Siege of Brundisium

Siege of Brundisium
Part of Caesar's Civil War

Map of the siege of Brundisium
Date9 March – 18 March 49 BC
(1 week and 2 days)
Location40°38′00″N 17°56′00″E / 40.6333°N 17.9333°E / 40.6333; 17.9333
Result Caesarian victory
Territorial
changes
Capture of Brundisium by Julius Caesar
Belligerents
Populares Optimates
Commanders and leaders
Julius Caesar
Marcus Antonius
Gaius Caninius Rebilus
Pompey
Lucius Scribonius Libo
Lucius Manlius Torquatus
Units involved
Legio VIII
Legio XII
Legio XIII
3 freshly levied legions
22 cohorts
Strength
6 legions 2 legions
Casualties and losses
Low Low

The siege of Brundisium was an early military confrontation of Caesar's Civil War. Taking place in March 49 BC, it saw the forces of Gaius Julius Caesar's Populares besiege the Italian city of Brundisium on the coast of the Adriatic Sea which was held by a force of Optimates under the command of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. After a series of brief skirmishes, during which Caesar tried to blockade the harbour, Pompey abandoned the city and managed to evacuate his men across the Adriatic to Epirus. Pompey's retreat meant that Caesar had full control over the Italian Peninsula, with no way to pursue Pompey's forces in the east he instead decided to head west to confront the legions Pompey had stationed in Hispania.