04:28.040 the Sinonis, the Parisi, the Kaduki
00:04:30.520 the Turoni, the Lurki
00:04:32.560 Lemevoises, Andes, Pictonis
00:04:35.400 and others
00:04:36.580 so Vercingetorix raises pretty much
00:04:40.720 a giant army, nearly all of Gaul
00:04:42.260 in rebellion
00:04:42.840 and this is still in the winter
00:04:44.240 it's in the very early months of 52 BC
00:04:46.920 it's still snowy and cold
00:04:48.220 and usually it's the off season
00:04:50.160 right, it's not
00:04:51.380 it's not the campaigning season
00:04:53.380 but once again
00:04:54.680 Caesar realises that he has to
00:04:56.280 nip this thing in the bud
00:04:57.280 once again
00:04:59.200 he realises that he needs to
00:05:00.900 take the initiative
00:05:01.540 if he is to stand any chance
00:05:03.480 because if he waits till spring
00:05:04.660 or even summer
00:05:05.640 there might be a giant, giant host
00:05:07.520 ranged against him
00:05:08.960 so in the middle of winter
00:05:10.320 again, he basically takes to the field
00:05:13.040 and starts doing military manoeuvres
00:05:14.980 and things
00:05:15.480 and what he does
00:05:16.620 is he marches straight into the territory
00:05:18.780 Vercingetorix's territory
00:05:20.680 that part of Gaul
00:05:22.220 and starts besieging towns
00:05:23.900 even though it's freezing cold
00:05:25.220 and he moves across certain
00:05:26.320 mountain ranges
00:05:27.440 which we're told
00:05:28.200 the Gauls thought were impenetrable
00:05:30.200 considered them like a brick wall
00:05:32.120 just couldn't get over them in winter
00:05:34.320 completely impracticable
00:05:35.700 impassable in winter
00:05:37.280 but Caesar just does
00:05:38.340 if his legionaries can build a camp
00:05:40.380 every night
00:05:41.180 or can build a bridge
00:05:42.340 across the Rhine
00:05:43.060 in a few days
00:05:43.880 then they can clear snowdrifts
00:05:45.540 even if they're six foot deep
00:05:46.800 not a problem
00:05:47.440 so Caesar starts
00:05:48.900 besieging some towns
00:05:50.700 a place called Gergobina
00:05:52.360 Cenabum
00:05:54.180 Novio Dunum
00:05:56.060 Velodunum
00:05:57.380 and some others
00:05:58.580 and Vercingetorix
00:06:00.200 and his coalition
00:06:01.480 immediately
00:06:02.520 sort of realise
00:06:03.820 obviously they see what Caesar's doing
00:06:05.200 and they immediately make
00:06:06.220 a sort of strategic decision
00:06:07.560 to retreat
00:06:08.840 and do a scorched earth policy
00:06:10.840 in their own territory
00:06:12.040 burn down
00:06:13.160 their own towns
00:06:14.320 and make sure
00:06:15.420 they leave in their wake
00:06:16.540 absolutely no food
00:06:17.920 no corn
00:06:18.620 no supplies
00:06:19.620 whatsoever
00:06:20.100 for the Romans
00:06:20.820 hoping
00:06:21.660 calculating
00:06:22.280 almost correctly
00:06:23.200 that that will sort of
00:06:24.640 stop Caesar in his tracks
00:06:25.780 because it's winter
00:06:26.480 and we're told that Caesar
00:06:28.020 does have a difficult time of it
00:06:29.380 and his men go hungry
00:06:30.700 for a long time
00:06:31.500 and he has to send for
00:06:32.940 cattle
00:06:33.720 from very very far away
00:06:35.120 to stave off
00:06:36.900 starvation
00:06:37.780 in his own
00:06:38.440 among his own army
00:06:39.780 but then Vercingetorix
00:06:41.080 and his giant army
00:06:42.280 reached the town
00:06:43.400 of Avericum
00:06:44.200 which was
00:06:44.940 a very very big town
00:06:46.280 it's not just a small settlement
00:06:47.480 but it's
00:06:48.260 well we're told later
00:06:49.880 that it's
00:06:50.380 one of the most important
00:06:51.400 biggest cities
00:06:52.240 in France
00:06:53.200 and the townspeople
00:06:54.280 there say
00:06:54.640 look
00:06:54.920 plead with Vercingetorix
00:06:56.940 please don't
00:06:57.720 burn it down
00:06:58.460 we can defend it
00:06:59.680 it's in a really good spot
00:07:00.920 geographically
00:07:02.200 tactically
00:07:03.040 to defend it
00:07:03.800 and there's marshes
00:07:04.480 all around
00:07:04.900 and there's all sorts
00:07:05.540 of reasons why
00:07:06.280 there's no point
00:07:07.420 burning it down
00:07:08.060 we can defend it
00:07:08.920 and Vercingetorix
00:07:10.020 relents
00:07:10.940 so I'll pick up the story
00:07:11.920 or let Caesar
00:07:12.500 rather pick up the story
00:07:13.680 with the siege
00:07:15.180 of Avericum
00:07:16.400 in again
00:07:17.180 we're in 52 BC
00:07:18.180 so Caesar tells us this
00:07:19.460 quote
00:07:19.800 after this series
00:07:20.880 of reverses
00:07:21.740 for the Gauls
00:07:22.860 and Vercingetorix
00:07:23.780 at Veludonum
00:07:25.060 Cenobum
00:07:26.040 and Noviodunum
00:07:27.480 Vercingetorix
00:07:28.360 summoned his followers
00:07:29.420 to a council of war
00:07:30.560 and told them
00:07:31.540 that their plan of campaign
00:07:32.940 must be completely changed
00:07:34.860 now this is apparently
00:07:36.120 Vercingetorix speaking
00:07:37.460 he is apparently
00:07:39.160 supposed to have said
00:07:40.160 we must strive
00:07:41.400 by every means
00:07:42.340 to prevent the Romans
00:07:43.440 from obtaining
00:07:44.140 forage and supplies
00:07:45.160 this will be easy
00:07:46.680 since we are strong
00:07:47.660 in cavalry
00:07:48.100 and the season
00:07:49.160 is in our favour
00:07:49.960 there is no grass
00:07:51.320 to be cut
00:07:51.880 so the enemy
00:07:52.800 will be forced
00:07:53.400 to send out parties
00:07:54.300 to get hay
00:07:54.900 from the barns
00:07:55.700 and our cavalry
00:07:56.540 can go out
00:07:57.300 every day
00:07:57.900 and see that
00:07:58.680 not a single one
00:07:59.380 of them returns alive
00:08:00.460 what is more
00:08:01.540 when our lives
00:08:02.500 are at stake
00:08:03.140 we must be prepared
00:08:04.120 to sacrifice
00:08:04.660 our private possessions
00:08:05.760 along the enemy's
00:08:06.860 line of march
00:08:07.540 we must burn
00:08:08.400 all the villages
00:08:08.960 and farms
00:08:09.560 within the radius
00:08:10.380 that their foragers
00:08:11.540 can cover
00:08:12.100 we ourselves
00:08:12.940 have plenty of supplies
00:08:14.020 because we can rely
00:08:15.160 on the resources
00:08:15.900 of the people
00:08:16.720 in whose territory
00:08:17.480 the campaign
00:08:18.100 is conducted
00:08:18.820 but the Romans
00:08:19.780 will either
00:08:20.220 succumb to starvation
00:08:21.380 or have to expose
00:08:22.680 themselves
00:08:23.140 to serious risk
00:08:24.140 by going far
00:08:25.020 from their camp
00:08:25.680 in search of food
00:08:26.800 we can either
00:08:27.720 kill them
00:08:28.300 or strip them
00:08:29.100 of their baggage
00:08:29.780 which will be
00:08:30.620 equally effective
00:08:31.460 since without it
00:08:32.720 they cannot keep
00:08:33.320 the field
00:08:33.760 we should also
00:08:34.700 burn all the towns
00:08:35.740 their own towns
00:08:36.580 except those
00:08:38.060 which are rendered
00:08:38.920 impregnable
00:08:39.640 by natural
00:08:40.280 and artificial defences
00:08:41.440 otherwise they may
00:08:42.600 serve as refugees
00:08:43.540 for shirkers
00:08:44.860 among our own numbers
00:08:45.920 and give the enemy
00:08:46.820 the chance of looting
00:08:47.640 the stores of provisions
00:08:48.700 and other property
00:08:49.940 that they contain
00:08:51.040 you may think
00:08:52.060 these measures
00:08:52.540 harsh and cruel
00:08:53.340 but you must admit
00:08:54.460 that it would be
00:08:55.320 a still harsher fate
00:08:56.180 to have our wives
00:08:56.900 and children
00:08:57.380 carried off into slavery
00:08:58.480 and be killed yourselves
00:08:59.640 which is what will
00:09:00.980 inevitably befall you
00:09:02.200 if we are conquered
00:09:03.000 and that's the end
00:09:04.400 of his little speech
00:09:05.140 Caesar himself
00:09:05.800 continues the narrative
00:09:06.560 saying
00:09:06.900 this proposal
00:09:07.700 was unanimously approved
00:09:09.120 and in a single day
00:09:10.340 more than 20
00:09:11.100 of the Beterges towns
00:09:12.800 were fired
00:09:13.540 the same was done
00:09:14.560 in the territory
00:09:15.180 of the neighbouring tribes
00:09:16.360 until fires
00:09:17.480 were visible
00:09:18.280 in every direction
00:09:19.200 and although this was
00:09:20.460 a grievous sorrow
00:09:21.240 to all Gauls
00:09:22.020 they found consolation
00:09:23.320 in the thought
00:09:23.880 that victory
00:09:24.360 was practically assured
00:09:25.580 and that they should
00:09:26.620 soon repair
00:09:27.240 the losses
00:09:27.720 in a second joint
00:09:29.000 council of war
00:09:29.820 the question was debated
00:09:31.040 whether Avericum
00:09:32.120 was to be burnt
00:09:33.100 or defended
00:09:33.660 the Beterages
00:09:34.860 went down on their knees
00:09:36.340 and implored
00:09:37.020 the representatives
00:09:37.680 of the other tribes
00:09:38.920 not to compel them
00:09:40.160 to set fire
00:09:40.940 with their own hands
00:09:42.140 to a town
00:09:42.900 that was almost
00:09:43.480 the finest in Gaul
00:09:44.500 the chief defence
00:09:45.720 and pride of their state
00:09:46.980 it could easily be held
00:09:48.440 they said
00:09:48.940 in view of its natural strength
00:09:50.660 for it was almost
00:09:51.640 completely surrounded
00:09:52.420 by river and marshes
00:09:53.660 in which there was
00:09:54.760 only one narrow opening
00:09:56.060 their petition was granted
00:09:58.000 Vercingetorix
00:09:59.080 though he opposed it
00:10:00.140 at first
00:10:00.620 was at length
00:10:01.400 prevailed upon
00:10:02.140 by their entreaties
00:10:03.140 and by the general
00:10:03.980 sympathy felt for them
00:10:05.040 and a careful choice
00:10:06.180 was made of officers
00:10:07.360 to defend the town
00:10:08.460 following Caesar's march
00:10:09.900 by easy stages
00:10:10.880 Vercingetorix
00:10:11.980 selected for his encampment
00:10:13.900 a spot 16 miles
00:10:15.380 from Avericum
00:10:16.120 protected by marshes
00:10:17.440 and forests
00:10:18.000 by an organised liaison service
00:10:20.020 he was informed hourly
00:10:21.600 of events at Avericum
00:10:23.100 and transmitted
00:10:23.980 his orders accordingly
00:10:25.060 he was constantly
00:10:26.260 on the watch
00:10:26.840 for parties
00:10:27.540 Roman parties
00:10:28.820 going out for forage
00:10:30.500 or corn
00:10:31.040 and by attacking them
00:10:32.480 when they were isolated
00:10:33.660 for they were obliged
00:10:34.920 to go far afield
00:10:35.740 he inflicted heavy losses
00:10:37.240 although they tried
00:10:38.260 everything they could
00:10:39.000 to think to baffle him
00:10:40.400 setting out at irregular
00:10:41.780 intervals
00:10:42.380 and by different routes
00:10:43.620 Caesar encamped
00:10:44.940 on the side of the town
00:10:45.920 where there was
00:10:46.400 a narrow gap in the marshes
00:10:47.760 and watercourses
00:10:48.800 surrounding it
00:10:49.540 and began to build
00:10:50.600 a siege terrace
00:10:51.420 form lines of mantlets
00:10:53.100 and erect two towers
00:10:54.660 upon the terrace
00:10:55.500 for the lie of the land
00:10:57.060 made it impossible
00:10:57.780 to invest the place
00:10:58.940 to maintain a supply of corn
00:11:00.700 he kept importuning
00:11:02.280 the bowie
00:11:02.880 and the adjuire
00:11:03.700 but the adjuire
00:11:04.980 were lukewarm
00:11:05.700 and gave little help
00:11:06.660 while the bowie
00:11:07.520 a small and feeble tribe
00:11:09.180 had only slender resources
00:11:10.900 which were quickly exhausted
00:11:12.460 never mind what they're
00:11:13.940 going to eat
00:11:14.280 I suppose
00:11:14.760 the troops were brought
00:11:15.720 to such straits
00:11:16.540 by the inability
00:11:17.380 of the bowie
00:11:18.120 to relieve them
00:11:18.960 and the indifference
00:11:19.740 of the adjuire
00:11:20.500 as well as by the burning
00:11:21.860 of the granaries
00:11:22.560 that for several days
00:11:23.680 they had no grain
00:11:24.540 and saved themselves
00:11:25.620 from starvation
00:11:26.540 only by bringing in cattle
00:11:28.160 from distant villages
00:11:29.020 yet not a word
00:11:30.300 were they heard
00:11:30.860 to utter
00:11:31.340 that was unworthy
00:11:32.480 of roman soldiers
00:11:33.320 with successful campaigns
00:11:35.200 to their credit
00:11:35.860 indeed
00:11:36.640 when caesar addressed
00:11:37.820 the men of each legion
00:11:38.900 at their work
00:11:39.540 and told them
00:11:40.280 that if they found
00:11:40.960 their privations unbearable
00:11:42.340 he would abandon the siege
00:11:43.760 with one voice
00:11:44.760 they begged him
00:11:45.360 not to do so
00:11:46.080 saying that they had
00:11:47.020 served under him
00:11:47.740 for many years
00:11:48.500 without suffering
00:11:49.340 any humiliation
00:11:50.160 or ever being forced
00:11:51.460 to relinquish a task
00:11:52.620 that they had set
00:11:53.480 their hands to
00:11:54.180 they would feel it
00:11:55.120 a humiliation
00:11:55.980 to abandon the siege now
00:11:57.400 and would rather
00:11:58.360 suffer any hardship
00:11:59.380 than fail in avenging
00:12:00.640 the romans
00:12:01.260 who had fallen victims
00:12:02.500 to gallic treachery
00:12:03.660 at cenobum
00:12:04.800 they said the same
00:12:05.620 to their centurions
00:12:06.620 and military tribunes
00:12:07.660 asking them to pass it
00:12:09.040 on to caesar
00:12:09.760 so there's a classic
00:12:11.560 example
00:12:12.080 of where the soldiers
00:12:13.900 the common soldiery
00:12:15.000 absolutely love caesar
00:12:16.600 they seem to love him
00:12:17.660 they'll do anything
00:12:19.040 for him
00:12:19.520 there's so many
00:12:20.000 examples of this
00:12:20.900 that wasn't necessarily
00:12:22.420 the case
00:12:23.560 or not as much
00:12:24.160 the case
00:12:24.600 years ago
00:12:25.420 when caesar was first
00:12:26.320 in command in spain
00:12:27.400 even at the very
00:12:28.620 very beginning
00:12:29.220 of the
00:12:29.840 of the
00:12:30.660 ghoul campaigns
00:12:31.620 it wasn't necessarily
00:12:32.980 the case
00:12:33.160 but by this point
00:12:33.820 now
00:12:34.140 he's their boy
00:12:35.380 you know
00:12:36.000 they'll do anything
00:12:37.240 for him
00:12:37.700 and as the years
00:12:38.800 tick by
00:12:39.340 it becomes even
00:12:40.560 more so
00:12:41.440 but we can see here
00:12:42.620 now
00:12:42.960 that they will follow
00:12:44.400 caesar to the ends
00:12:45.320 of the earth
00:12:45.800 they really will do
00:12:46.940 almost anything
00:12:47.480 for him
00:12:48.060 okay so the story
00:12:49.540 goes on
00:12:50.080 the siege towers
00:12:51.200 had already been
00:12:51.980 moved close to the wall
00:12:53.040 when caesar learnt
00:12:54.240 from prisoners
00:12:54.880 that vercingetrix
00:12:56.060 having run out of forage
00:12:57.620 had moved nearer
00:12:58.820 Avericum
00:12:59.360 and had taken command
00:13:00.760 in person of the cavalry
00:13:01.920 and the light armed infantry
00:13:03.560 who regularly fought
00:13:04.740 among the cavalry
00:13:05.440 in order to ambush
00:13:06.680 the place where he expected
00:13:07.860 our men would go
00:13:09.240 the next day to forage
00:13:10.800 accordingly caesar set out
00:13:12.580 silently at midnight
00:13:13.640 and reached the enemy's
00:13:14.760 camp in the morning
00:13:15.460 but they received
00:13:16.560 speedy warning of his
00:13:17.620 approach from their patrols
00:13:19.360 hid their wagons
00:13:20.380 and baggage
00:13:20.940 in the densest part
00:13:21.840 of the woods
00:13:22.400 and drew up all their forces
00:13:23.940 on open rising ground
00:13:25.560 on hearing of this
00:13:26.820 caesar had once
00:13:27.820 ordered his men
00:13:28.580 to pile their packs
00:13:29.540 and get their arms ready
00:13:30.820 once again
00:13:31.760 it's on
00:13:32.600 it's going to have
00:13:33.360 a battle here
00:13:34.360 the hill that the enemy
00:13:35.720 occupied
00:13:36.140 had a gentle gradient
00:13:37.700 at the bottom
00:13:38.480 and was almost surmounted
00:13:39.880 by a marsh
00:13:40.520 which was extremely
00:13:41.660 difficult to negotiate
00:13:42.700 although only 50 feet wide
00:13:44.760 the goulds had taken
00:13:46.040 down the causeways
00:13:47.060 leading over the marsh
00:13:48.440 and relying on the
00:13:49.500 strength of their
00:13:50.000 position refused to
00:13:51.400 budge from the hill
00:13:52.200 formed up in tribal
00:13:53.380 groups they held all
00:13:54.660 the folds and the
00:13:55.720 thickets that boarded
00:13:57.020 the marsh
00:13:57.500 determined if the
00:13:58.840 romans tried to force
00:13:59.700 a passage to overpower
00:14:01.120 them by running down
00:14:02.000 to the attack while they
00:14:03.540 were stuck fast in the
00:14:04.660 mud awaiting us at
00:14:06.220 such a distance they
00:14:07.500 looked as if they were
00:14:08.300 prepared to fight a
00:14:09.140 battle on more or less
00:14:10.600 equal terms but their
00:14:11.920 position was so much
00:14:12.880 stronger than ours that
00:14:14.260 this show of courage was
00:14:15.520 clearly a mere pretense
00:14:16.720 the legionaries were
00:14:18.420 indignant at the
00:14:19.160 enemies daring to face
00:14:20.660 them at such close
00:14:21.460 range and clamoured for
00:14:22.960 the signal to attack
00:14:23.900 but Caesar pointed out
00:14:25.120 how costly a victory
00:14:26.040 would be in these
00:14:26.820 conditions how many
00:14:28.200 brave men's lives must
00:14:29.360 be sacrificed when they
00:14:30.700 showed such steadfast
00:14:32.000 loyalty and were
00:14:33.060 willing to face any
00:14:33.880 danger for his honour
00:14:34.900 he would be guilty of
00:14:36.140 the grossest injustice
00:14:37.100 if he did not consider
00:14:38.460 their lives before his
00:14:39.760 own interests
00:14:40.520 after addressing them
00:14:41.860 in this way to
00:14:42.840 alleviate their
00:14:43.500 disappointment
00:14:43.980 he led them back to
00:14:45.300 camp the same day and
00:14:46.700 proceeded to complete his
00:14:47.800 preparations for the
00:14:49.060 siege of the town
00:14:49.860 end quote
00:14:50.740 so it looked like a
00:14:52.400 battle was going to be
00:14:53.140 on but Caesar
00:14:54.600 canny Caesar
00:14:55.980 wily old Caesar
00:14:57.180 saw with his
00:14:59.340 general's ire
00:15:00.200 his
00:15:00.600 one of the greatest
00:15:02.020 ires
00:15:02.620 battlefield ires
00:15:04.560 there's ever been
00:15:05.240 saw that
00:15:06.000 even ire
00:15:07.680 even Caesar
00:15:08.420 even the great
00:15:09.180 Roman legions
00:15:10.260 of the first century
00:15:11.060 BC
00:15:11.380 this is an ask
00:15:13.140 this battlefield
00:15:14.560 the way this is set up
00:15:16.020 this is not a good
00:15:16.940 idea
00:15:17.280 and that is brave
00:15:19.240 in leadership terms
00:15:20.800 that's brave
00:15:21.520 when all your men
00:15:22.860 expect you to attack
00:15:24.220 to be unafraid
00:15:25.440 to be accused of
00:15:26.340 being a coward or
00:15:27.180 something
00:15:27.500 that's good leadership
00:15:28.900 to make the right
00:15:30.320 decision
00:15:30.800 it's a classic thing
00:15:32.220 in all sorts of
00:15:33.360 games and sports
00:15:34.580 and conflicts
00:15:35.460 and battles
00:15:36.260 and like in chess
00:15:37.380 someone will draw
00:15:38.220 you out
00:15:38.700 put a rook
00:15:40.060 or a knight
00:15:40.580 deep behind
00:15:41.300 your line
00:15:42.120 and expect you
00:15:43.200 to react to it
00:15:44.280 and sometimes
00:15:45.600 it's best
00:15:45.980 to just leave it
00:15:46.660 there
00:15:46.840 walk away
00:15:47.400 you're going to
00:15:48.980 damage yourself
00:15:49.700 more
00:15:50.400 by taking the bait
00:15:52.100 even though it
00:15:53.060 seems the most
00:15:53.780 obvious thing
00:15:54.340 even though it
00:15:54.700 seems like it's
00:15:55.200 the only thing
00:15:55.900 to do
00:15:56.740 no no you don't
00:15:57.860 have to
00:15:58.240 no no
00:15:58.760 I'll wait
00:15:59.260 it's fine
00:15:59.980 it's fine
00:16:00.700 that's a trap
00:16:02.020 okay he goes on
00:16:04.000 on returning
00:16:04.840 to his main body
00:16:05.840 Vercingetorix was
00:16:06.920 accused of treachery
00:16:08.040 for having moved
00:16:08.820 his camp nearer
00:16:09.600 the Romans
00:16:10.000 for going off
00:16:11.240 with all the cavalry
00:16:12.020 and for leaving
00:16:13.160 such a large army
00:16:14.120 without anyone
00:16:14.780 in supreme command
00:16:15.760 all this could not
00:16:16.980 have happened by
00:16:17.560 chance they said
00:16:18.440 but must have been
00:16:19.560 deliberately planned
00:16:20.560 evidently he would
00:16:22.060 rather become king
00:16:22.900 of Gaul
00:16:23.360 by Caesar's favour
00:16:24.540 than by the gift
00:16:25.340 of his fellow
00:16:25.880 countrymen
00:16:26.480 to these charges
00:16:27.680 Vercingetorix replied
00:16:29.080 that he moved
00:16:29.900 camp because
00:16:30.920 he was short
00:16:31.600 of forage
00:16:32.180 and they themselves
00:16:33.460 had pressed him
00:16:34.340 to do so
00:16:34.940 he went nearer
00:16:36.020 the Romans
00:16:36.440 because he had
00:16:37.340 found a very
00:16:37.880 favourable position
00:16:38.880 so well protected
00:16:39.940 by nature
00:16:40.560 that no defence
00:16:41.540 works were required
00:16:42.620 oh one thing
00:16:44.060 quickly to say here
00:16:45.040 in the earlier part
00:16:46.040 of this chapter
00:16:46.480 which I didn't read
00:16:47.280 we were told
00:16:48.100 that Vercingetorix
00:16:48.840 was quite a harsh
00:16:51.140 disciplinarian
00:16:52.160 if anyone did
00:16:53.140 anything wrong
00:16:53.840 in his army
00:16:54.500 it says
00:16:55.100 he just
00:16:55.880 tied them to a stake
00:16:57.280 and cut them up
00:16:58.040 or cut their ears
00:16:59.060 off
00:16:59.320 or put their eyes
00:17:00.060 out
00:17:00.660 for like
00:17:01.300 sort of small
00:17:01.980 misdemeanours
00:17:02.940 for relatively
00:17:03.780 small offences
00:17:05.160 so Vercingetorix
00:17:06.680 is not to be
00:17:07.240 trifled with
00:17:07.900 as a leader
00:17:08.900 and then Caesar
00:17:09.960 puts words in his
00:17:10.740 mouth again
00:17:11.320 and Vercingetorix
00:17:12.460 is supposed to
00:17:13.100 have said
00:17:13.380 I knew
00:17:14.600 that the cavalry
00:17:15.780 would not be missed
00:17:16.780 on this marshy ground
00:17:18.180 whereas it was
00:17:19.200 very useful
00:17:19.840 in the place
00:17:20.720 to which I took it
00:17:21.700 I purposely
00:17:22.500 did not delegate
00:17:23.600 the command
00:17:24.220 to anyone
00:17:24.980 when I went away
00:17:26.380 for fear the person
00:17:27.580 I chose
00:17:28.200 might be
00:17:28.980 induced
00:17:29.380 by the enthusiasm
00:17:30.380 of the rank and file
00:17:31.620 to give battle
00:17:32.420 for I could see
00:17:33.740 that that was
00:17:34.640 what they all
00:17:35.180 desired
00:17:35.640 because they were
00:17:36.740 soft and incapable
00:17:37.700 of prolonged exertion
00:17:39.140 if the arrival
00:17:39.980 of the Romans
00:17:40.600 during my absence
00:17:41.700 was an accident
00:17:42.680 it was a stroke
00:17:43.680 of luck for us
00:17:44.480 if it was the result
00:17:46.080 of information
00:17:46.800 conveyed by a traitor
00:17:47.960 you ought to be
00:17:48.920 grateful to him
00:17:49.760 for enabling you
00:17:50.980 to see from your
00:17:51.840 commanding position
00:17:52.720 how weak are their
00:17:54.020 forces
00:17:54.340 and how contemptible
00:17:55.920 is their cowardice
00:17:56.860 since they slunk
00:17:58.080 back ignominiously
00:17:59.020 to their camp
00:17:59.800 without daring
00:18:00.540 to fight
00:18:01.000 I have no need
00:18:02.160 to obtain from
00:18:03.000 Caesar by treachery
00:18:04.080 the power that I
00:18:05.100 can secure by victory
00:18:06.240 a victory already
00:18:07.380 in my grasp
00:18:08.080 and to be shared
00:18:09.020 by the whole
00:18:09.540 Gallic people
00:18:10.220 you may take back
00:18:11.180 the command
00:18:11.640 you entrusted me
00:18:12.400 with
00:18:12.680 if you imagine
00:18:13.560 that you are
00:18:14.380 conferring a favour
00:18:15.240 on me
00:18:15.660 when in reality
00:18:16.580 you owe your
00:18:17.500 lives to me
00:18:18.240 to satisfy yourselves
00:18:19.600 that what I say
00:18:20.540 is true
00:18:20.960 hear what these
00:18:21.720 Roman soldiers
00:18:22.360 have to say
00:18:23.060 with these words
00:18:24.040 he brought forward
00:18:24.820 some camp servants
00:18:25.720 whom he had captured
00:18:26.740 on a foraging expedition
00:18:27.880 some days previously
00:18:28.900 and had subjected
00:18:30.140 to the tortures
00:18:31.160 of chains
00:18:31.620 and starvation
00:18:32.320 these he had
00:18:33.480 carefully primed
00:18:34.320 beforehand
00:18:34.740 with the answers
00:18:35.920 that they were
00:18:36.600 to make
00:18:36.960 when questioned
00:18:37.560 they said
00:18:38.520 that they were
00:18:38.920 legionaries
00:18:39.500 and that the hunger
00:18:40.420 and want
00:18:40.840 they had suffered
00:18:41.580 made them steal
00:18:42.540 out of camp
00:18:43.100 to see if they
00:18:43.740 could find
00:18:44.140 any corn
00:18:44.660 or cattle
00:18:45.120 in the fields
00:18:45.800 the whole army
00:18:46.800 they added
00:18:47.320 the whole Roman army
00:18:48.120 they added
00:18:48.840 was in the same plight
00:18:50.040 every man
00:18:50.720 was at the end
00:18:51.280 of his strength
00:18:51.860 and unfit for work
00:18:52.900 and their commander
00:18:53.840 had decided
00:18:54.500 to raise the siege
00:18:55.580 in three days time
00:18:56.540 unless some progress
00:18:57.660 was made
00:18:58.220 that
00:18:59.120 cried Vercingetorix
00:19:00.440 is what you owe
00:19:01.440 to me
00:19:01.820 whom you charge
00:19:02.940 with treachery
00:19:03.880 thanks to me
00:19:04.620 without shedding
00:19:05.420 a drop of your own blood
00:19:06.520 you see a great
00:19:07.340 and victorious army
00:19:08.240 almost destroyed
00:19:09.020 by starvation
00:19:09.740 and when it is routed
00:19:11.240 and retreats
00:19:12.080 in disgrace
00:19:12.540 I have taken good care
00:19:13.960 that no people
00:19:14.780 should admit it
00:19:15.580 into their territory
00:19:16.480 the whole concourse
00:19:17.580 cheered
00:19:18.080 and clashed their weapons
00:19:19.160 as the Gauls
00:19:20.100 are accustomed to do
00:19:21.060 when they approve
00:19:21.740 of what a speaker says
00:19:22.820 Vercingetorix
00:19:23.940 was a great leader
00:19:24.740 they declared
00:19:25.360 his loyalty
00:19:26.280 above suspicion
00:19:27.140 and no one
00:19:28.120 could conduct
00:19:28.680 the campaign
00:19:29.220 with greater skill
00:19:30.040 they determined
00:19:30.780 to send into
00:19:31.520 Avericum
00:19:32.120 10,000 men
00:19:33.280 picked from all
00:19:33.940 the contingents
00:19:34.720 not wishing to
00:19:35.760 entrust the national
00:19:36.660 cause
00:19:37.080 to the Bitterages
00:19:38.200 alone
00:19:38.760 because they realised
00:19:40.200 that if the Bitterages
00:19:41.540 saved the town
00:19:42.740 the victory
00:19:43.260 would be entirely theirs
00:19:44.640 to battle
00:19:45.420 the extraordinary
00:19:46.060 bravery
00:19:46.500 of our troops
00:19:47.240 the Gauls
00:19:47.880 resorted to
00:19:48.460 all kinds of devices
00:19:49.540 for they are
00:19:50.320 most ingenious people
00:19:51.500 and very clever
00:19:52.500 at burrowing
00:19:53.320 and applying ideas
00:19:54.660 suggested to them
00:19:55.620 they pulled aside
00:19:57.000 our wall hooks
00:19:58.220 with lassoes
00:19:59.400 for example
00:20:00.360 and when they had
00:20:01.380 made them fast
00:20:02.320 hauled them inside
00:20:03.660 with windlasses
00:20:04.460 they made our terraces
00:20:06.200 fall in by undermining
00:20:07.640 at which they were expert
00:20:08.860 because they have
00:20:09.880 extensive iron mines
00:20:10.980 in their country
00:20:11.680 and are thoroughly familiar
00:20:13.320 with every kind
00:20:14.020 of underground working
00:20:15.040 they had also
00:20:16.160 equipped the whole
00:20:16.800 circuit of the walls
00:20:17.780 with towers
00:20:18.520 furnished with platforms
00:20:20.220 and protected
00:20:21.100 by hyads
00:20:21.840 they made frequent
00:20:23.820 sorties by day
00:20:24.640 and night
00:20:25.040 either to set fire
00:20:26.360 to the terrace
00:20:27.040 or to attack
00:20:28.040 our soldiers at work
00:20:29.080 as our towers
00:20:30.320 were raised higher
00:20:31.140 by the material
00:20:31.920 added each day
00:20:32.880 to the terrace
00:20:33.600 they increased
00:20:34.440 the height of theirs
00:20:35.180 correspondingly
00:20:36.080 by inserting floors
00:20:37.260 between the upright
00:20:38.120 posts
00:20:38.600 forming the framework
00:20:39.640 they counter-mined
00:20:41.200 the subterranean
00:20:42.060 galleries
00:20:42.520 that we were digging
00:20:43.720 towards the walls
00:20:44.700 and prevented
00:20:45.700 their continuation
00:20:46.580 by throwing into them
00:20:48.020 stakes sharpened
00:20:49.100 and hardened
00:20:49.760 in a fire
00:20:50.500 boiling pitch
00:20:51.600 and very heavy stones
00:20:53.180 end of quote
00:20:54.120 so wow
00:20:54.980 that paints quite a picture
00:20:56.000 doesn't it
00:20:56.580 all sorts of
00:20:57.420 sapping
00:20:58.600 and counter-sapping
00:20:59.800 wall building
00:21:01.100 tower building
00:21:02.140 and counter-wall building
00:21:04.100 and counter-tower building
00:21:05.580 it's quite a siege
00:21:06.560 it must have been
00:21:06.980 quite a sight
00:21:07.740 both sides determined
00:21:09.080 that Avericum
00:21:10.600 was going to be
00:21:11.500 a sight of victory
00:21:12.280 for them
00:21:12.780 for once
00:21:13.780 the Roman engineers
00:21:14.800 actually came up
00:21:16.360 against people
00:21:17.040 that were prepared
00:21:18.080 to at least try
00:21:19.580 and match them
00:21:20.260 lack for lack
00:21:21.020 if you would like
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