The Siege and naval Battle of Massilia was an episode of Caesar's civil war, fought in 49 BC. Marseille, ( English alt Marseilles mɑrˈseɪ — French: maʁsɛj locally — Provençal Occitan: Marselha maʀˈsijɔ The Roman civil war of 49 BC sometimes called Caesar's Civil War, is one of the last conflicts within the Roman Republic. Year 49 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus
Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus had become proconsul of Gaul and sent to gain control of Massilia. For others of this family see Ahenobarbus. Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, consul 54 BC was an enemy of Julius Caesar and a strong supporter Ancient Rome In the Roman Republic, a proconsul was a Promagistrate (like a Propraetor) who after serving as Consul, spent a year As Caesar marched to Spain (en route to the Battle of Ilerda), the Massiliots closed their gates to him. The Battle of Ilerda took place in June 49 BC between the forces of Julius Caesar and the Spanish army of Pompey the Great, lead by his legates Roused by their hostile actions, he commenced a siege against Massilia. He also places Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus in charge of his ship fleet there. For others with this cognomen see Albinus (cognomen. Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (born circa 85 BC died 43 BC was a Roman politician [1]
In late June, Caesar's ships, which were less skillfully built than those of the Massiliots and outnumbered, were defeated in a naval battle. [2]
Gaius Trebonius, Caesar's legatus, conducted the siege using a variety of siege machines including siege towers, a siege-ramp, and a "testudo". Gaius Trebonius (died 43 BC was a military commander and politician of the late Roman Republic, a trusted associate of Julius Caesar who later participated in his A legatus (often anglicized as legate) was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer A siege tower (or in the Middle Ages a Belfry) is a specialized Siege engine, constructed to protect assailants and ladders while approaching Roman Siege engines were for the most part adapted from Hellenistic Siege Technology. [3].
Curio, carelessness in adequately guarding the Sicilian Straits, allowed Lucius Nasidius to bring more ships to the aid of Domitius. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. He fought a second naval battle with Decimus Brutus, but withdrew defeated and sailed for Spain. Decimus Junius Brutus may refer to Decimus Junius Brutus Scaeva (consul 325 was consul in 325 BC Decimus Junius Brutus Scaeva (consul 292 [4]
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. [5]
At the final surrender of Massilia, Caesar showed his usual leniency. [6]
Trivia
- The siege is the setting for Last Seen in Massilia in the Roma Sub Rosa detective series by Steven Saylor. Roma Sub Rosa is a series of Mystery novels by Steven Saylor set in and populated by noteworthy denizens of Ancient Rome.
References
- ^ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili 1.34-36
- ^ Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili 1.56-60
- ^ Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili 2.1-2
- ^ Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili 2.3-7
- ^ Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili 2.8-16
- ^ Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili 2.22
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