Siege of Utica (204 BC)

The siege of Utica
Part of Second Punic War
Date Autumn 204 BC Location Utica, present-day Tunisia 37°3′25″N 10°3′43″E / 37.05694°N 10.06194°E / 37.05694; 10.06194 Result Carthaginian victory
Belligerents
Carthage Masaesyli	Roman Republic
Commanders and leaders
Hasdrubal Gisco Syphax	Scipio Africanus
Strength
33,000–47,500	35,000[1]

The siege of Utica was a siege during the Second Punic War between the Roman Republic and Carthage in 204 BC. Roman general Scipio Africanus besieged Utica, intending to use it as a supply base for his campaign against Carthage in North Africa. He launched repeated and coordinated army-navy assaults on the city, all of which failed. The arrival of a large Carthaginian and Numidian relief army under Carthaginian general Hasdrubal Gisco and Numidian king Syphax in late autumn forced Scipio to break off the siege after 40 days and retreat to the coast.