Vellaunodunum
Encyclopedia
Vellaunodunum was a Gallic oppidum
of the Senones
tribe two days' march from Agedincum. On the outbreak of Vercingetorix
's revolt in 52 BC
, Julius Caesar
marched to this oppidum to besiege it, "in order that he might not leave an enemy in his rear, and might the more easily procure supplies of provisions". In his own words, he :
Caesar then marched on to besiege Genabum and Noviodunum Biturigum. These three sieges brought Vercingetorix to open battle at Noviodunum, where Caesar won, though this was soon followed by the Roman defeat at Gergovia
.
The exact location of Vellaunodunum has never been fixed, suggested sites including Montargis
and Château-Landon
.
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
of the Senones
Senones
The Senones were an ancient Gaulish tribe.In about 400 BC they crossed the Alps and, having driven out the Umbrians settled on the east coast of Italy from Forlì to Ancona, in the so-called ager Gallicus, and founded the town of Sena Gallica , which became their capital. In 391 BC they invaded...
tribe two days' march from Agedincum. On the outbreak of Vercingetorix
Vercingetorix
Vercingetorix was the chieftain of the Arverni tribe, who united the Gauls in an ultimately unsuccessful revolt against Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars....
's revolt in 52 BC
52 BC
Year 52 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pompeius and Scipio...
, Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
marched to this oppidum to besiege it, "in order that he might not leave an enemy in his rear, and might the more easily procure supplies of provisions". In his own words, he :
Caesar then marched on to besiege Genabum and Noviodunum Biturigum. These three sieges brought Vercingetorix to open battle at Noviodunum, where Caesar won, though this was soon followed by the Roman defeat at Gergovia
Battle of Gergovia
The Battle of Gergovia took place in 52 BC in Gaul at Gergovia, the chief town of the Arverni. The battle was fought between a Roman Republic army, led by proconsul Julius Caesar, and Gallic forces led by Vercingetorix...
.
The exact location of Vellaunodunum has never been fixed, suggested sites including Montargis
Montargis
Montargis is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. The town is located about south of Paris and east of Orléans in the Gâtinais....
and Château-Landon
Château-Landon
Château-Landon is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
.