The Battle of Pharsalus was fought at Pharsalus (Greece) on August 9, 48 BC, between the Populares faction of the Roman Republic, led by Gaius Julius Caesar, and the Optimates faction, led by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. The victory of Caesar weakened the Senatorial forces and solidified his control over the Republic. Belligerents Julius Caesar and supporters, the Populares faction Roman senate, the Optimates faction Commanders Julius Caesar, Curio, Marc Antony, Decimus Brutus Pompey†, Titus Labienus†, Metellus Scipio†, Cato the younger†, Gnaeus Pompeius† Sextus Pompeius The Roman civil war of 49 BC, sometimes called Caesars Civil War, is one of the... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus. ... Farsala (Greek: Φάρσαλα), ancient times: Pharsalus is one of the largest cities in the prefecture and is also a municipality as well as a province. ... Populares (Favoring the people, singular popularis) were aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who tended to use the peoples assemblies in an effort to break the stranglehold of the nobiles and optimates on political power. ... Optimates (Good Men) were the aristocratic faction of the later Roman Republic. ... For other uses, see Julius Caesar (disambiguation). ... For other meanings see Pompey (disambiguation). ... A Legionary is a member of a legion. ... Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = supports) formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC - 284 AD), alongside the citizen legions. ... A Legionary is a member of a legion. ... Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = supports) formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC - 284 AD), alongside the citizen legions. ... Belligerents Julius Caesar and supporters, the Populares faction Roman senate, the Optimates faction Commanders Julius Caesar, Curio, Marc Antony, Decimus Brutus Pompey†, Titus Labienus†, Metellus Scipio†, Cato the younger†, Gnaeus Pompeius† Sextus Pompeius The Roman civil war of 49 BC, sometimes called Caesars Civil War, is one of the... Siege and naval battle at Massilia in Caesars civil war. ... Battle of Ilerda took place in June 49 BC between the forces of Julius Caesar and the Spanish army of Pompey the Great, lead by his legates Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius. ... Siege and naval battle at Massilia in Caesars civil war. ... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Gaius Curio Attius Varus King Juba of Numidia This article is about the battle which was part of Caesars civil war. ... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Gaius Curio† Attius Varus King Juba of Numidia The Battle of the Bagradas River (49 BC) occured on August 24 and was fought between Julius Caesars general Gaius Curio and between the Pompeians under Attius Varus and King Juba of Numidia. ... Combatants Optimates Populares Commanders Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Gaius Julius Caesar Strength 45,000 15,000 Casualties Unknown 1,000 The Battle of Dyrrachium (or Dyrrhachium) on 10 July 48 BC was one of a series of contests between Gaius Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus that ended with Pompeys... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Julius Caesar Titus Labienus The Battle of Ruspina was fought on January 4, 46 BC between the forces of Julius Caesar and the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus. ... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders G. Julius Caesar Metellus Scipio †, Cato the younger † Strength Unknown (at least 10 legions) Unknown (at least 10 legions), 2,500 cavalry Jubas allied troops with 60 elephants Casualties 1,000 30,000 The Battle of Thapsus took place on February 6, 46 BC near... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Julius Caesar Titus Labienus †, Gnaeus Pompeius; Strength 8 legions, 8,000 cavalry total: circa 40,000 men 13 legions, cavalry and auxiliaries total: circa 70,000 men Casualties 1,000 30,000 The Battle of Munda took place on March 17, 45 BC in the plains... Farsala (Greek: Φάρσαλα), ancient times: Pharsalus is one of the largest cities in the prefecture and is also a municipality as well as a province. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus. ... Populares (Favoring the people, singular popularis) were aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who tended to use the peoples assemblies in an effort to break the stranglehold of the nobiles and optimates on political power. ... This article is about the state which existed from the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC. For the state which existed in the 18th century, see Roman Republic (18th century). ... For other uses, see Julius Caesar (disambiguation). ... Optimates (Good Men) were the aristocratic faction of the later Roman Republic. ... For other meanings see Pompey (disambiguation). ... The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. ...

Prelude

Pompey and the Roman Senate fled Italy for Greece in 49 BC to prepare an army. Caesar, for lack of a fleet, solidified his control over the western Mediterranean — Spain, specifically, before assembling ships to follow Pompey. Caesar therefore marched overland through southern France, blockading what is now Marseille, and managing to assemble a small fleet. After crushing Pompey's forces in Spain, Caesar focused once again on Pompey and his troops in Greece. Pompey had a large fleet, as well as much support from all Roman provinces and client states east of Italy. Caesar, however, managed to cross the Adriatic in the winter, with Mark Antony following a little later because Caesar lacked sufficient ships. Although Pompey had a larger army, he recognized that Caesar's troops were more experienced, and could prove victorious in a pitched battle. Instead, Pompey waited Caesar's troops out, attempting to starve them by cutting off Caesar's supply lines. Caesar made a near disastrous attack on Pompey's camp at Dyrrhachium and was forced to pull away. For other meanings see Pompey (disambiguation). ... The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. ... Consuls: Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, Gaius Claudius Marcellus Maior. ... Siege and naval battle at Massilia in Caesars civil war. ... Province is a name for a secondary, or subnational entity of government in most countries. ... According to the notion of client states, just as a client of a corporation remains dependent on the corporation for a continued supply of products, and just as it is in the companys interest to make expendable products which need to be replaced regularly, client states of the two... Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N[1]) ( January 14 83 BC – August 1, 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. ... Combatants Optimates Populares Commanders Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Gaius Julius Caesar Strength 45,000 15,000 Casualties Unknown 1,000 The Battle of Dyrrachium (or Dyrrhachium) on 10 July 48 BC was one of a series of contests between Gaius Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus that ended with Pompeys...

Pompey did not immediately follow up on his success. An indecisive winter (49–48 BC) of blockade and siege followed. Pompey eventually pushed Caesar into Thessaly and urged on by his senatorial allies, he confronted Caesar near Pharsalus. Caesar began the battle with a smaller, but veteran, force. Pompey's troops were more numerous, but far less experienced. Moreover, Pompey's senatorial allies disagreed with Pompey over whether to fight at Pharsalus, and pushed Pompey, who wanted to starve Caesar's soldiers, into a quick decision. Consuls: Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, Gaius Claudius Marcellus Maior. ... Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus. ... Map showing Thessaly periphery in Greece Thessaly (Θεσσαλια; modern Greek Thessalía; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is one of the 13 peripheries of Greece, and is further sub-divided into 4 prefectures. ...

Caesar had the following legions with him:

• Legions of veterans from the Gallic Wars – Caesar's favourite legion, X Equestris, and those later known with the names of VIII Augusta, VIIII Hispana, and XII Fulminata
• Legions levied for the civil war – legions later known as I Germanica, III Gallica, and IIII Macedonica

However, all of these legions were 'short', and did not have the requisite numbers of troops. Some only had about a thousand men at the time of Pharsalus, due partly to losses at Dyrrhachium and partly to Caesar's wish to rapidly advance with a picked body as opposed to a ponderous movement with a large army. Belligerents Roman Republic Several Gallic tribes Commanders Julius Caesar, Titus Labienus, Mark Antony, Quintus Cicero, Publius Crassus Vercingetorix, Ambiorix, Commius Strength estimated around 120,000 (legionaries and auxilia) estimated several hundreds of thousands, possibly millions Casualties and losses estimated tens of thousands according to Caesar, one million This article is... Legio X Gemina, the twin legion, was levied by Julius Caesar on 58 BC, for his invasion of Gaul. ... Aureus struck in 193 by Septimius Severus to celebrate VIII Augusta, one of the legions supporting his fight for purple. ... Legio IX Hispana was a Roman legion probably levied by Julius Caesar before 58 BC, for his Gallic wars. ... Legio XII Fulminata, also known as Paterna or Antiqua, was originally levied by Julius Caesar in 58 BC and accompanied him during the Gallic wars until 49 BC. They were stationed in Pharsalus in 48 BC and probably fought in the Battle of Pharsalus. ... Legio I Germanica, the German legion, was a Roman legion, possibly levied in 48 BC by Julius Caesar to fight for him in the civil war against Pompey. ... Legio III Gallica was a Roman legion levied by Julius Caesar around 49 BC, for his civil war against the conservative republicans led by Pompey. ... Legio IIII Macedonica (from Macedonia), was a Roman legion levied by Julius Caesar in 48 BC with Italian legionaries. ...

Battle

Deployment

Both commanders realized that if one army was able to flank the other, they would probably win. As such, both commanders put a substantial amount of effort into ensuring that the other would be unable to 'sneak around to the back'. The battle was held with the River Enipeus to Caesar's left, ensuring that neither side would be able to move around the other army on Caesar's left. The most important part of the battle was to happen on Caesar's right. Pompey hoped to win by using his superior cavalry to mount a two-front attack on Caesar's forces. As such, he placed a large contingent of cavalry on Caesar's right, with light forces consisting of slingers (funditores) and archers (sagittarii). Caesar placed his cavalry on his right, with the fourth battle line in reserve behind the main infantry body and at right angle to it. In Greek mythology, Enipeus was an Oceanid, son of Oceanus and Tethys. ... Home-made sling. ... Archery is the practice of using a bow to shoot arrows. ...

Conflict

When the two generals had finished deploying their troops, the infantry began to close. Pompey ordered his soldiers not to charge (against the standards of the day) having a plan of tiring the enemy out. This tactic backfired as Caesar's veteran centurions, foreseeing Pompey's trap, stopped halfway on their charge, and allowed their lines to rest.

By the river, the light infantry skirmished, before the heavy infantry closed. Titus Labienus led a cavalry charge, and succeeded in pushing back Caesar's cavalry and light infantry. However, when confronted by Caesar's fourth line of heavy infantry, made from one cohort of the last line of every legion, Labienus' charge was pushed back, and the light infantry and cavalry of Pompey's right were pushed into the foothills of Mount Dogandzis. Caesar's fourth battle line wheeled into Pompey's rear at the same moment when Caesar pushed a fresh line of troops into battle. Now facing Caesar's fresh third line at the center of the battle and the attack from behind from Caesar's fourth line, Pompey saw that his defeat was at hand. Caesar told his legionaries to thrust their pila (plural of pilum) into the enemy cavalrymen's faces instead of throwing them. Pompey fled the battle while his troops were defeated under pressure. Caesar ransacked Pompey's camp, and took control of the remainder of Pompey's army. Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... Legion redirects here. ... Titus Labienus (ca. ... Piła. ... Reconstruction of a post-Marian pilum A Roman coin showing Antoninianus of Carinus holding pilum and globe. ...

Aftermath

Pompey fled from Pharsalus to Egypt, where he was assassinated on the order of Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII. The Battle of Pharsalus ended the wars of the First Triumvirate. The Roman Civil War, however, was not ended. Pompey's two sons, the most important of whom was Sextus Pompeius, and the Pompeian faction led now by Labienus, survived and fought their cause in the name of Pompey the Great. Caesar spent the next few years 'mopping up' remnants of the senatorial faction. After finally completing this task, he was assassinated in a conspiracy arranged by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. For other uses, see Pharaoh (disambiguation). ... Ptolemy XIII (lived 62 BC/61 BC -January 13? 47 BC, reigned 51 BC - January 13?, 47 BC) was one of the last members of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Optimates (Good Men) were the aristocratic faction of the later Roman Republic. ... Marcus Junius Brutus (85–42 BC), or Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, was a Roman senator of the late Roman Republic. ... Caius Cassius Longinus featured on a denarius (42 BC). ...

Note

The date of the battle is given as 9 August. This is according to the republican calendar. The date according to the Julian calendar, was either 29 June 48 BC (according to Le Verrier's chronological reconstruction) or 7 June 48 BC (according to Drumann/Groebe). Pompey was assassinated on September 3rd. The point is not entirely academic; had the battle taken place in the true month of August, when the harvest was becoming ripe, Pompey's strategy of starving Caesar would have been senseless. is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus. ... is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus. ...

Named after battle

The battle gives its name to

• Pharsalia, a poem by Lucan
• Pharsalia, New York, U.S.
• Pharsalia Technologies, Inc.

This article is about the poem. ... Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (November 3, AD 39-April 30, 65), better known in English as Lucan, was a Roman poet, and is one of the outstanding figures of the Silver Latin period. ... Pharsalia is a town located in Chenango County, New York. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Pharsalia Technologies Logo Pharsalia Technologies, Inc. ...

Further reading

• William E. Gwatkin, Jr., Some Reflections on the Battle of Pharsalus, Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, Vol. 87. (1956), pp. 109-124.
• Caesar's account of the battle