Dionysius's failed siege of Tauromenium triggered Carthage to renew the Sicilian War, ending in a treaty that reshaped control of Sicily in 392 BC.
Key Facts
- Siege date
- Winter of 394 BC
- Besieging commander
- Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse
- Outcome of assault
- Night assault defeated; siege lifted
- Peace treaty signed
- 392 BC
- Treaty boundary
- Halykos and Himera rivers
- Dionysius's gain
- Overlordship of the Sicels
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After defeating Carthage at the Battle of Syracuse in 397 BC, Dionysius of Syracuse expanded into northeastern Sicily, conquering Sicel territories and founding Greek colonies. Tauromenium, a Sicel city allied to Carthage, threatened both Syracuse and Messina, making it a strategic target for Dionysius as he sought to consolidate control over the region.
In the winter of 394 BC, Dionysius laid siege to Tauromenium. He attempted to take the city by a night assault, but the attack was repelled and he was forced to abandon the siege without capturing the city. The failure halted his expansion into Sicel territory allied with Carthage.
Carthage interpreted the attack on Tauromenium as an act of aggression and renewed the Sicilian War against Dionysius. The conflict was eventually resolved by a peace treaty in 392 BC under which Dionysius received overlordship over the Sicels, while Carthage retained all Sicilian territory west of the Halykos and Himera rivers.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Dionysius of Syracuse.
Side B
1 belligerent