Battle of Thapsus
Part of Caesar's civil war
Scheme of the Battle of Thapsus - Reproduction of a copper printing by Andrea Palladio (1619)
Date February 6, 46 BC Location Thapsus (Tunisia), modern Ras Dimas Result Populares victory
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 Juba's allied troops with 60 elephants
Casualties
1,000	30,000

The Battle of Thapsus took place on February 6, 46 BC near Thapsus (modern Ras Dimas, Tunisia) (Other sources name April 6). The Conservative Republican Army, led by Marcus Porcius Cato, the younger and Quintus Caecillius Metellus Scipio clashed with the forces of Julius Caesar, who eventually won the battle. With this victory, Caesar temporarily ended the resistance against his power in Africa and was one step closer to absolute power. Combatants Julius Caesar and supporters, the Populares faction, Roman senate, the Optimates faction, Commanders Julius Caesar Mark Antony 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 last conflicts within... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 511 pixelsFull resolution (1638 × 1046 pixel, file size: 375 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Scheme of the Battle of Thapsus - Reproduction of a copper printing by Andrea Palladio (1619) Source: scanned from a book in my possession (dated 1619) File... Andrea Palladio (November 30, 1508 – August 19, 1580), was an Italian architect, widely considered the most influential person in the history of Western architecture. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC - 40s BC - 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s Years: 51 BC 50 BC 49 BC 48 BC 47 BC 46 BC 45 BC 44 BC 43 BC... Thapsus (less commonly, Tapsus) was an ancient city in what is modern day Tunisia. ... 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. ... Gaius Julius Caesar [1] (Latin pronunciation ; English pronunciation ; July 12 or July 13, 100 BC or 102 BC – March 15, 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men in world history. ... The Caecilii Metellii was one of the most important and wealthiest families in the Roman Republic. ... Marcus Porcius Catō Uticēnsis (95 BC–46 BC), known as Cato the Younger (Cato Minor) to distinguish him from his great-grandfather Cato the Elder, was a politician and statesman in the late Roman Republic, and a follower of the Stoic philosophy. ... Juba I of Numidia (Reigned 60 B.C. - 46 B.C.) Juba I Juba I (c. ... Combatants Julius Caesar and supporters, the Populares faction, Roman senate, the Optimates faction, Commanders Julius Caesar Mark Antony 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 last conflicts within... 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 Gaius Julius Caesar Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Strength Approximately 22,000 legionaries, 5,000-10,000 Auxiliaries and Allies, and Allied Cavalry of 1800 Approximately 60,000 legionaries, 4,200 Auxiliaries and Allies, and Allied Cavalry of 5,000-8,000 Casualties 1,200 6,000 The... 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 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... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC - 40s BC - 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s Years: 51 BC 50 BC 49 BC 48 BC 47 BC 46 BC 45 BC 44 BC 43 BC... Thapsus (less commonly, Tapsus) was an ancient city in what is modern day Tunisia. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Marcus Porcius Catō Uticēnsis (95 BC–46 BC), known as Cato the Younger (Cato Minor) to distinguish him from his great-grandfather Cato the Elder, was a politician and statesman in the late Roman Republic, and a follower of the Stoic philosophy. ... The Caecilii Metellii was one of the most important and wealthiest families in the Roman Republic. ... Gaius Julius Caesar [1] (Latin pronunciation ; English pronunciation ; July 12 or July 13, 100 BC or 102 BC – March 15, 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men in world history. ...

Prelude

After crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC, Caesar started the last Republican civil war by defying senatorial orders to disband his army. Following his invasion of Italy and Rome, the Conservative Republicans fled to Greece under the command of Pompey. The Populares under Julius Caesar were defeated in the Battle of Dyrrhachium but went on to decisively defeat the Optimates under Pompey at Pharsalus in 48 BC. Pompey was murdered, but the conservatives, not ready to give up fighting, clustered in the African provinces and organized a resistance. Its leaders were Marcus Cato, the younger, and Caecilius Metellus Scipio. Other key figures in the resistance were Titus Labienus, Publius Attius Varus, Lucius Afranius, Marcus Petreius and the brothers Sextus and Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey's sons). King Juba I of Numidia was a valuable local ally. After the pacification of the Eastern provinces, and a short visit to Rome, Caesar followed his opponents to Africa and landed in Hadrumetum (modern Sousse, Tunisia) in December 28, 47 BC. Presumed course of the Rubicon For other uses, see Rubicon (disambiguation). ... Consuls: Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, Gaius Claudius Marcellus Maior. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus Roman provinces on the eve of the assassination of Julius Caesar, c. ... The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. ... Pompey, Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir [1] (Classical Latin abbreviation: CN·POMPEIVS·CN·F·SEX·N·MAGNVS[2], Gnaeus or Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus) (September 29, 106 BC–September 29, 48 BC), was a distinguished military and political leader of the late Roman republic. ... 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. ... Battle of Dyrrhachium Conflict Roman Republican civil wars Date July 10, 48 BC Place Dyrrhachium Result Victory of Pompey The Battle of Dyrrachium (or Dyrrhachium) on 10 July 48 BC was one of a series of contests between Julius Caesar and Pompey that ended with Pompeys defeat in the... Optimates (Good Men) were the aristocratic faction of the later Roman Republic. ... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Gaius Julius Caesar Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Strength Approximately 22,000 legionaries, 5,000-10,000 Auxiliaries and Allies, and Allied Cavalry of 1800 Approximately 60,000 legionaries, 4,200 Auxiliaries and Allies, and Allied Cavalry of 5,000-8,000 Casualties 1,200 6,000 The... Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus. ... Titus Labienus (ca. ... Publius Attius Varus (d. ... Lucius Afranius was a loyal legatus and client of Pompey the Great. ... Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius, in English Sextus Pompey, was a Roman general from the late Republic (1st century BC). ... Gnaeus Pompeius (c. ... Juba I of Numidia (Reigned 60 B.C. - 46 B.C.) Juba I Juba I (c. ... Hadrumetum was a Phoenician colony earlier than Carthage, and was already an important town when the latter rose to greatness. ... View from the Abou Nawas Hotel over to the main beach in Sousse (Bou Jaafar) The Grand Mosque of Sousse, Tunisia, as seen from the tower of the Ribat The Ribat of Sousse Sousse (Arabic سوسة Susa), is a city of Tunisia. ... is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC - 40s BC - 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s Years: 52 BC 51 BC 50 BC 49 BC 48 BC 47 BC 46 BC 45 BC 44 BC...

The Conservatives gathered their forces with astonishing speed. Its army included 40,000 men (circa 10 legions), a powerful cavalry force led by Caesar's former right hand man, the talented Titus Labienus, allied forces of local kings and 60 war elephants. The two armies embarked in small conflicts to measure forces, during which two conservative legions deserted to Caesar. Meanwhile, Caesar expected reinforcements from Sicily. In the beginning of February, Caesar arrived in Thapsus and besieged the city, blocking the southern entrance with three lines of fortifications. The conservatives, led by Metellus Scipio, could not risk the loss of this position and were forced to accept battle. The Roman Legion (from Latin , from lego, legere, legi, lectus — to collect) is a term that can apply both as a transliteration of legio (conscription or army) to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly (and more commonly), to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of... The elephants thick hides made them difficult to injure or kill and the high position made them favored by commanding officers War elephants were important, although not widespread, weapons in ancient military history. ...

Battle

Metellus Scipio's army circled Thapsus in order to approach the city by its northern side. Anticipating Caesar's approach, they remained in tight battle order flanked by its elephant cavalry. Caesar's position was typical of his style, with him commanding the right side and the cavalry and archers flanked. The threat of the elephants led to the additional precautions of reinforcing the cavalry with 5 cohorts. The Roman Legion (from Latin , from lego, legere, legi, lectus — to collect) is a term that can apply both as a transliteration of legio (conscription or army) to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly (and more commonly), to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of...

One of Caesar's trumpeters sounded the battle. Caesar's archers attacked the elephants, causing them to panic and trample men on their own side. The left flank of elephants charged against Caesar's center, where Legio V Alaudae was placed. This legion sustained the charge with such bravery that afterwards they wore an elephant as a symbol. After the loss of the elephants, Metellus Scipio started to lose ground. Caesar's cavalry outmaneuvered its enemy, destroyed the fortified camp, and forced its enemy into retreat. King Juba's allied troops abandoned the site and the battle was decided. Legio V Alaudae, the larks, sometimes known as Gallica, was levied by Julius Caesar in 52 BC from native Gauls. ...

Roughly 10,000 enemy soldiers wanted to surrender to Caesar, but were instead slaughtered by his army. This action is unusual for Caesar, who was known as a merciful victor. Some sources contend Caesar had an epileptic seizure during the battle and was not fully conscious for its aftermath. Scipio himself escaped, only to die months later in a naval battle near Hippo. Epilepsy (often referred to as a seizure disorder) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. ...

Aftermath

Following the battle, Caesar renewed the siege of Thapsus, which eventually would fall. Caesar proceeded to Utica, where Cato the Younger was garrisoned. On the news of the defeat of his allies, Cato committed suicide. Caesar was upset by this and is reported by Plutarch to have said: Cato, I must grudge you your death, as you grudged me the honour of saving your life. This article is about the ancient city of Utica in Tunisia. ... Marcus Porcius Catō Uticēnsis (95 BC–46 BC), known as Cato the Younger (Cato Minor) to distinguish him from his great-grandfather Cato the Elder, was a politician and statesman in the late Roman Republic, and a follower of the Stoic philosophy. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ...

The battle preceded peace in Africa--Caesar pulled out and returned to Rome on July 25 of the same year. Opposition, however, would rise again. Titus Labienus, the Pompeian brothers and others had managed to escape to the Hispania provinces. The civil war was not finished and the battle of Munda would soon follow. is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 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...