Battle of Lutetia

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.^[1]

48°51′N 2°21′E

Battle of Lutetia
Part of the Gallic Wars
Battle of Lutetia (sketch from 1892)
Date 52 BC Location Plain of Grenelle Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Gallic coalition forces (Northern Coalition):  • Parisii  • Senones  • Aulerci
Commanders and leaders
Titus Labienus	Camulogenus †
Units involved
Legio VII (the Seventh legion)[2] Legio IX (the Ninth legion)[2] Legio XII (the Twelfth legion)[2] Legio XIV (the Fourteenth legion)[2] Auxiliary Cavalry Auxiliary light infantry	Army of the Northern Coalition
Strength
Four legions[3][4] 2,000 cavalry[3][4] an unknown number of auxiliaries[5] 10,000–20,000 legionaries[6] 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

Prelude

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 in the Battle of the Vingeanne near the river of Vingeanne, Caesar pursued them to Alesia where he won a decisive victory over Vercingetorix.

Notes and References

1. Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 62
2. "Caesar's legions - Livius".
3. Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 34; Caesar mentions sending Labienus with four legions and 2,000 cavalry.
4. Rickard, J (23 March 2009), Battle of Lutetia, May 52 BC , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_lutetia.html
5. Caesar's armies were almost always accompanied by an unknown number of skirmishers (archers, slingers, javelinmen). Caesar mentions them on several occasions.
6. Caesar's legions were understrength most of the time (as a result of hard campaigning). They usually numbered between 2,500–5,000 men.
7. Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 34.
8. Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 61.
9. Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, VII, 62.