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serious rebellion that Rome had ever faced in a nearby province. Caesar immediately seized the initiative,
sending his lieutenant Labienus orders to do what he could in the northern territories. Caesar tried to
extinguish the revolt, but the generally unsuccessful attempts at Avaricum and Gergovia convinced him to
recall Labienus and to face Vercingetorix with all of his troops on hand.
His lieutenant joined him at Agendicum, and Caesar set out to find his foe in late June or early July. A
brief battle ensued, but the Gauls were driven under Vercingetorix into the city of Alesia (modern Alise),
forcing out the women and children to make room for his considerable army of about 60,000 men. Caesar
pursued the enemy, built massive siege works and began the battle of Alesia.
With siege battlements of approximately 14 miles in circumference, Caesar and his 45,000 men (mostly in
legions but including cavalry of Germanic mercenaries and auxiliaries) prepared to withstand
Vercingetorix's attempt to break out of the city. The entrapped Gauls, however, were soon joined by a huge
relief army numbering from 100,000 to 250,000 men (sources vary as to the actual number). Caesar decided
to rely upon his formidable position, the strength of his siege walls, and upon the iron will of his legions. In
three desperate Gallic attacks all of these assets would be tested.
The first assault was an overall onslaught against Caesar's position that was bloodily repulsed. While his
outside forces reorganized, Vercingetorix tried to break out himself but failed. Finally, a third assault was
attempted, but the Romans broke the impetus of the Gauls and sent them packing in disarray.
Vercingetorix was too shrewd to believe falsely that he or his people could win against Caesar. Alesia
surrendered, and the Gallic chieftain was taken to Rome and later executed in 46 B.C. Caesar then faced a
demoralized enemy in the province and was able to pacify the region.
¤ ALEXANDER, DOMITIUS (d. 311 A.D.) The prefect of Africa in 308, involved at the center of a
revolt against the ruler of Italy, the usurper MAXENTIUS. This emperor, outlawed by the tetrarchy,
controlled Italy and Africa, but Maxentius' deteriorating political position gave hope to the provinces
outside of his immediate reach. Domitius Alexander rose up and declared himself the ruler of Africa. His
corn supply cut off and famine breaking out in Rome, in 311 Maxentius dispatched Rufus Volusianus, the
prefect of the Guard, to Africa with several cohorts of Praetorians. Alexander was strangled, Carthage was
once more destroyed and the revolt was ruthlessly suppressed.
¤ ALEXANDER OF COTIAEON (fl. 2nd century A.D.) One of the great scholastic minds of his age, a
Homeric expert, grammarian and well-known teacher whose guidance of students was free of vanity and