This sentiment was first manifested amongst the populace and under obscure chieftains; a band of Carnutian peasants (people of Chartrain) rushed upon the town of Genabum (Gies), roused the inhabitants, and massacred the Italian traders and a Roman knight, C.Fusius Cita, whom Caesar had commissioned to buy corn there.

In less than twenty-four hours the signal of insurrection against Rome was borne across the country as far as the Arvernians, amongst whom conspiracy had long ago been waiting and paving the way for insurrection.

Amongst them lived a young Gaul whose real name has remained unknown, and whom history has called Vercingetorix, that is, chief over a hundred heads, chief-in-general.

He came of an ancient and powerful family of Arvernians, and his father had been put to death in his own city for attempting to make himself king.

Caesar knew him, and had taken some pains to attach him to himself.