The Circumvallation reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Circumvallation

Circumvallation is a standard military tactic of siege used in ancient warfare.

During a circumvallation, the attacking army surrounds the besieged city with a line of fortifications to enhance the blockade. This tactic is used especially in cases where the attacking army is threatened by a field army allied to the city. Often the besieging army constructs a second line of fortifications between themselves and the outside enemy, enveloping the city in a double line of fortifications and protecting its own integrity. The circumvallation tactic has the advantage of making it possible to redirect troops from the siege (now reinforced by the first wall of fortifications) to the defence of the besieging army itself.

Examples of circumvallation in military history

• Siege of Alesia, during the Gallic Wars fought by Julius Caesar against the Gauls.
• Siege of Agrigentum, during the First Punic War

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