Hidden in plain sight is Rue Jules César a small street in Marseille. Its name a seemingly simple detail holds a fascinating story. It’s a story of a builder named Girard a mason and father of three sons Marius Jules and Caesar. He named this street after two of his sons. The third son perhaps wasn’t on good terms with his father. The street’s official name should be Impasse Jules et César. But the misspelling on the street sign offers a captivating glimpse into ancient history.
This brings us to the siege of Massilia. This was a pivotal moment during Caesar’s civil war against Pompey. Marseille a major Mediterranean city enjoyed significant autonomy. Caesar needed Marseille’s support to reach Spain. However Pompey’s representative Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus arrived by sea. He secured Marseille’s allegiance to Pompey. This was logical Pompey had gifted Marseille territories west of the Rhone.
Caesar responded by besieging Marseille. He established a land and sea blockade. He brought three legions. He ordered the construction of siege towers and shelters. He even had 12 warships built in Arles. Caesar left the siege to his legate Caius Trebonius. He then went to Spain.
The siege was brutal. The Caesarians used siege weapons. The Marseillais fought back with night raids. They burned wooden watchtowers. The Romans rebuilt them using brick bases. They covered them with clay tiles. But the naval battles were decisive.
The Marseillais attempted to break the naval blockade twice. The first attempt on June 27th resulted in the Battle of Marseille. The second attempt on July 31st was the Battle of Tauroentum. In the Battle of Marseille the Roman fleet under Brutus Albinus faced the combined forces of Pompey and Marseille. The newly built Arles ships were slow and difficult to maneuver. Brutus used hastily trained crews. The Marseillais with their superior ships and seamanship attacked with 17 vessels. They used grappling hooks to board Roman ships. They fought hand to hand. They also tried to disable Roman ships by cutting oars. They bombarded them with arrows. Fire broke out. The Romans eventually won maintaining their blockade.
The Battle of Tauroentum saw the Roman fleet strengthened by captured Marseillais ships. They faced a combined Marseillais and Pompeian fleet. Despite Marseille’s numerical superiority Caesar’s forces prevailed. Lucius Domitius fled. After six months of siege and famine Marseille surrendered. The city’s walls were destroyed. Its fishing rights were revoked. But that is another story for another time. This small street Rue Jules César a simple misspelling on a sign gives a small glimpse into a crucial chapter of history.