Ariovistus, a chief of the Mareomanni, a German tribe, crossed the Rhine with 15,000 warriors at the call of the Sequani, who were oppressed by the Aedui, defeated the .Aedui in 72 13. C, but took one third of the land of his allies, invited his countrymen over the Rhine, and made a settlement there of 120,000 Germans, belonging to several tribes. The .Aedui and Sequani called in Julius Caesar and the Romans to their aid. Caesar ordered Ariovis-tus to make no more conquests, to call no more Germans over, and to give up the hostages he held of the Gauls. Ariovistus returned an insolent reply. Caesar marched against him and compelled him to give battle near Vesontium (now Besancon) in 58. He was defeated, and few of his warriors escaped. He himself crossed the Rhine in a small boat, and ended his days in obscurity.