- Siege of Massilia
The Siege and naval Battle of Massilia was an episode of
Caesar's civil war , fought in49 BC .Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus had become
proconsul of Gaul and sent to gain control of Massilia (modernMarseille ). As Caesar marched to Spain (en route to theBattle of Ilerda ), the Massiliots closed their gates to him. Roused by their hostile actions, he commenced a siege against Massilia. He also placedDecimus Junius Brutus Albinus in charge of his fleet there. [Julius Caesar , "Commentarii de Bello Civili " ]In late June, Caesar's ships, which were less skillfully built than those of the Massiliots and outnumbered, were defeated in a naval battle. [Caesar, "Commentarii de Bello Civili" ]
Gaius Trebonius , Caesar'slegatus , conducted the siege using a variety of siege machines includingsiege tower s, a siege-ramp, and a "testudo". [Caesar, "Commentarii de Bello Civili" ] .Gaius Scribonius Curio , careless in adequately guarding the Sicilian Straits, allowedLucius Nasidius to bring more ships to the aid of Ahenobarbus. He fought a second naval battle withDecimus Brutus , but withdrew defeated and sailed for Spain. [Caesar, "Commentarii de Bello Civili" ]The Massiliots valiantly defended against the siege machines and works. They threw down burning pitch and pine-shavings and the Caesarians undermined the foundations of their city walls. At one point they seemed likely to surrender and declare a truce, but at night they cunningly destroyed the siege works in a gross violation of the treaty. They were then near surrender. [Caesar, "Commentarii de Bello Civili" ]
At the final surrender of Massilia, Caesar showed his usual leniency. [Caesar, "Commentarii de Bello Civili" ]
Trivia
*The siege is the setting for "
Last Seen in Massilia " in theRoma Sub Rosa detective series by Steven Saylor.References
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