Siege of Massilia

Overview

The siege of Massilia, including two naval engagements, was an episode of Caesar's Civil War, fought in 49 BC between forces loyal to the Optimates and a detachment of Caesar's army. The siege was conducted by Gaius Trebonius, one of Caesar's senior legates, while the naval operations were in the capable hands of Decimus Brutus, Caesar's naval expert.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Siege of Massilia was an episode of Caesar's Civil War in which a detachment of Caesar's forces, under senior legate Gaius Trebonius on land and Decimus Brutus commanding the naval operations, engaged Optimate-aligned forces defending the city. The operation encompassed two naval engagements alongside the siege itself. Caesar's forces numbered approximately 15,000 against a Pompeian strength of around 8,000, and the disparity in casualties — roughly 1,100 for Caesar against 4,000 for the Pompeians under L. Domitius Ahenobarbus — indicates the severity of the fighting and the degree to which the defending force was worn down over the course of the siege.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)