Second Battle of Cirta
Second Battle of Cirta | |||||||
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Part of Jugurthine War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Kingdom of Mauretania | Roman Republic | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
King Jugurtha King Bocchus |
Lucius Cornelius Sulla | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
90,000 Numidians, Gaetulians and Mauretanians[1] (mostly light infantry and cavalry) | 30,000–40,000 men | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown |
The Second Battle of Cirta, part of the
Background
The war against King Jugurtha of Numidia had been going on since 112 BC. Several Roman commanders had tried to defeat the king and failed. In 107 BC, the new commander of the Roman forces in Africa, Gaius Marius captured the Numidian capital of Cirta, he then surprised Jugurtha by capturing the treasury fortresses at
Prelude
While marching back east the Romans were ambushed, just to the west of
The attackers, thinking they had the Romans well in hand, considered the matter completed for the day and retired to their camp. That night they celebrated their victory prematurely. The next morning at dawn the Romans launched a fierce attack on the Africans' camp taking them by surprise. The Numidians and Mauretanians were routed and Marius resumed his march on Cirta.[4]
When the Romans resumed the march to Cirta, they formed their army into a square to protect against further ambushes. Marius put his officers throughout the marching square to ensure discipline and orders were quickly related to his soldiers. Sulla, was given command of the entire right wing of the army.[5]
The Battle
As the Romans neared Cirta, Marius' scouts reported Jugurtha's army advancing on them in four divisions. Since Marius was unsure about Jugurtha's tactics he decided to halt his army and let the enemy come to him. Jugurtha ordered his men to attack the Romans and the battle began. Sulla's wing came under attack first, his men withstanding the assault. At this point in the battle the Mauritanian king Bocchus and his son Vollux appeared and attacked the Roman rear. Soon the Romans were under assault from every direction. The Romans were severely outnumbered, according to ancient sources the North Africans had marshalled 90,000 soldiers, almost giving them a three to one advantage.[6]
Jugurtha tried to dispirit the Romans, and called out to them that he had just killed Gaius Marius, and exposed his sword dripping with blood. For a short while the trick worked and the Romans were thrown into confusion, but Sulla, who had counter-attacked and driven off the enemy in his section of the battlefield, threw his forces against Bocchus. The Mauritanians broke under Sulla's assault and Bocchus fled the battlefield. Meanwhile, Marius had restored order to his troops and went on the offensive himself; he put a Jugurthine cavalry detachment to flight and moved on to the next weak spot in his line. Marius and Sulla focused their efforts on the weakest part of their lines and slowly but surely the tide of battle turned. The Romans gained the advantage and killed or routed the bulk of Jugurtha's army. The Numidian king and his remaining troops were surrounded and all were killed except Jugurtha who somehow was able to escape. The Romans had won the battle and slaughtered their enemy.[7]
Aftermath
The Romans resumed their march on Cirta and Marius put his men into winter quarters.[8]
Jugurtha continued his war against Rome reverting to
References
- ^ Marc Hyden, Gaius Marius, p. 87; Sallust, Jugurtha, 100–101; Orosius, Against the Pagans, 5.15.
- ^ Lynda Telford, Sulla: A Dictator Reconsidered, p. 33.
- ^ Lynda Telford, Sulla: A Dictator Reconsidered, pp. 27–33; Marc Hyden, Gaius Marius, p. 84.
- ^ a b Marc Hyden, Gaius Marius, pp 84–85; Lynda Telford, Sulla: A Dictator Reconsidered, p. 33; Sallust, Jugurtha, 97.3–4; Orosius, Against the Pagans, 5.15.
- ^ Marc Hyden, Gaius Marius, p. 86.
- ^ Marc Hyden, Gaius Marius, p. 87; Orosius, Against the Pagans, 5.15.
- ^ Marc Hyden, Gaius Marius, pp. 87–88; Sallust, Jugurtha, 101.11.
- ^ Marc Hyden, Gaius Marius, p. 88.
- ^ Plutarch, Life of Sulla, 3.