Vercassivellaunos

Vercassivellaunos (or Vercassivellaunus, ) was a Gallic nobleman and warrior who belonged to the Arverni, a Celtic people who resided in the Massif Central (present-day Auvergne). In 52 BC, his cousin, Vercingetorix, would lead a coalition of Gallic tribes in revolt against the Romans during the Gallic Wars (58–50 BC). After Julius Caesar encircled Vercingetorix's forces at Alesia, Vercassivellaunus would be chosen along with Commius, Viridomarus, and Eporedorix to lead a relief force to break the siege.

Despite possessing numerical superiority, the relief force failed to break the siege following repeated attempts and Vercingetorix would surrender, ending the revolt. Vercassivellaunus would be captured alive during the fighting. His fate following the battle is unknown.

Name The exact etymology of the personal name Vercassivellaunus is disputed. It is a compound formed from the prefix uer- ('over, super') attached to -cassi- and -uellaunos ('chief, commandant'). Some scholars have connected the affix -cassi- to the word catu ('battle, war') and thus translated the name as "supreme war-chief" while others have argued it to mean 'tin, bronze' and thus translate the name as "true chief of tin". The name Cassivellaunus is likely related.

Biography The fortifications built by Caesar in Alesia Inset: cross shows location of Alesia in Gaul (modern France). The circle shows the weakness in the north-western section of the fortifications Little of Vercassivellaunus's life and military career before the revolt of Vercingetorix is known. In his Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Caesar refers to him as an Arvernian and as a cousin of Vercingetorix. Battle of Alesia

After Vercingetorix was encircled at Alesia, the Gallic chiefs would assemble in Aeduan territory to muster a response force. Vercassivellaunus, Commius of the Atrebates, and Viridomarus and Eporedorix of the Aedui would be given command of the force and dispatched to Alesia. After two failed attacks on the Roman fortifications, a weakness would be identified in the defenses at a hill which the Romans were incapable of including in their preparations and a third attempt would be made. The attack would be repelled with Vercassivellaunus captured and taken prisoner and Sedullos, chief of the Lemovices, killed. With the failure of the assault, it became apparent that the Gauls could not break through the Roman defenses, leading the relief forces to disintegrate and Vercingetorix to surrender.