The Roman army began to arrive by sea, sailing from the coast around the Gulf of Lions. A general uprising against the Romans began in 197 BC and indigenous armies blocked Empúries to prevent Roman reinforcements from arriving. In 195 BC, an army led by the consul Cato landed at Empúries and defeated the Iberians. Cato pacified the land and the Romans tightened their control of the maritime and land routes between Empúries and Tarraco. Once their military sway was assured, a long period of Romanisation began that lasted for almost two centuries.