Siege of Oricum

(48 BC) Was the military takeover of the strategic port of Oricum by Julius Caesar and his army, against Lucius Manlius Torquatus, who was appointed as commander of the town by Gnaeus Pompey.

Battle and Aftermath

According to sources, a Pompeian fleet in Corcyra identified Caesar's fleet off the coast of Epirus, but Bibulus did not order any confrontation. He already had strategically placed a small fleet of eighteen vessels in Oricum Bay. With no opposition, Caesar landed in Palaesti. He marched up the steep terrain to modern-day Llogora Pass. Due to the invasion being in winter, Caesar's army went through a "Narrow and difficult pass" down the heights.^[1] Of the six legions Caesar had, the total number of men was actually cut by half their men. But Caesar still continued north towards his target, the cities' port. While surprised by the unorthodox manner of Caesar's invasion, Torquatus manned the walls of the city with both Parthinian soldiers and local Greek civilians. The locals and garrison, feared the power of the Romans, opened the town's gate to allow Caesar to come into the city.

Torquatus surrendered to Caesar, so the general spared him of any harm.^[2] While his army resupplied and continued to march north, Torquatus left Oricum to the north to join Pompey in Dyrrachium. The fleet, while it had disengaged from conflict, was seized by Caesar's army.

References

See also

• Oricum
• Caesar's Civil War
• Battle of Dyrrachium