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Historical person

Vercingetorix

c. 82–46 BCE

Vercingetorix was an Arvernian noble who led a broad Gallic coalition against Julius Caesar in 52 BC. He defeated Caesar at Gergovia but was later trapped at Alesia, where Roman siege works overcame both the defenders and a relief army. After surrendering, he was held for several years and eventually executed following Caesar’s triumph.

Vercingetorix appears in many novels about Caesar’s conquest of Gaul. Colleen McCullough’s Caesar portrays the campaign and his resistance on a large political and military scale, while other Roman series use Alesia as the decisive confrontation between Gallic independence and Roman expansion.

In Conn Iggulden’s The Field of Swords, the revolt of Vercingetorix and the siege of Alesia become the decisive tests of Caesar’s command and leave his standing army poised against his rivals in Rome. In Steven Saylor’s The Triumph of Caesar, Cleopatra is present in the city, Vercingetorix awaits execution and political opponents must decide whether Caesar’s clemency can be trusted.

Historical context

Historical periods linked to Vercingetorix

Gallic Wars 58–50 BCE

Series

Series featuring Vercingetorix (3 series)

Marius’ Mules in Order

by Simon Turney 17 books 4.6

The Marius’ Mules series follows Marcus Falerius Fronto and Caesar’s legions from the invasion of Gaul to the destruction of the Roman Republic. Battles recorded in Caesar’s commentaries are viewed through officers and soldiers who must endure the practical cost of his ambition, while conspiracies in Rome steadily…

All books in this series

Marius’ Mules -V: Sertorius’ Ghost

4.7

Marius’ Mules I

4.4

Marius’ Mules II

4.5

Marius’ Mules III

4.5

Marius’ Mules IV

4.6

Marius’ Mules V: Hades’ Gate

4.5

Marius’ Mules VI

4.5

Marius’ Mules: Prelude to War

Marius’ Mules VII

4.6

Marius’ Mules VIII

4.5

Marius’ Mules IX

4.5

Marius’ Mules X

4.6

Marius’ Mules XI

4.6

Marius’ Mules XII

4.6

Marius’ Mules XIII

4.6

Marius’ Mules XIV

4.6

Marius’ Mules XV

4.6

Emperor in Order

by Conn Iggulden 5 books 4.6

The Emperor series is a highly fictionalised retelling of Julius Caesar’s life and the violent end of the Roman Republic. It follows Caesar from youth through war, political ascent and conquest, then continues beyond his assassination into the struggle between Octavian, Antony and Caesar’s killers.

All books in this series

The Gates of Rome

4.5

The Death of Kings

4.6

The Field of Swords

4.6

Gods of War

4.6

The Blood of Gods

4.5

Roma Sub Rosa in Order

by Steven Saylor 13 books 4.1

The Roma Sub Rosa series follows Gordianus the Finder through the last generation of the Roman Republic. His investigations begin in the aftermath of Sulla’s dictatorship and continue through slave revolt, aristocratic trials, Catiline’s conspiracy, Caesar’s civil war and the assassination of Julius Caesar. The series uses murder…

All books in this series