last-of-the-romans:The Siege of AvaricumThe Romans were experts at the ancient art of siege warfare.
last-of-the-romans:The Siege of AvaricumThe Romans were experts at the ancient art of siege warfare. They demonstrated their mastery on many occasions, notably in the siege of the old Gallic town of Avaricum in 52 BC. When the Gauls holed up in the fortress-town, Caesar built a great siegework – a broad terrace and two ramps – against its massive, heavily defended wall. Then his legionaries rolled two assault towers up the ramps and fought across the wall.The whole siegework and much of the supporting weaponry had to be constructed on the spot. The soldiers carried their own saws, pickaxes and other tools; in addition each legion had its specialists - masons, smiths, carpenters. Trees were felled for timber, leaving terrain studded to stump. Most of the construction was done under hastily built sheds erected to protect soldiers from the barrage of arrows, javelins, stones, logs, molten pitch and firebrands hurled by the defenders. The Gauls also took more direct measures to nullify the Romans. As the towers grew higher, the besieged forces raised their own towers and attempted to destroy the Roman works. Caesar kept his men at the task day and night, for 25 days. When at last the Romans were ready, the terrace stood 77 feet high, and the towers rose some 20 feet over the top of the wall. Drawbridges were let down, and hundreds of Romans poured into the town to massacre Avaricum’s inhabitants. The Gallic leader, Vercingetorix, would mount one last stand at Alesia following Avaricum. It was at Alesia, Julius Caesar would eclipse Pompey the Great, and bring about the fall of the Roman Republic. -- source link