During the Civil War in 49 BCE Caesar besieged Corfinium. The defense was commanded by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, consul for 54 BCE. Despite Ahenobarbus requests, Pompey did not send him support, what was one of the reasons for the fall of the city.
Ahenobarbus, fearing his death from the hands of Caesar, decided to take poison. A moment after he swallowed it, a messenger came to Ahenobarbus with the news that Caesar was giving life to all his enemies. As it is easy to guess, Ahenobarbus fell into despair. However, his doctor told him that he had in fact given him only a sleeping remedy. Ahenobarbus was captured and later released.
