Siege of Oricum

Siege of Oricum
Part of Caesar's Civil War
Date Winter 48 BC Location Oricum, Epirus (now Albania) Result capture of city
Belligerents
Populares	Optimates
Commanders and leaders
Gaius Julius Caesar	Lucius Manlius Torquatus
Strength
6 legions	Illyrian garrison

The Siege of Oricum (48 BC) involved the military takeover of the strategic port of Oricum in the northern part of Epirus (now part of Albania) 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 became aware of 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 it being winter, Caesar's army went through a "narrow and difficult pass" down the heights towards Oricum. While surprised by the unorthodox manner of Caesar's approach to the city, Torquatus manned the walls of the city with both Illyrian soldiers and local Greek civilians. The locals and the garrison, fearing the power of the Caesar's forces, opened the town's gates to allow Caesar to come into the city. Two of Pompey's lieutenants who were guarding merchant ships loaded with grain for Pompey's troops sank them with their warships to prevent them from falling into Caesar's hands.

Torquatus surrendered to Caesar, who released him unharmed. While Caesar's army resupplied and continued to march north, Torquatus left Oricum to join Pompey in Dyrrachium. The remaining Pompeian fleet based in Oricum was seized by Caesar's army.

See also

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