Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (original title: Le bouclier arverne) is the eleventh Asterix comic book, written by René Goscinny and drawn by Albert Uderzo. It was originally published in 1968. Image File history File links Asterixcover_-_asterix_and_the_chieftains_shield. ... René Goscinny (August 14, 1926 – November 5, 1977) French author, editor and humorist, who is best known for the comic strip Astérix, which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and the comic strip Lucky Luke. // Early life René was born in Paris in 1926, to Stanislaw Simkha Goscinny, a... Albert Uderzo Albert Uderzo (born April 25, 1927 in France) is a French comic book artist, and scriptwriter. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Asterix the Legionary, the tenth Asterix book by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, was published in 1967. ... Asterix at the Olympic Games is an extremely effective satire on performance enhancing drug taking in sport. ... A shrewd, cunning little warrior; all perilous missions are immediately entrusted to him. ... René Goscinny (August 14, 1926 – November 5, 1977) French author, editor and humorist, who is best known for the comic strip Astérix, which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and the comic strip Lucky Luke. // Early life René was born in Paris in 1926, to Stanislaw Simkha Goscinny, a... Albert Uderzo Albert Uderzo (born April 25, 1927 in France) is a French comic book artist, and scriptwriter. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

The book is inspired by the battle of Alesia, where the Gaulish warrior chief Vercingetorix surrendered to the Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar. However, only the very end of the actual battle appears in the book - the main plot concerns what happened after the battle. The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia was a conflict fought in September 52 BC around the Gallic oppidum of Alesia, a major town centre and hill fort of the Mandubii tribe, situated probably at Chaux-des-Crotenay (Jura). ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (from Latin Gallia, c. ... Vercingetorix (72 BC - 46 BC), (French: Vercingétorix) chieftain of the Arverni, led the great Gallic revolt against the Romans in 53-52 BC. His name in Gaulish means king of the marching men; the marching men would now be called infantry. His name was pronounced, in Gaulish (and therefore... It has been suggested that Culture of ancient Rome be merged into this article or section. ... Bust of Julius Caesar This article is about Julius Caesar the Roman dictator. ...

Plot

Summary

Emperor Julius Caesar has lost the shield of Vercingetorix and sends his troops to look for it. Meanwhile, Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix accompany their chief, Vitalstatistix, on a trip to Arverne to be cured of his sore liver. The Gauls and Romans frequently encounter each other, following the same trail simultaneously. Finally, the Gauls show that they have the shield and Caesar has to concede defeat. Obelix Obelix (originally Obélix) is a character, a sidekick with superhuman strength in the Asterix comic books. ... Dogmatix is a fictional character, a dog who belongs to Obelix in the Asterix comics. ... Chief Vitalstatistix (Abraracourcix in French, Majestix in German, Aladobix in Finnish) is a character in the Asterix comic books. ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (from Latin Gallia, c. ...

Detailed plot

The book begins with Vercingetorix conceding his defeat to Gaius Julius Caesar. He throws his weapons at Caesar's feet - or rather, on Caesar's feet. Unable to bear the pain in his feet, Caesar hops away to the infirmary while Vercingetorix is arrested. The weapons remain where they were thrown, for several hours, until...

A curious, somewhat greedy Roman legionary sees that no one's looking, and nicks Vercingetorix's famous shield. He then loses the shield in a game of dice to another legionary, who is himself out of camp without a pass. He is spotted by a drunken centurion, who confiscates the shield. The centurion himself uses the shield to pay for a jar of wine at a nearby Gaulish inn; later on the shield is given by the innkeeper to a survivor of the Battle of Alesia, who wanders off into the night... A Legionary is a member of a legion. ... Statue showing a Gallic shield with a butterfly boss. ... Rolling dice A die (Old French de, from Latin datum something given or played [1]) is a small polyhedral object (usually a cube) suitable as a gambling device (especially for craps or sic bo). ... Centurion can mean: A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army. ... Wine is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grapes or grape juice. ... Inns are establishments where travellers can procure food, drink, and lodging. ... The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia was a conflict fought in September 52 BC around the Gallic oppidum of Alesia, a major town centre and hill fort of the Mandubii tribe, situated probably at Chaux-des-Crotenay (Jura). ...

Then begins the actual story. Chief Vitalstatistix is horribly ill with a sore liver. The druid Getafix diagnoses that the sore liver is the result of too much plump, ripe, juicy, tender reddish-brown roast wild boar covered in thick, greasy, spicy sauces and well-brewed, aromatic, full-bodied, golden beer to go with it. He sends Vitalstatistix off to a health spa in Arverne to cure his sore liver. Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix go as his escort. In Celtic polytheism the word Druid denotes the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies, which existed through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. ... Getafix is a major character in the Asterix comic books by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. ... Binomial name Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig. ... A mug of lager beer, showing the golden colour of the beer and the foamy head floating on top. ...

Vitalstatistix, Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix arrive at the health spa. First they all stay there together, but because Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix are perfectly healthy and in no need for health diets, they feast on wild boar and beer while everyone else eats only health food. This drives Vitalstatistix and the other patients crazy, so Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix are expelled from the health spa. Vitalstatistix advises them to tour the countryside of Arverne, visiting such beautiful places as Gergovia. Asterix asks about Alesia, but Vitalstatistix tells him he doesn't know where Alesia is. The Battle of Gergovia took place in 52 BC at Gergovia (modern Gergovie), the chief town of the Arverni, situated on a hill in the Auvergne, about eight miles from the Puy de Dome, France. ... Battle of Alesia Conflict Gallic Wars Date September 52 BC Place Alesia, near modern Alise-Sainte-Reine (France) Result Roman victory The Battle of Alesia or Siege of Alesia was a conflict fought in September 52 BC around the Gallic oppidum of Alesia, a major town centre and hill fort...

Along the way, the Gauls are met by a special Roman envoy called Noxius Vapus. A fight ensues, with obvious results: the Romans are left beaten up, with their weapons broken, while the Gauls proceed merrily on their way. In the aftermath Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix meet an old Gaul called Winesandspirix, who has set up shop as a wine and charcoal salesman in Gergovia. Winesandspirix takes the Gauls to his home as his friends. Until the early 19th Century, each European nation had its own system of diplomatic rank. ... Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents of animal and vegetable substances. ...

Meanwhile, back in Rome, Noxius Vapus makes his report to Caesar. Caesar decides that the Gauls must be taught a lesson. He plans a triumph on Vercingetorix's shield, only there's one small problem - he doesn't have the shield any more. Caesar orders Vapus to send search parties to Arverne, looking for the shield. Triumph is a British car brand (see Triumph Motor Company), as well as a motorcycle brand (see Triumph Motorcycles). ...

Later, the Roman search parties arrive at Winesandspirix's shop. They don't find the shield, but Asterix's curiosity is piqued, so he, Obelix and Dogmatix set off in search for the shield themselves. Their first lead comes from a Roman spy, who drinks too much wine at Winesandspirix's tavern and accidentally discloses military secrets.

Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix follow the shield's trail, picking up more leads as they go, and fighting the Roman search parties who are following the same trail. Eventually, the trail leads them back to Winesandspirix - for it was he whose tavern the Roman centurion originally gave the shield to.

Winesandspirix confesses he doesn't have the shield any more, as he gave it as a comfort to a Gaulish warrior who was trying to drown his sorrows in wine after having witnessed Vercingetorix's defeat. This Gaulish warrior actually turns out to be chief Vitalstatistix, who - as it turns out - has had the shield with him all along!

Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix, Vitalstatistix and Winesandspirix organise a Gaulish (instead of Roman) triumph on Vercingetorix's shield, much to the surprise of Vapus and his troops. As a further twist of fate, Caesar himself arrives to check on Vapus's progress, and seeing the results, he punishes Vapus by sending him and his troops to Numidia. Caesar makes peace with the Gauls, who return to their village and have their traditional, huge feast - without Vitalstatistix this time, however, for his wife has something to say about it... Numidia was an ancient African Berber kingdom and later a Roman province on the northern coast of Africa between the province of Africa (where Tunisia is now) and the province of Mauretania (which is now the western part of Algerias coastal area). ...

Notes

A running gag in this book is various Gaulish people claiming "I don't know where Alesia is! No one knows where Alesia is!". The reason for this is, of course, their Gaulish pride preventing them from mentioning Vercingetorix's defeat. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

This book establishes the origin of Vitalstatistix's famous round, blue shield with a white five-pointed star pattern: it originally belonged to Vercingetorix.

This is one of the very few Asterix books where the bard Cacofonix is not tied up and gagged at the end of the feast. He joins the feast to eat and drink like everyone else - but instead, it's chief Vitalstatistix who has to miss the feast, as he is kept at home by his wife. Cacofonix (Assurancetourix in French, Troubadix in Finnish) is a fictional character in the Asterix comic books. ...