Alesia

Alesia, a town in the east of ancient Gaul, the siege and capture of which formed one of Cæsar's greatest exploits. Vercingetorix, after several defeats, had shut himself up with 80,000 Gauls in Alesia, which was situated on a lofty hill. Cæsar, with his army of 60,000 men, completely surrounded the place; and in spite of the desperate efforts of the besieged, the town was obliged to surrender. Alesia was destroyed by the Normans in 864. Near the site stands the modern village of Alise-Sainte-Reine, in Côte d'Or, W. of Dijon. On the hill Napoleon III. erected in 1864 a colossal statue of Vercingetorix.