Siege of Syracuse (278 BC)

Siege of Syracuse
	Part of The Sicilian Wars and the Pyrrhic War
Date	278 BC
Location	Syracuse, Sicily, Italy
Result	Epiro–Syracusan victory
Belligerents
Carthage	Syracuse; Epirus
Commanders and leaders
	Thoenon; Sostratus; Pyrrhus of Epirus
Strength
50,000 land troops; 100 ships	20,000 land troops; 140 ships

The siege of Syracuse in 278 BC was the last attempt of Carthage to conquer the city of Syracuse. Syracuse was weakened by a civil war between Thoenon and Sostratus. The Carthaginians used this opportunity to attack and besiege Syracuse both by land and sea. Thoenon and Sostratus then appealed to king Pyrrhus of Epirus to come to the aid of Syracuse. When Pyrrhus arrived, the Carthaginian army and navy retreated without a fight.