The Battle of Noviodunum was fought in 52 BC between Julius Caesar's Roman army and the Gallic confederation led by Vercingetorix. The Romans defeated the Gauls in front of the city of Noviodunum, the capital of the Bituriges, leading to that tribe's submission to Rome.
Background[]
By the end of 53 BC, Julius Caesar had 50,000 Roman troops under his command in Gaul. In 52 BC, he returned to Italy to diffuse another political problem, and, in the same year, the Arverni leader Vercingetorix (who knew of the political problems in Rome) organized an alliance of powerful Gallic tribes that, inspired by Ambiorix, were now seeking independence. This alliance attacked Roman outposts and allies in Gaul, forcing Caesar to return to Gaul and force-march his army to quell the Senones and Carnutes by taking their capitals.
Battle[]
Caesar's next target was Noviodunum, the largest town of the Bituriges. Vercingetorix and his army met Caesar there, but the Roman heavy infantry was too much for the Gauls, and the Gallic rebels were forced to retreat. The Gauls suffered heavy losses during their retreat, allowing Caesar to take the city.