Uxellodunum

Uxellodunum is an Oppidum (Iron Age Hillfort) that was the capital of the Cadurci Gallic Tribe, located on the river Dordogne near Vayrac in the Lot Department.

Caius Caninius then set off with two Legions to pursue a marauding army of 5,000 under Drapes, the Senonian.
Drapes united with Luterius, Leader of the Cadurci, and occupied Uxellodunum (near Veyrac, on the Dordogne) in Gallia Transalpina, in the territory of the Cadurci. This was another hilltop city defended by steep cliffs, like Alesia. Drapes and Caninius fearing a repeat of Alesia (which had insufficient supplies), sent out foraging parties to collect grain from the surrounding countryside, and prepare for a long siege.

Caninius besieged Uxellodunum, but avoided building an encirclement around it, as Caesar had done at Alesia, since he had insufficient Troops. Instead he intercepted and massacred a large foraging party.
Fabius then arrived with his Legions, and only then did Caninius finally completed the Circumvallation around the city.
When Caesar arrived, he recognised that depriving the city of water from a giant spring at the base of the walls was the only way to force a surrender, as they had sufficient supplies to hold out indefinitely.
Consequently he built a series of earthworks and wooden ramps towards the fountain. On it he built a tower to fire down on the defenders as they collected the water. The earthworks also protected the miners who were working from below to divert the stream to the fountain. Despite repeated attempts by the defenders by throwing blazing oil on the structure, it was eventually completed, and the fountain successfully diverted.
At this point Uxellodunum submitted.

Caesar was aware that the Gauls knew this was his last term as Governor of the Province. He wanted to prevent rebellion flaring up after he had gone. His policy was to treat the Tribes who had submitted and given hostages fairly, to encourage their loyalty. But those Tribes who had opposed him, he punished harshly, as a deterrent to the others.
He therefore took the harsh step of cutting off the hands of all the Gallic soldiers from Uxellodunum, but spared their lives, so that their fate be well known.

Gallic Wars: Book VIII
- This Book describes a year in the Gallic Wars (58-51 BCE) conducted by Julius Caesar against the Celtic Tribes in Gaul, which then became a Roman Province for the next 400 years.
- The Eighth Book of the De Bello Gallico (Commentary on the Gallic Wars) wasn’t written until after the death of Julius Caesar. It was written by his General, Aulus Hirtius, and describes the last year of the War in 51 BCE.

Uxellodunum