A year or two later, there was a wholesale tribal
revolt in Gaul, engineered by Vercingetorix, chieftain
of the Averni. Notably the Eborones slaughtered
nearly two legions. Commius was given a cavalry
contingent to keep an eye on the Menapii, who were
allies of the Eborones. Vercingetorix and 80,000
tribal warriors were surrounded in their hill fort of
Alesia by the legions. A starvation siege for a year
occurred, during which 250,000 other warriors tried
to break Caesar's ring of 80,000 legionaries and
failed. Caesar re-formed into inward and outward
facing formations.
Commius had changed sides while Caesar was in
Italy, and led cavalry as part of the relief force.
The Hill Fort to-day (from overlapping prints)