Battle of Agendicum

The Battle of Agendicum, also known as the Battle of Lutetia, was a conflict during the Gallic War between the Roman Legion and the native Gauls that occurred near Agendicum (now Sens, France) in 52 BC.^[1]

Setup

After Julius Caesar captured Avaricum, he split his forces in half, and sent 4 legions under the command of Labienus north into the lands of the Senones and Parisii.^[2] Labienus set up camp at Agendicum, and he then marched towards Lutetia, leaving his baggage train and newest recruits behind at Agendicum. A large force of Gauls, led by Camelugenus, were encamped near Lutetia, using the nearby swamps as a natural barrier from the Roman army. Labienus was able to flank the Gauls by crossing the river Seine near the town of Melodunum, (modern-day Melun). As they approached the town of Lutetia, Camelegenus ordered the town and surrounding bridges to be burnt. After being halted, Labienus received more bad news in the fact that a new army made up of tribes of the Bellovaci were coming to attack him from the north. Labienus abandoned any plan to continue his expedition and instead tried to head back to his baggage train in Agendicum, while trying to get past Camelugenus' army.

The Battle

Labienus attempted to mislead the Gauls, sending a diversion force up the Seine, while overnight moving his forces downstream from Lutetia. ^[3] Camelugenus responded by also splitting his army in half, a smaller force to follow the diversion, and a larger force to follow the main part of Labienus' army. The main parts of Labienus' and Camelugenus' armies met in open battle. Camelugenus attacked the Twelfth Legion on the Roman left, where they fought an evenly pitched battle. On the Roman right, the Seventh Legion crushed the other Gaulish forces and circled behind Camelugenus' force, where they attacked the Gaulish rear. Caught between the two Roman forces, the Gaulish army was annihilated, with many dead, including Camelugenus himself.^[4] After defeating the Gaulish forces, Labienus was able to reunite with Caesar, and later aid him in the decisive Siege of Alesia.

References