The Arabs were not only not subdued, but Aelius Gallus, after having spent six months on his march into the country on account of his treacherous guide, was able to besiege Ma'rib (the capital of the "Kingdom of Saba") for just a week. Meanwhile, his Roman fleet occupied and destroyed the port of Aden in order to guarantee the Roman merchant route to India. He was then forced to do a retreat in sixty days, obliged to return to Alexandria having lost the greater part of his force.