THE ROMAN SIEGE OF MORGINUM IN 123 BC MAXENTIUS VS THE GAULS

In 125 BC, Rome started a serious effort to subjugate the Gallic tribes in the province of Cisalpine Gaul as a confederation of Gallic tribes revolted against Roman rule. In fact, Roman armies had used the province to move troops to Spain to fight the Carthaginians during the Punic Wars. In 123 BC, the province of Gallia Narbonensis was officially established after the victory of Quintus Fabius Maximus over a coalition of Arverni and Allobroges in southern Gaul.

By Peter van Dop

As Maximus took his army to fight the Arveni and Allobroges, several oppida were besieged. The locals collected all their food and cattle and withdrew into the safety of their oppida, which were essentially fortified administrative centres. As Maximus' main objective was to defeat the warriors that had gathered at the Isère River, he left small detachments to take care of those oppida who were still resisting. This was also the case at Morginum. Maxentius, the Roman commander, had tried to take the town by storm but had failed miserably. Morginum was a substantial town fortified with a sturdy wooden wall. His legionaries attempted to dislodge the wooden poles that constituted the palisade, but to no avail. If anything, many of his men were wounded or dead, resulting in a less-than-perfect…

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Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy (Digital) - 1 Issue, WSS 130

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