On This Day October 3

Between 58-51 BC, the Romans under Julius Caesar subdued Gaul selling thousands of Belgic tribes into slavery by a process of total annihilation of Gaelic forces. At the Battle of Alesia, Caesar's 100,000 troops were outnumbered 4:1 but they still won when on October 3, 52BC Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls, surrendered to the Romans. Ancient historians are notorious for exaggerating numbers of this kind, but Caesar's conquest of Gaul was certainly the greatest military triumph since the campaigns of Alexander the Great.

Vercingetorix throws down his arms at the feet of Julius Caesar. Painting by Lionel Royer.

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