JOTAPATA, a city of Galilee. Josephus Joseph. in vita, p. 1017.says, that it was forty furlongs from Gabara, or perhaps Gadara. It was the strongest place in Galilee, being situated upon a mountain, and rocks every where inaccessible, excepting on the north side, through which there was a way to it. It was taken and destroyed in the De Bello, l. iii. c. 4.67th year of the vulgar Æra. Many believe it to be the same with Gath-hepher, the place of the Prophet Jonah’s nativity; but of this there is no certainty. In the Council of Jerusalem held in 536, we find the subscription of a Bishop of Jotabé in Palestine. Whether this were the same as Jotapata or not, we do not know.
The city of Jotapata is celebrated for the siege sustained there by Josephus the historian, against Vespasian then General of the Roman army, and afterwards Emperor. This affair was transacted in the manner following: Vespasian having resolved to make war in person upon the Jews, entred Galilee with a design of terrifying Jerusalem and all Judea, and giving them just reason to repent of their rebellion. He marched directly against Jotapata, having first ordered the ways that led thither to be levell’d, which were of very difficult access to the foot, and unpassable for the horse. He was at the head of about sixty thousand men, without reckoning a great number of servants, who having attended their masters in the midst of dangers, and warlike Joseph. de Bello, l. iii. c. 5.exercises, might pass for good soldiers.
Josephus being informed of Vespasian’s design, threw himself into Jotapata upon the 21st of May, in the year of the world 4070. Vespasian was overjoyed at this, believing that by taking him he should soon make himself master of all Galilee; wherefore he sent immediately Placidus and Ebutius, two captains of great bravery and experience, with a thousand horse, in order to invest the place on every side, and prevent Josephus’s Ibid. c. 11. Ibid. c. 13. Ibid. c. 15. Ibid. c. 23.escaping. The next day he came thither with his whole army and began the day following to attack it: but meeting with a resistance, which he did not expect, he thought it necessary to lay siege to it in form. The Jews made continual sallies, burnt the machines; and destroyed all the Roman works; so that Vespasian looked upon himself as besieged in his own camp.
Observing therefore that all his efforts, and all his works were of no advantage to him against the Jews, and that he made no advances, he determined with himself to take the city by famine or drought, for he knew the people within it wanted water; but Josephus, in order to disappoint these hopes, directed abundance of clothes all dripping with water to be hung upon the battlements of the walls, which so afflicted and surprized the Romans, that, never imagining people who wanted water would consume it so unprofitably, they returned to their first design of firing the town.
To this end Vespasian ordered all his machines to be set up against the City, the ram opened a breach in the walls, very terrible assaults were made, and several actions passed on both sides with extraordinary valour. At last Vespasian was informed by a deserter in what condition the place was, and that the most favourable time for storming it was about break of day, because that the besieged, who were spent with so long and obstinate a siege, and overwhelmed with their fatigues, were then almost all fast asleep. Vespasian made good use of this intelligence, and sent Titus and the Tribune Sabinus, with some choice soldiers, who killed the centinels; these were followed by Cerealis and Placidus, and all together entred the town long before the inhabitants were awake, or perceived any thing of the matter, and killed all they met without distinction. The city was taken upon the first day of July, in the thirteenth year of Nero’s reign, after a siege of seven and forty days. Josephus fled to a private cave, where he found forty of his people; but being discovered, they chose rather to kill one another than to surrender. Josephus only remaining with one more, delivered himself into the enemies hands, and was brought to Vespasian, who intended to send him to Nero; but changed his design in consideration of Titus, whose good graces his prisoner had won by foretelling, that both he and his father would be Emperors.
Observations on the siege of Jotapata, Josephus, l. iii. c. 2, &c.☞ The siege of Jerusalem, so celebrated in history, and placed among the most memorable of Antiquity, both for the attack and the defence of it, is in the opinion of good judges, who examine things with most accuracy, much inferior to that of Jotapata. In this we meet with instances of every thing great and profound that art could produce, all the opposition that could be made to an attack carried on with the most consummate skill and conduct, all the ingenuity and cunning that the wit of man could invent, and all the most daring boldness that could be without rashness or imprudence. Josephus, one of the most eminent and accurate historians of Antiquity, in his history of the war between the Jews and Romans, has given us a particular and wonderful account of the siege of this place, which he himself defended, with all the valour, artifice, and understanding that could be desired in a soldier of great skill and experience in one of the nicest and most learned parts of knowledge in military affairs; and it is no small matter to come off with honour, when one has to deal with a vigorous, bold, and enterprizing enemy, who excels particularly in the attack of places. For the Romans more especially had the advantage over other people in this part of soldiery, and this was what made Josephus’s defence more glorious.
Joseph. de bello, l. iii. c. 12.Vespasian was chosen by the Emperor Nero, to reduce the Jews; he thereupon immediately entred Galilee at the head of sixty thousand men, and sat down before Jotapata, which Josephus describes after the following manner: This city is built intirely upon a steep rock, and encompassed on three sides with valleys of such a depth, that there is no looking down upon them without dazzling the eyes: the only side on which it is accessible lies towards the north, where people had built upon the declivity of the mountain; but Josephus had fortified, and inclosed it, that the enemies might not be able to come near the top of this mountain, which commanded the city; and other mountains which surrounded the city, concealed the view of it in such a manner, that no one could perceive it till they were within it. Such was the strength of Jotapata.
We see by this description, that it was capable of making a great resistance; but if we consider the Roman works, how far they were carried, and the furious assaults which were made, we cannot forbear admiring the great courage of the besieged, and the admirable conduct of their Commander; for this does indeed exceed imagination. The city of Jerusalem was infinitely stronger in the height and thickness of its walls, when Titus besieged it: and what is still more remarkable, the troops which were within exceeded those without in number, which was far from being the case of Jotapata. The valour and resolute boldness of the besieged were equal in both; but in the defence of Jotapata, we see a great deal of skill joined with the most wonderful good conduct, which we do not observe in that of Jerusalem. The virtus indocta of Vegetius, that is to say, rage and fury, were to be found in the latter; but in the other the Commander, who was of eminent capacity, and the soldiers who were intrepidly brave, opposed the Romans who were both well disciplined and well commanded, with a prudent temerity; that is to say, with valour beyond common bounds, which produces such a desire of conquering in the hearts of soldiers, that a Governor may push them on so far as to perish rather than yield in an extremity, wherein the preservation of all is at stake.
As the Romans were imperious and violent in every thing they undertook, it often happened, that they engaged in rash and imprudent designs, out of an opinion of their strength and courage, and a contempt of the people with whom they were at war, (I mean here the people of Asia) for they acted with less circumspection against these than against others, except the Parthians. Their discipline was so admirable, their Generals so able, and so experienced, particularly in the art of sieges, the whole mystery whereof was so perfectly known to them, that we are not to think it strange that they sometimes departed from the rules of prudence against enemies so much inferior to them. Their war with the Jews gave them some uneasiness, the desperate valour of this people seemed formidable to them; but as they then wanted Generals, and consequently fought only in a tumultuary way, and without discipline, they thought they should every where find them the same, and were very much mistaken at Jotapata.
Vespasian invested the city; and as he was desirous to answer the good opinion which the Emperor had conceived of him, by speedily terminating a war which might have bad consequences; for it was to be feared, that if it were drawn out into any length, the neighbouring people would declare in favour of the Jews, or underhand assist them; for these reasons Vespasian resolved, notwithstanding the strength of the place, the capacity and valour of the Commander, and the number of inhabitants and troops which had thrown themselves into the town, to attempt an escalade, and take it at the first onset; but he met with a brisk opposition, and was vigorously repulsed; the next day they began to batter the city. Josephus seems here to set out ill, or the Joseph. de Bello, l. iii. c. 11.Translator is not accurate. It appears visibly by the following chapter, that the town was not battered till after many attacks and repeated onsets; but that at first they endeavoured to carry it by storm, sword in hand; wherefore he should have said, The next day they began to attack the city. The Romans met with a surprizing resistance, all their efforts were vain, they were repulsed with shame; and as they were more susceptible of this than fear, they were piqued, returned the day following to the attack, and were forced to retire with as much dishonour, and as much ground got as the day before. They were too fierce and resolute to sit down thus, and the besieged too brave and too well conducted not to teach them how to make a better judgment of them; accordingly they were not discouraged; for they sustained five assaults one after another, and to show they wanted bridles more than spurs, they made vigorous sallies, while others of them were defending the ramparts; which was matter of humiliation to the Romans, who with such powerful forces, every where received a check; wherefore Vespasian saw very well, that there was nothing to be got against such daring and brave people, and that he should never master them but by a regular and formal siege.
The preparations of the besiegers to make sure of this conquest, are surprizing, and their works almost incredible; for they were to proceed step by step, by trenches or parallels made of hurdles, and raise terrasses or cavaliers of a prodigious height, to command the walls of the city. Against these works Josephus built a wall still higher, with towers and battlements, and that he might carry on his works under cover, he fixed large pieces of timber upright in the ground to which he hung curtains made of the hides of oxen just killed, which protected his people from the enemy’s arrows, broke the force of the stones which were flung against them from the machines, and deadned that of the fire with their moisture.
The Romans undertook this siege with such a provision of machines to throw darts and stones, that nothing could be more surprizing. Vespasian, says the Jewish author, Joseph. de Bello, l. iii. c. 12.disposed an hundred and sixty machines, which were continually throwing darts against those who defended the walls; and other larger machines for battery, were likewise placed there, some whereof lanced javelins, others stones of a very great size; and at the same time, ordered his people to cast so much fire, and his Arabian and other archers to shoot so many arrows, that the whole space between the walls and the terrass was so full of them, that it seemed impossible to come near them; but the Jews were not to be surprized at any thing: they notwithstanding this made their sallies, wherein after they had taken away every thing which covered the workmen, and had compelled them to quit the place, they destroyed their works, and set fire to their burdles, and other things which were a cover to them. It is probable that the vigorous defence of the besieged, and the frequent sallies which they made upon the Roman works, might hinder the enemies from bringing the ram sooner near the walls, in order to batter and make a breach in them; and it is strange, that Josephus should lose all hopes of preserving the place, before the battering ram had been plaid; for he held a council with his principal officers about retreating. Had he a mind by this means to sound the garison and inhabitants? He was convinced of their resolution to defend themselves. Was there any want of salt? this was no insupportable misfortune; but the greatest misfortune was the want of water, which he was obliged to distribute among his people by measure: but the inhabitants, says he, who discovered Ibid. c.14. his design, came in crowds, and conjured him not to forsake them, and to consider, that their whole confidence was placed in him: that he alone might preserve them by continuing with them, because while he was at the head of them they would fight with joy to the last, &c. A brave and couragious governor at the head of such people is without doubt happy; and what is still more to be admired, they kept their words. I cannot tell whether Josephus with the reasons which he alledged to them, had any good assurance, that if he went out of the city he should be able to levy an army strong enough to succour them against the power of the Romans; but it is plain they were not satisfied with his reasons: there was not one, even among the women and children, who did not conjure him to stay with them, and these very women and children were as useful in this memorable siege, as the most vigorous men. Josephus therefore thought no more of retiring but only of defending himself to the last extremity. From words he proceeded to effects: He made a sally Joseph. de bello, l. iii. c. 14.with the bravest of his people, pushed the Roman guards, forced their intrenchments (the trenches) fell even upon their camp, threw down the skins under which the soldiers lodged, and set fire to their works. He did the same thing the next and the following days, and continued still for some days and nights to act with the like vigour, without being at all cooled by such an extraordinary fatigue. Vespasian was in admiration at such surprising valour and boldness; these people, says he, are desperate, and are to be avoided rather than encountred; but these desperados got great advantages over their enemies, and in defences nothing is more to be apprehended than despair well conducted by such as have the Command.
Great precautions are to be used against people who defend themselves in this manner. The Romans proceeded slowly, and advanced little, good platforms were necessary to secure the rams; they were placed for battering, and supported by an infinite number of archers, posted upon the towers and terrasses, who were continually shooting arrows. The wall was vigorously battered, the Jews put sacks full of straw to oppose them against the shock of the ram, these they let down to the place where it was to fall, and so broke the force of the Ibid. c. 15.blows. This invention, says the Jewish author, retarded very much the Romans: for on what side soever they turned their ram, it met with sacks full of straw, which made the strokes of it of no use; but at last they found a remedy for this by cutting the cords, to which these sacks were fastned, with scythes tied to long poles. The Romans would have been sufficiently embarrassed, if instead of cords the besieged had made use of chains to hang their sacks; but probably they had none.
Nothing is more admirable in Sieges than all the machines of the ancients made for throwing things, I mean, their catapultæ, and balistæ; those particularly which threw stones with such force and violence, that as Josephus says, they beat down the battlements, made breaches at the angles of the towers, and in the places where the besieged were most crouded, they killed those who were behind the rest, without their being in a condition, who were before them, to a Commentaire sur Polyb. tom. 2, 3. in quarto, Paris.secure them any way from the effects of them. This is not at all surprizing, when we understand the force of these machines. We see in several authors, and particularly in Polybius a, whither I refer the reader, effects still more astonishing of the prodigious force of these machines, and the immense weights which they threw out, and carried for above an Italian mile.
The battering rams, and machines, quite discouraged the besieged; the walls were already upon tumbling, when they bethought themselves of gathering together all the combustible matters they could; with these they mixt bitumen, pitch and sulphur, set fire to them, and at the same time, hurl’d all this at three different places upon the machines, and into the works of the Romans, which had cost them so much time and pains to raise, and were burnt in less than an hour without a possibility of hindring it. Josephus at the same time seeing every thing succeed, made a vigorous sally with all the choice men he had in the city, and taking lighted torches in their hands, they went as far as the Roman camp, and burnt all the machines, huts, and works of the tenth Legion, which was the most formidable body of the Roman infantry.
The Romans, not dispirited by so many misfortunes, repaired their works, brought new rams again for battering, and played them against the wall which was already shaken, so vigorously, that they overthrew it, and made a breach wide enough for an assault. I shall not here enter upon particulars, the description which Josephus has made of it is admirable, and shews it came from a soldier: I shall only say, that never was any breach assaulted with more vigour, nor better defended. The Romans were repulsed as in all the assaults which they had hitherto made; always beaten and never discouraged, tho they lost an infinite many brave soldiers. Vespasian saw well, that he must come to new works. He set people therefore upon making his platforms higher, and erecting wooden towers upon them of fifty foot in height, all covered with iron to strengthen them by this addition of weight, and make them proof against fire. Upon these, beside the light machines made for throwing stones and arrows, he put the most expert of his archers and slingers. Wherefore as these towers and terrasses commanded the ramparts, the Jews were compell’d to abandon the breach; but they charged and vigorously repulsed the Romans, tho with loss, who attempted to mount it.
In short the inhabitants of Jotapata had, against all probability, sustained a siege of forty seven days, and with invincible courage, endured fatigues, miseries, and all the most dreadful calamities, when a deserter from the city was the cause of its destruction. He came and gave Vespasian an account of the condition of the place, of the small number of people that remain’d for its defence, and that if he had a mind to surprize it, and make himself master of it, he had nothing more to do than to attack them by break of day; for then it was, that they endeavoured to get some rest, after so many fatigues; and that even they who were upon guard not being able to hold up, were almost asleep. This relation was suspected by Vespasian; but as he run no great hazard in believing the intelligence of this traytor, who told him what was but too true; he put him into custody, and gave orders for the attack. Thus at an hour appointed, Titus with some officers at the head of a troop of chosen soldiers marched forwards without noise, and finding all asleep, killed the Sentinels, cut the throats of the main-guard, and made themselves masters of the fortress. The whole army afterwards entering the town, put its unfortunate inhabitants to the sword, who were for the most part buried in sleep; and the remembrance of the mischiefs they had suffered, having erazed all sense of compassion out of their hearts, they committed unheard of cruelties, without sparing any one.