by Frontinus
Qua ratione proditoribus et transfugis occurratur.
XVII.
De eruptionibus.
XVIII.
De constantia obsessorum.
I. On surprise attacks.
II. On deceiving the besieged.
III. On inducing treachery.
IV. By what means the enemy may be reduced to want.
V. How to persuade the enemy that the siege will be maintained.
VI. On distracting the attention of a hostile garrison.
VII. On diverting streams and contaminating waters.
VIII. On terrorizing the besieged.
IX. On attacks from an unexpected quarter.
X. On setting traps to draw out the besieged.
XI. On pretended retirements.
On the other hand, stratagems connected with the protection of the besieged:
XII. On stimulating the vigilance of one’s’s own troops.
XIII. On sending and receiving messages.
XIV. On introducing reinforcements and supplying provisions.
XV. How to produce the impression of abundance of what is lacking.
XVI. How to meet the menace of treason and desertion.
XVII. On sorties.
XVIII. Concerning steadfastness on the part of the besieged.
I. De Repentino Impetu
I. On Surprise Attacks
[1] T. Quintius consul, victis acie Aequis et Volscis, cum Antium oppidum expugnare statuisset, ad contionem vocato exercitu exposuit, quam id necessarium et facile esset, si non differretur; eoque impetu, quem exhortatio concitaverat, adgressus urbem.
[1] The consul Titus Quinctius, having conquered the Aequians and Volscians in an engagement, decided to storm the walled town of Antium. Accordingly he called an assembly of the soldiers and explained how necessary this project was and how easy, if only it were not postponed. Then, having roused enthusiasm by his address, he assaulted the town.
[2] M. Cato in Hispania animadvertit potiri se quodam oppido posse, si inopinatos invaderet. Quadridui itaque iter biduo per confragosa et deserta emensus nihil tale metuentes oppressit hostes. Victoribus deinde suis causam tam facilis eventus requirentibus dixit, tum illos victoriam adeptos, cum quadridui iter biduo corripuerint.
[2] Marcus Cato, when in Spain, saw that he could gain possession of a certain town, if only he could assault the enemy by surprise. Accordingly, having in two days accomplished a four days’ march through rough and barren districts, he crushed his foes, who were fearing no such event. Then, when his men asked the reason of so easy a success, he told them that they had won the victory as soon as they had accomplished the four days’ march in two.
II. De Fallendis His Qui Obsidebuntur
II. On Deceiving the Besieged
[1] Domitius Calvinus, cum obsideret Lueriam, oppidum Ligurum, non tantum situ et operibus, verum etiam propugnatorum praestantia tutum, circumire muros frequenter omnibus copiis instituit easdemque reducere in castra. Qua consuetudine inductis ita oppidanis, ut crederent exercitationis id gratia facere Romanum, et ob hoc nihil ab eo conatu caventibus, morem illum obambulandi in subitum direxit impetum occupatisque moenibus expressit, ut se ipsos dederent oppidani.
[1] When Domitius Calvinus was besieging Lueria, a town of the Ligurians, protected not only by its location and siege-works, but also by the superiority of its defenders, he instituted the practice of marching frequently round the walls with all his forces, and then marching back to camp. When the townspeople had been induced by this routine to believe that the Roman commander did this for the purpose of drill, and consequently took no precautions against his efforts, he transformed this practice of parading into a sudden attack, and gaining possession of the walls, forced the inhabitants to surrender.
[2] C. Duellius consul subinde exercendo milites remigesque consecutus est, ut securis Carthaginiensibus usque in id tempus innoxiae consuetudinis subito admota classe murum occuparet.
[2] The consul Gaius Duellius, by frequently exercising his soldiers and sailors, succeeded in preventing the Carthaginians from taking notice of a practice which was innocent enough, until suddenly he brought up his fleet and seized their fortifications.
[3] Hannibal in Italia multas urbes cepit, cum Romanorum habitu quosdam suorum, ex longo belli usu latine quoque loquentis, praemitteret.
[3] Hannibal captured many cities in Italy by sending ahead certain of his own men, dressed in the garb of Romans and speaking Latin, which they had acquired as a result of long experience in the war.
[4] Arcades Messeniorum castellum obsidentes, factis quibusdam armis ad similitudinem hostilium, eo tempore quo successura alia praesidia his exploraverant, instructi eorum, qui exspectabantur, ornatu admissique per hunc errorem ut socii, possessionem loci cum strage hostium adepti sunt.
[4] The Arcadians, when besieging a stronghold of the Messenians, fabricated certain weapons to resemble those of the enemy. Then, at the time when they learned that another force was to relieve the first, they dressed themselves in the uniform of those who were expected, and being admitted as comrades in consequence of this confusion, they secured possession of the place and wrought havoc among the foe.
[5] Cimon, dux Atheniensium, in Caria insidiatus cuidam civitati religiosum incolis templum Dianae lucumque, qui extra muros erat, noctu improvisus incendit; effusisque oppidanis ad opem adversus ignes ferendam vacuam defensoribus cepit urbem.
[5] Cimon, the Athenian general, having designs on a certain city in Caria, under cover of night set fire to a temple of Diana, held in high reverence by the inhabitants, and also to a grove outside the walls. Then, when the townspeople poured out to fight the conflagration, Cimon captured the city, since it was left without defenders.
[6] Alcibiades, dux Atheniensium, cum civitatem Agrigentinorum egregie munitam obsideret, petito ab eis consilio diu tamquam de rebus ad commune pertinentibus disseruit in theatro, ubi ex more Graecorum locus consultationi praebebatur; dumque consilii specie tenet multitudinem, Athenienses, quos ad id praeparaverat, incustoditam urbem ceperunt.
[6] Alcibiades, the Athenian commander, while besieging the strongly fortified city of the Agrigentines, requested a conference of the citizens, and, as though discussing matters of common concern, addressed them at length in the theatre, where according to the custom of the Greeks it was usual to afford a place for consultation. Then, while he held the crowd on the pretence of deliberation, the Athenians, whom he had previously prepared for this move, captured the city, thus left unguarded.
[7] Epaminondas Thebanus in Arcadia die festo effuse extra moenia vagantibus hostium feminis plerosque ex militibus suis muliebri ornatu immiscuit. Qua simulatione illi intra portas sub noctem recepti ceperunt oppidum et suis aperuerunt.
[7] When Epaminondas, the Theban, was campaigning in Arcadia, and on a certain holiday the women of the enemy strolled in large numbers outside the walls, he sent among them a number of his own troops dressed in women’s attire. In consequence of this disguise, the men were admitted towards nightfall to the town, whereupon they seized it and threw it open to their companions.
[8] Aristippus Lacedaemonius festo die Tegeatarum, quo omnis multitudo ad celebrandum Minervae sacrum urbe egressa erat, iumenta saccis frumentariis palea refertis onusta Tegeam misit, agentibus ea militibus, qui negotiatorum specie inobservati portas aperuerunt suis.
[8] Aristippus, the Spartan, on a holiday of the Tegeans, when the whole population had gone out of the city to celebrate the rites of Minerva, sent to Tegea a number of mules laden with grain-bags filled with chaff. The mules were driven by soldiers disguised as traders, who, escaping notice, threw open the gates of the town to their comrades.
[9] Antiochus in Cappadocia ex castello Suenda, quod obsidebat, iumenta frumentatum egressa intercepit occisisque calonibus eorundem vestitu milites suos tamquam frumentum reportantis summisit. Quo errore illi custodibus deceptis castellum intraverunt admiseruntque milites Antiochi.
[9] When Antiochus was besieging the fortified town of Sue
nda in Cappadocia, he intercepted some beasts of burden which had gone out to procure grain. Then, killing their attendants, he dressed his own soldiers in their clothes and sent them in as though bringing back the grain. The sentinels fell into the trap and, mistaking the soldiers for teamsters, let the troops of Antiochus enter the fortifications.
[10] Thebani, cum portum Sicyoniorum nulla vi redigere in potestatem suam possent, navem ingentem armatis compleverunt, exposita super merce, ut negotiatorum specie fallerent. Ab ea deinde parte murorum, quae longissime remota erat a mari, paucos disposuerunt, cum quibus e nave quidam egressi inermes simulata rixa concurrerent. Sicyoniis ad dirimendum id iurgium advocatis, Thebanae naves et portum vacantem et urbem occupaverunt.
[10] When the Thebans were unable by the utmost exertions to gain possession of the harbour of the Sicyonians, they filled a large vessel with armed men, exhibiting a cargo in full view on deck, in order, under the guise of traders, to deceive their enemies. Then at a point of the fortifications remote from the sea they stationed a few men, with whom certain unarmed members of the crew upon disembarking were to engage in a fracas, on the pretence of a quarrel. When the Sicyonians were summoned to stop the altercation, the Theban crews seized both the unguarded harbour and the town.
[11] Timarchus Aetolus, occiso Charmade Ptolomaei regis praefecto, clamide interempti et galeari ad Macedonicum ornatus habitum; per hunc errorem pro Charmade in Saniorum portum receptus occupavit.
[11] Timarchus, the Aetolian, having killed Charmades, general of King Ptolemy, arrayed himself in Macedonian fashion in the cloak and casque of the slain commander. Through this disguise he was admitted as Charmades into the harbour of the Sanii and secured possession of it.
III. De Eliciendis ad Proditionem
III. On Inducing Treachery
[1] Papirius Cursor consul apud Tarentum Miloni, qui cum praesidio Epirotarum urbem obtinebat, salutem ipsi et popularibus, si per illum oppido poteretur, pollicitus est. Quibus praemiis ille corruptus persuasit Tarentinis, ut se legatum ad consulem mitterent, a quo plena promissa ex pacto referens in securitatem oppidanos resolvit atque ita incustoditam urbem Cursori tradidit.
[1] When the consul Papirius Cursor was before Tarentum, and Milo was holding the town with a force of Epirotes, Papirius promised safety to Milo and the townspeople if he should secure possession of the town through Milo’s agency. Bribed by these inducements, Milo persuaded the Tarentines to send him as ambassador to the consul, from whom, in conformity with their understanding, he brought back liberal promises by means of which he caused the citizens to relapse into a feeling of security, and was thus enabled to hand the city over to Cursor, since it was left unguarded.
[2] M. Marcellus, cum Syracusanum quendam Sosistratum ad proditionem sollicitasset, ex eo cognovit remissiores custodias fore die festo, quo Epicydes praebiturus esset vini epularumque copiam. Insidiatus igitur hilaritati et, quae eam sequebatur, socordiae munimenta conscendit vigilibusque caesis aperuit exercitui Romano urbem nobilibus victoriis claram.
[2] Marcus Marcellus, having tempted a certain Sosistratus of Syracuse to turn traitor, learned from him that the guards would be less strict on a holiday when a certain citizen named Epicydes was to make a generous distribution of wine and food. So, taking advantage of the gaiety and the consequent laxness of discipline, he scaled the walls, slew the sentinels, and threw open to the Roman army a city already made famous as the scene of noted victories.
[3] Tarquinius Superbus, cum Gabios in deditionem accipere non posset, filium suum Sextum Tarquinium caesum virgis ad hostem misit. Is incusata patris saevitia persuasit Gabinis, odio suo adversus regem uterentur, et dux ad bellum electus tradidit patri Gabios.
[3] When Tarquinius Superbus was unable to induce Gabii to surrender, he scourged his son Sextus with rods and sent him among the enemy, where he arraigned the cruelty of his father and persuaded the Gabians to utilize his hatred against the king. Accordingly he was chosen leader in the war, and delivered Gabii over to his father.
[4] Cyrus, Persarum rex, comitem suum Zopyrum, explorata eius fide, truncata de industria facie, ad hostes dimisit. Ille assentante iniuriarum fide, creditus inimicissimus Cyro, cum hanc persuasionem adiuvaret procurrendo propius, quotiens acie decertaretur, et in eum tela dirigendo, commissam sibi Babyloniorum urbem tradidit Cyro.
[4] Cyrus, king of the Persians, having proved the loyalty of his attendant Zopyrus, deliberately mutilated his face and sent him among the enemy. In consequence of their belief in his wrongs, he was regarded as implacably hostile to Cyrus, and promoted this belief by running up and discharging his weapons against Cyrus, whenever an engagement took place, till finally the city of the Babylonians was entrusted to him and by him delivered into the hands of Cyrus.
[5] Philippus, oppido Saniorum exclusus, Apollonidi praefecto eorum ad proditionem corrupto persuasit, ut plaustrum lapide quadrato oneratum in ipso aditu portae poneret. Confestim deinde signo dato insecutus oppidanos circa impedita portae claustra trepidantis oppressit.
[5] Philip, when prevented from gaining possession of the town of the Sanians, bribed one of their generals, Apollonides, to turn traitor, inducing him to plant a cart laden with dressed stone at the very entrance to the gate. Then straightway giving the signal, he followed after the townspeople, who were huddled in panic around the blocked entrance of the gate, and succeeded in overwhelming them.
[6] Hannibal apud Tarentum, quae a praesidio Romano duce Livio tenebatur, Cononeum quendam Tarentinum, quem ad proditionem sollicitaverat, eiusmodi fallacia instruxit, ut ille per causam venandi noctu procederet, quasi id per hostem interdiu non liceret. Egresso ipsi apros subministrabant, quos ille tamquam ex captura Livio offerret; idque cum saepius factum esset et ideo minus observaretur, quadam nocte Hannibal venatorum habitu Poenos comitibus eius immiscuit. Qui cum onusti venatione, quam ferebant, recepti essent a custodibus, protinus eos adorti occiderunt. Tum fracta porta admissus cum exercitu Hannibal omnes Romanos interfecit, exceptis his, qui in arcem profugerant.
[6] When Hannibal was before Tarentum, and this town was held by a Roman garrison under the command of Livius, he induced a certain Cononeus of Tarentum to turn traitor, and concerted with him a stratagem whereby he was to go out at night for the purpose of hunting, on the ground that enemy rendered this impossible by day. When he went forth, Hannibal supplied him with boars to present to Livius as trophies of the chase. When this had repeatedly been done, and for that reason was less noticed, Hannibal one night dressed a number of Carthaginians in the garb of hunters and introduced them among Cononeus’s attendants. When these men, loaded with the game they were carrying, were admitted by the guards, they straightway attacked and slew the latter. Then breaking down the gate, they admitted Hannibal with his troops, who slew all the Romans, save those who had fled for refuge to the citadel.
[7] Lysimachus, rex Macedonum, cum Ephesios oppugnaret et illi in auxilio haberent Mandronem archipiratam, qui plerumque oneratas praeda naves Ephesum appellebat, corrupto ei ad proditionem iunxit fortissimos Macedonum, quos ille restrictis manibus pro captivis Ephesum introduceret. Postea raptis ex arce armis urbem Lysimacho tradiderunt.
[7] When Lysimachus, king of the Macedonians, was besieging the Ephesians, these were assisted by the pirate chief Mandro, who was in the habit of bringing into Ephesus galleys laden with booty. Accordingly Lysimachus bribed Mandro to turn traitor, and attached to him a number of dauntless Macedonians to be taken into the city as captives, with hands pinioned behind their backs. These men subsequently snatched weapons from the citadel and delivered the town into the hands of Lysimachus.
IV. Per quae Hostes ad Inopiam Redigantur
IV. By What Means the Enemy may be Reduced to Want.
[1] Fabius Maximus vastatis Campanorum agris, ne quid eis ad fiduciam obsidionis superesset, recessit sementis tempore, ut frumentum, quod reliquum habebant, in sationes conferrent; reversus deinde renata protrivit et ad famem redactis potitus est.
[1] Fabius Maximus, havin
g laid waste the lands of the Campanians, in order that they might have nothing left to warrant the confidence that a siege could be sustained, withdrew at the time of the sowing, that inhabitants might plant what seed they had remaining. Then, returning, he destroyed the new crop and thus made himself master of the Campanians, whom he had reduced to famine.
[2] Antigonus adversus Athenienses idem fecit.
[2] Antigonus employed the same device against the Athenians.
[3] Dionysius, multis urbibus captis, cum Reginos adgredi vellet, qui copiis abundabant, simulabat pacem petitque ab eis, ut commeatus exercitui ipsius sumministrarent. Quod cum impetrasset, exhausto oppidanorum frumento adgressus urbem alimentis destitutam superavit.
[3] Dionysius, having captured many cities and wishing to attack the Rhegians, who were well provided with supplies, pretended to desire peace, and begged of them to furnish provisions for his army. When he had secured his request and had consumed the grain of the inhabitants, he attacked their town, now stripped of food, and conquered it.
[4] Idem et adversus Himeraeos fecisse dicitur.
[4] He is said to have employed the same device also against the people of Himera.