Bellum Siculum

• 1. Origins of Conflict

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  On the 15th of March 44 BC, Julius Caesar lay dead on the floor of the Senate House. His assassination triggered a chain reaction that placed Sextus Pompey's name on a proscription list created by Lepidus, Mark Antony, and Octavian. Those listed faced death and confiscation of property to fill the treasury and aid the Triumvirate's war against Brutus and Cassius. Sextus had escaped the earlier battles where his brother Gnaeus died fighting in 45 BC. He chose Sicily as his base, capturing cities like Tyndaris, Mylae, and Messina. Other towns such as Syracuse joined his revolt willingly. Many slaves from patrician villas deserted their masters to join Sextus' cause. The Vestal Virgins prayed for this desertion to stop because it hurt Rome so deeply. This movement became a serious force following Caesar's death.

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• 2. Naval Blockade Tactics

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  Sextus commanded a large fleet manned by Sicilian marines under admirals Menas, Menecrates, and Demochares. He stopped all shipments, especially grain, from reaching Rome. The blockade crippled both the Roman army and trade across the Italian Peninsula. Rioting broke out among the Roman people due to starvation and economic collapse. The Triumvirate finally recognized Sextus as ruler of Sardinia, Corsica, and Sicily in exchange for ending the blockade. They also demanded he stop accepting fugitive slaves into his forces. This agreement was known as the Pact of Misenum after the location where negotiators met. Grain shipments resumed briefly before tensions flared again. The strategy relied on controlling sea lanes rather than holding territory directly.

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• 3. Triumvirate Countermeasures

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  Marcus Agrippa cut part of Via Ercolana to connect Lucrine Lake to the sea. He created Portus Julius as a new harbor to train ships for naval battles. A fresh fleet emerged with 20,000 oarsmen freed from slavery. These vessels were built larger to carry more naval infantry units trained simultaneously. Antony exchanged 20,000 infantry for his Parthian campaign to provide 120 ships under Titus Statilius Taurus. In July 36 BC two fleets sailed from Italy while Lepidus sent another force from Africa. The combined attack targeted Sextus' stronghold in Sicily. The scale of mobilization showed how desperate the Triumvirate had become. They needed to break the grain embargo quickly or face total collapse.

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• 4. Battle of Naulochus

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  In August near Mylae Agrippa defeated Sextus in a major naval engagement. Both sides fielded 300 ships equipped with artillery. Agrippa commanded heavier units armed with harpax and corvus weapons. These tools allowed him to block more maneuverable ships effectively. After a long bloody fight he destroyed much of Sextus' fleet. Twenty-eight ships sank while seventeen fled and others burned or were captured. Agrippa lost only three ships during the entire battle. Meanwhile Lepidus landed most of his army and ravaged the countryside around Tyndaris and Messina. Some 200,000 men died and 1,000 warships were destroyed across the wider fighting. Casualties hit Sextus hardest as his navy disintegrated completely.

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• 5. Political Aftermath

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  Sextus fled Sicily in 36 BC to Miletus where Marcus Titius captured him in 35 BC. He was executed without trial despite being a Roman citizen entitled to legal protection. Octavian used this illegal act when relations with Antony grew tense. The end of Pompeian resistance exposed growing distrust among the Triumvirs. Octavian visited Lepidus' camp but was hailed by soldiers as Caesar's son. Lepidus tried to expel his guest beyond camp limits which caused many troops to defect to Octavian. This gave Octavian an excuse to sideline Lepidus entirely. Accused of usurping power and rebellion, Lepidus submitted and was exiled to Circeii. He kept only the office of pontifex maximus while Octavian seized his provinces. Thirty thousand slaves returned to masters while another six thousand faced impalement on wooden stakes. Much farmland lay ruined or empty so legions received land grants there instead.

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