Siege of Corfinium

Siege of Corfinium
Part of Caesar's Civil War

Map of the siege
Date15 February – 21 February 49 BC
(6 days)
Location42°07′03″N 13°50′07″E / 42.1174°N 13.8352°E / 42.1174; 13.8352
Result Caesarian victory
Territorial
changes
Capture of Corfinium by Julius Caesar
Belligerents
Populares Optimates
Commanders and leaders
Gaius Julius Caesar
Marcus Antonius
Gaius Scribonius Curio
L. Domitius Ahenobarbus
P. C. Lentulus Spinther
Lucius Vibullius Rufus
Units involved
33 cohorts
Strength
Initial:
2 legions
At end of siege:
6 legions

3 legions


c. 16,000 legionaries
Casualties and losses
Unknown 33 cohorts surrendered

The siege of Corfinium was the first significant military confrontation of Caesar's Civil War. Undertaken in February 49 BC, it saw the forces of Gaius Julius Caesar's Populares besiege the Italian city of Corfinium, which was held by a force of Optimates under the command of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. The siege lasted only a week, after which the defenders surrendered themselves to Caesar. This bloodless victory was a significant propaganda coup for Caesar and hastened the retreat of the main Optimate force from Italia, leaving the Populares in effective control of the entire peninsula.