Last strongholds First Jewish–Roman War

remnants of 1 of several legionary camps @ masada in israel, outside circumvallation wall @ bottom of image.

during spring of 71, titus set sail rome. new military governor appointed rome, lucilius bassus, assigned task undertake mopping-up operations in judea. used x fretensis besiege , capture few remaining fortresses still resisted. bassus took herodium, , crossed jordan capture fortress of machaerus on shore of dead sea , continued forest of jardus on northern shore of dead sea pursue 3,000 judean rebels under leadership of judah ben ari, whom swiftly defeated. because of illness, bassus did not live complete mission. lucius flavius silva replaced him, , moved against last judean stronghold, masada, in autumn of 72. used legio x, auxiliary troops, , thousands of jewish prisoners, total of 10,000 soldiers. after orders surrender rejected, silva established several base camps , circumvallated fortress. according josephus, when romans broke through walls of citadel in 73, discovered 960 of 967 defenders had committed suicide.