Siege of Susa (277 BC)

The siege of Susa was a siege during the Syrian Rebellion.

After the Gerdosians defeated the hastily assembled blocking force at Aroc earlier that year, the rebels had a wealth of choices for their next action. Susa, the rich model city of Seleukos I Nikator was their eventual target. A city of great prestige, it was vital for the Seleukids to prevent its fall, not only to protect the legacy of Seleukos, but also to maintain the loyalty of the troops. Susa was afterall home of many veterans who settled their during Seleukos' reign, and their children now in the army. The only forces available in the region to relieve the city was the defeated force under Antiochos Gelotopoios, reinforced he was ordered to quickly march on Susa and relieve the siege.

The siege itself was a shoddy affair. Hawfi'athat's forces were ill equiped for a siege, being originally raised to chase and defeat rebels in the desert, but could effectively prevent food from being supplied to Susa. They however were not expecting a relieve force to show up, Antiochos had after all recently been defeated, they were not prepared when Antiochos fell on them and -at the same time- the numerous veterans came charging out of the gate.