Siege of Brundisium

BelligerentsPopularesOptimatesCommanders and leadersJulius Caesar
Marcus Antonius
Gaius Caninius RebilusPompey
Lucius Scribonius Libo
Lucius Manlius TorquatusUnits involvedLegio VIII
Legio XII
Legio XIII
3 freshly levied legions 22 cohortsStrength 6 legions 2 legionsCasualties 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.