- The Battle of Bibracte was the second battle to be fought during the Gallic Wars (58-51 BCE) between Julius Caesar and the Helvetii.
Date and Location
- 58 BCE at a location 16 miles (26km) south of the Aedui Capital of Bibracte (Mont Beuvray, Saone et Loire, France) a Hillfort Oppidum.
The Reason for the Battle
- Julius Caesar had already defeated the Helvetii at the Battle of Arar. However, when the Romans pursued the Helvetii, they ran out of supplies.
- The Roman Army moved back to Bibracte, the Capital of their Gallic Ally, the Aedui.
The Winner
- Winner: Roman Republic
- Loser: Helvetii, Boii, Tulingi and the Rauraci.
The Adversaries
- The Roman Republic
- versus
- The Helvetii, Boii, Tulingi and the Rauraci
The Commanders
- Julius Caesar
- versus
- Divico
The Strength of the Forces under Julius Caesar
- 50,000 men in 6 Legions:
- Auxiliaries: the Gallic Tribes
- Allied Cavalry: Gallic Cavalry
- Losses: 5,000 Killed or Wounded.
The Strength of the Forces under Divico
- 368,000 men of which according to Caesar:
- Warriors: 90,000
- Extended Tribal Families and Baggage Train: 278,000 of which:
- Helvetii: 263,000
- Tulingi: 36,000
- Latobrigi: 14,000
- Rauraci: 23,000
- Boii: 32,000 including Boii Cavalry
- Casualties and Losses: 238,000 Killed or Captured.
How the Armies were Deployed
- The Roman Army
- Julius Caesar delayed the pursuing Helvetii by sending his Cavalry against them.
- This gave him time to deploy 2 Legions, the Auxiliaries and the Baggage Train on the Hilltop.
- Legio XI Claudia
- Legio XII Fulminata
- Auxiliaries
- He then deployed the remaining four Legions in triple Battle Order below them:
- Legio VII Claudia
- Legio VIII Augusta
- Legio IX Hispana
- Legio X Equestris
- The Helvetic Army
- The Helvetii positioned their Baggage Train on a nearby Hill, and after dispersing the Roman Cavalry, moved to engage the Roman Legions in a Frontal Assault outnumbering the Romans 2 to 1.
How the Battle was Fought
- Around 1 pm, the Helvetii approached the base of the hill with the massed Roman Legions in Triple Battle Order above them.
- The Roman Legionaries threw their Pila (Javelins) from 30-45 feet (9-12m), disrupting the Helvetii frontal attack.
- All three lines of Legions then Counter-attacked by descending the Hill, and forcing the Helvetic Army to retreat back to their own Baggage Train.
- During their advance, the Romans were outflanked by the appearance of a coalition of 15,000 men of the Boii and Tulingi. At this point the Helvetii returned to attack the outflanked Legions.
- The Battle lasted late into the night.
- Julius Caesar moved the Third Line to counter the Boii and the Tulingi.
- He kept the First and Second Lines engaged against the Helvetii, until they captured the Helvetii Baggage Train, including the children of the Helvetic Leader, Orgetorix.
The Outcome
- This was the Second Confrontation between the Gallic Tribes and the Roman Republic, and Rome was again the victor.
- Caesar stated that 130,000 Helvetii escaped.
- Orgetorix and others were pursued to neighbouring Gallic Tribes, who refused to help them under orders from Caesar, and so they gave themselves up.
- 110,000 Helvetii returned home of the 263,000.
Source
Site and Museum of Bibracte, Autun