Alesia

Alesia, ancient town of the Mandubii, a Gallic people who were settled here during the Roman era. Alesia served as the last rallying point of Gallic nationalism against Roman aggression because of its geographical location and defensibility. It was here, in 52 bc, that the Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix conducted the final resistance to Julius Caesar and the Roman legions. The great siege of the town is described in Caesar's De Bello Gallico (On the Gallic War). The outcome of the revolt was the surrender of the Gauls and, according to Roman historian Florus, the burning of the town. The ensuing establishment of the Roman peace in Gaul renewed the life of the community. Located 48 km (30 mi) northwest of the modern Dijon in Côte-d'Or, France, the town is now called Alise-Sainte-Reine.