Siege of Corduba facts for kids

The siege of Corduba was an important battle near the end of Caesar's Civil War. In this event, Julius Caesar attacked the city of Corduba. This happened after Sextus Pompey, the son of Pompey the Great, left the city. He put Annio Scapula in charge. Caesar's army stormed the city, and many people lost their lives.

What Led to the Siege of Corduba?

The Start of Caesar's Civil War

Caesar's Civil War began in 49 BC. It started because of growing disagreements between Gaius Julius Caesar and the Roman Senate. The Senate turned to Caesar's former friend, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as "Pompey the Great." Caesar made a famous move by crossing the Rubicon river in January. This act led the Senate to call him an "enemy of the people."

Caesar then quickly took control of Italy, Spain, Sardinia, and Sicily. Next, he invaded Greece. Even though he faced a setback at Dyrrhachium, he eventually defeated Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus.

Pompey's Fate and Caesar's Victories

After his defeat, Pompey fled to Egypt. There, he was killed by the Egyptians. They hoped this would please Caesar. Caesar then got involved in the Alexandrian Civil War. He wanted to get justice for Pompey. He decided to help the Egyptian pharaoh, Cleopatra, become queen. He defeated her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII, at the Battle of the Nile. Ptolemy XIII was killed, and Cleopatra took the throne.

Even with these wins, new problems appeared. In Hispania (modern-day Spain), a group loyal to Pompey started a rebellion. In the East, a ruler named Pharnaces II attacked Rome's allies. Caesar quickly defeated him at the Battle of Zela. This battle is famous for Caesar's words: "Veni, vidi, vici" (I came; I saw; I conquered).

The Final Battles in Africa and Spain

Caesar returned to Italy. He then planned to defeat Pompey's last supporters in the province of Africa. He succeeded in 46 BC, winning a major battle at Battle of Thapsus. Many Pompey supporters were killed or fled to Hispania (modern-day Spain).

Among those who fled were Gnaeus Pompey, his brother Sextus, and Titus Labienus. Caesar fought a difficult campaign against them in Spain. He finally defeated them at the Battle of Munda. Many Pompey supporters, including Labienus, were killed. Caesar's soldiers also found and killed Gnaeus Pompey at the Battle of Lauro.

By this time, the only major leader left from Pompey's side was Sextus Pompey. He was in the city of Corduba. Caesar then began to capture the last cities that supported Pompey, including Munda itself.

Preparing for the Siege of Corduba

After the Battle of Munda, the remaining Pompey supporters, led by Annio Scapula, went back to Corduba. They brought news of their defeat and the death of Sextus's brother, Gnaeus. Scapula's army in Corduba grew to about 20,000 men. This included his soldiers, town defenders, and new recruits.

Caesar then focused on Sextus. He left a small army to continue attacking Munda. Caesar and his main army marched towards Corduba. Sextus heard about Caesar's approach from his spies. He decided to leave the city. He told his officers he wanted to talk with Caesar about peace. Instead, he fled with 100 horsemen to Lusitania, leaving Annio Scapula in charge.

The Siege of Corduba Begins

Caesar's Arrival and Scapula's Choice

On March 19 or 20, Caesar arrived near Corduba. He immediately tried to capture a bridge over the Betis river. However, Pompey's forces on the other side pushed Caesar's men back. Caesar realized that trying to take the bridge again would waste time and soldiers. So, he decided to build a new bridge for his army to cross.

Soon after building the new bridge, Caesar and his entire army successfully crossed the river. They set up a camp near the city. Meanwhile, Scapula knew that Caesar would not show him mercy. He chose to take his own life.

Chaos Inside the City

Caesar finished setting up his camp and completely surrounded Corduba. This meant no new soldiers or supplies could enter the city. The next day, March 20 or 21, the people of Corduba were in chaos. Their leader was dead, and many citizens wanted to give up rather than face more fighting.

This caused a split among the people. Some wanted to surrender and accept Caesar's terms. Others wanted to keep fighting. Two groups formed, just like in other towns during the war. This led to violence and riots in the streets. The fighting even reached Caesar's camp.

Caesar's Army Enters Corduba

One group inside the city, who supported Caesar, fought against the Pompeian soldiers. Even though the Pompeian soldiers fought bravely, the Caesarian supporters managed to take control of the city gates. They sent a message to Caesar, asking for help.

The Pompeian soldiers inside the city became desperate. They started a huge fire, hoping to force the city to surrender. Caesar then ordered his men to attack the city through the gates that his supporters had opened. The two groups, Caesar's army and his supporters inside, worked together. Their goals were to put out the fire and defeat their opponents.

The city was badly damaged by the fire and the fighting. Caesar's soldiers were angry because they found nothing valuable in the ruined city. They began to attack the townspeople. In the end, about 22,000 people were killed. This number included soldiers from earlier fighting. Sadly, many of Caesar's own supporters, who had opened the gates for him, were also killed. Many more people died outside the city walls, and only a few managed to escape. This was one of the rare times when Caesar completely lost control of his army.

What Happened After the Siege?

Caesar stayed in the damaged city of Corduba for a while. Then, people from another city called Hispalis asked him for help. The leaders of Hispalis refused to surrender, so Caesar started a siege on March 26. Hispalis peacefully surrendered on April 4. Caesar left a group of soldiers there, led by Gaius Caninius Rebilus.

On April 7, Caesar took control of Asta Regia, and two days later, Gades. But soon after, the people of Gades rebelled. They attacked and killed Caesar's supporters. Caesar again besieged Gades. He seemed careless, which made groups of defenders try to escape. They were killed outside the walls, weakening the city's defenses. The town fell on August 9. Caesar took revenge by severely punishing the Pompey supporters. Soon after, he returned to Rome from Gades. The siege of Corduba and these later events were among the last battles of the civil war.

See also

In Spanish: Sitio de Corduba para niños

• Caesar's Civil War
• Julius Caesar
• Sextus Pompey
• Battle of Munda
• Battle of Lauro