The Battle of Lutetia was a battle on the plain of Grenelle in what is now Paris between Roman forces under Titus Labienus and an anti-Roman Gallic coalition in 52 BC during the Gallic Wars. It was a Roman victory.[6]
Caesar sent Labienus to campaign against the peoples of the Seine, whilst Caesar himself marched on Gergovia.[7] He captured the oppidum of Metlosedum (possibly present-day Melun), and crossed the Seine to attack the Gallic coalition near Lutetia. Threatened by the Bellovaci (a powerful Belgae tribe), he decided to re-cross the Seine to rejoin Caesar's force at Agedincum (Sens). Feinting a general retreat, Labienus in fact crossed the river. The Gauls of the Seine coalition tried to block his path to Caesar and battle was joined.
Battle
After the two sides engaged the Seventh legion, placed on the right wing, started to push back the Gallic left. On the Roman left the Twelfth legion's pilum volleys broke up the Gauls first charge, but they resisted the Romans advance, encouraged by their old chieftain Camulogenus. The turning point came when the military tribunes of the Seventh legion led their legionaries against the enemy rear. The Gauls sent in their reserves, taking a nearby hill, but were unable to reverse the course of the battle and took flight. Their losses increased when the Roman cavalry was sent to pursue them. Labienus's force thus advanced back to Agedincum, recaptured their baggage train along the way.
Aftermath
The Gauls tried to prevent Labienus from returning to Agedincum by blocking him at the Sequana river. Labienus used five cohorts to lure the Gauls away while he himself crossed the Sequana River with three legions.[8] When the Gauls found out there were two Roman armies in the area they split up and pursued both. The main body met Labienus who pinned them down with one legion while surrounding them with the rest. He then annihilated their reinforcements with his cavalry.[9] After linking up with the five cohorts he had used as a diversion, Labienus marched his army back to Agendicum where he met up with Caesar returning from his defeat at Gergovia. The combined Roman army would soon after march from Agendicum to face Vercingetorix's victorious army coming from the south. After defeating the Gauls near the Vingeanne, Caesar pursued them to Alesia where he won a decisive victory over Vercingetorix.
^Caesar's armies were almost always accompanied by an unknown number of skirmishers (archers, slingers, javelinmen). Caesar mentions them on several occasions.
^Caesar's legions were understrength most of the time (as a result of hard campaigning). They usually numbered between 2,500–5,000 men.
^Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 34.
^Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 61.
^Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 62.
February 02, 2023
battle, lutetia, coordinates, 350the, battle, plain, grenelle, what, paris, between, roman, forces, under, titus, labienus, anti, roman, gallic, coalition, during, gallic, wars, roman, victory, part, gallic, wardate52, bclocationplain, grenelleresultroman, vic. Coordinates 48 51 N 2 21 E 48 850 N 2 350 E 48 850 2 350The Battle of Lutetia was a battle on the plain of Grenelle in what is now Paris between Roman forces under Titus Labienus and an anti Roman Gallic coalition in 52 BC during the Gallic Wars It was a Roman victory 6 Battle of LutetiaPart of The Gallic WarDate52 BCLocationPlain of GrenelleResultRoman victoryBelligerentsRoman RepublicGallic coalition forces Northern Coalition Parisii Senones AulerciCommanders and leadersTitus LabienusCamulogenusUnits involvedLegio VII the Seventh legion 1 Legio IX the Ninth legion 1 Legio XII the Twelfth legion 1 Legio XIV the Fourteenth legion 1 Auxiliary Cavalry Auxiliary light infantryArmy of the Northern CoalitionStrengthFour legions 2 3 2 000 cavalry 2 3 an unknown number of auxiliaries 4 10 000 20 000 legionaries 5 2 000 cavalry Unknown number of auxiliaries infantry skirmishers unknown Campaign map 52 BC Most of southern and central Gaul is in revolt Note Labienus 2 for Labienus s Lutetia campaign Contents 1 Prelude 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 Notes and ReferencesPrelude EditCaesar sent Labienus to campaign against the peoples of the Seine whilst Caesar himself marched on Gergovia 7 He captured the oppidum of Metlosedum possibly present day Melun and crossed the Seine to attack the Gallic coalition near Lutetia Threatened by the Bellovaci a powerful Belgae tribe he decided to re cross the Seine to rejoin Caesar s force at Agedincum Sens Feinting a general retreat Labienus in fact crossed the river The Gauls of the Seine coalition tried to block his path to Caesar and battle was joined Battle EditAfter the two sides engaged the Seventh legion placed on the right wing started to push back the Gallic left On the Roman left the Twelfth legion s pilum volleys broke up the Gauls first charge but they resisted the Romans advance encouraged by their old chieftain Camulogenus The turning point came when the military tribunes of the Seventh legion led their legionaries against the enemy rear The Gauls sent in their reserves taking a nearby hill but were unable to reverse the course of the battle and took flight Their losses increased when the Roman cavalry was sent to pursue them Labienus s force thus advanced back to Agedincum recaptured their baggage train along the way Aftermath EditThe Gauls tried to prevent Labienus from returning to Agedincum by blocking him at the Sequana river Labienus used five cohorts to lure the Gauls away while he himself crossed the Sequana River with three legions 8 When the Gauls found out there were two Roman armies in the area they split up and pursued both The main body met Labienus who pinned them down with one legion while surrounding them with the rest He then annihilated their reinforcements with his cavalry 9 After linking up with the five cohorts he had used as a diversion Labienus marched his army back to Agendicum where he met up with Caesar returning from his defeat at Gergovia The combined Roman army would soon after march from Agendicum to face Vercingetorix s victorious army coming from the south After defeating the Gauls near the Vingeanne Caesar pursued them to Alesia where he won a decisive victory over Vercingetorix Notes and References Edit a b c d Caesar s legions Livius a b Julius Caesar Commentarii de Bello Gallico VII 34 Caesar mentions sending Labienus with four legions and 2 000 cavalry a b Rickard J 23 March 2009 Battle of Lutetia May 52 BC http www historyofwar org articles battles lutetia html Caesar s armies were almost always accompanied by an unknown number of skirmishers archers slingers javelinmen Caesar mentions them on several occasions Caesar s legions were understrength most of the time as a result of hard campaigning They usually numbered between 2 500 5 000 men Julius Caesar Commentarii de Bello Gallico VII 62 Julius Caesar Commentarii de Bello Gallico VII 34 Julius Caesar Commentarii de Bello Gallico VII 61 Julius Caesar Commentarii de Bello Gallico VII 62 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Lutetia amp oldid 1064400817, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
