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The Siege of Theodosia was a siege carried
out by Leukon I sometime after his accession to the
Bosporan throne in around 365. Satyrus I, the father of Leukon, had previously
laid siege on Theodosia but died during it. The exact numbers of the forces in
the siege aren't known.
Siege:
After becoming king of the Bosporan Kingdom in 389, Leukon would later attacked
the city of Theodosia perhaps as revenge for the death of his father, who died
at Theodosia that same year. Tynnichus, a probable Heracleote commander, was
sent with a small force to relieve the siege, numbering less than 200 men.
Tynnichus managed to send three small boats under the cover of darkness, in
which each boat had a trumpeter. He then had his trumpeters make the loudest
din they could possible do, taking care that at least two were playing at the
same time so that it would sound much stronger than it actually was. The
Bosporan army, upon hearing the sound of what should've been an army coming to
relief the city, fled. He also successfully defeated the Bosporans as he
managed to destroy their siege weapons at night. Leukon was forced to retreat
back to Panticapaeum.
Aftermath:
Leukon retreated back to Panticapaeum shortly after Tynnicus lifted the siege.
Due to his failure at Theodosia, he had to deal with a conspiracy against his
life by his closest friends and advisors. He swiftly dealt with the conspiracy
with the aid of merchants and sometime in 360, he attacked the city of
Theodosia again, starting another siege, but this time finally being able to
take the city.
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