Battle of Pharsalus - Citizendia

Battle of Pharsalus

Date	August 9, 48 BC
Location	Pharsalus (Greece)
Result	Decisive Populares victory

Belligerents

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 40,000-60,000
legionaries, 4,200 Auxiliaries and Allies, and Allied Cavalry of 5,000-8,000

Casualties and losses

1,200

6,000

The Battle of Pharsalus was a decisive battle of Caesar's Civil War. The Roman civil war of 49 BC sometimes called Caesar's Civil War, is one of the last conflicts within the Roman Republic. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 48 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Gaius Julius Caesar, Farsala or Pharsala (Φάρσαλα known in Antiquity as Pharsalus, is a city in southern Thessaly, in Greece. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Populares ("favoring the people" singular popularis) were Aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who tended to use the Optimates (singular optimas, The Best of Men, Italian: ottimati; also known as the priests or boni, the Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation The Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = "supports" formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC&ndash284 AD The Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = "supports" formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC&ndash284 AD The Roman civil war of 49 BC sometimes called Caesar's Civil War, is one of the last conflicts within the Roman Republic. On August 9, 48 BC, the battle was fought at Pharsalus in central Greece between forces of the Populares faction and forces of the Optimates faction. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 48 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Gaius Julius Caesar, Farsala or Pharsala (Φάρσαλα known in Antiquity as Pharsalus, is a city in southern Thessaly, in Greece. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Populares ("favoring the people" singular popularis) were Aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who tended to use the Optimates (singular optimas, The Best of Men, Italian: ottimati; also known as the priests or boni, the Both factions field armies from the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the The Populares were led by Gaius Julius Caesar (Caesar) and the Optimates were led by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey). Populares ("favoring the people" singular popularis) were Aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who tended to use the Optimates (singular optimas, The Best of Men, Italian: ottimati; also known as the priests or boni, the Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation In addition to Pompey, the Optimates faction included most of the Roman Senate. The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome. The victory of Caesar weakened the Senatorial forces and solidified his control over the Republic. The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the

1 Prelude
2 Battle
- 2.1 Deployment
- 2.2 Conflict
3 Aftermath
4 Note
5 Named after battle
6 Further reading

Prelude

Pompey and the Roman Senate fled Italy for Greece in 49 BC to prepare an army. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Year 49 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus Caesar, for lack of a fleet, solidified his control over the western Mediterranean — Spain, specifically, before assembling ships to follow Pompey. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Caesar therefore marched overland through southern France, blockading what is now Marseille, and managing to assemble a small fleet. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Siege and naval Battle of Massilia was an episode of Caesar's civil war, fought in 49 BC. After crushing Pompey's forces in Spain, Caesar focused once again on Pompey and his troops in Greece. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Pompey had a large fleet, as well as much support from all Roman provinces and client states east of Italy. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. Client state is one of several terms used to describe the subordination of one state to a more powerful state in international affairs Caesar, however, managed to cross the Adriatic in the winter, with Mark Antony following a little later because Caesar lacked sufficient ships. Marcus Antonius (in Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N ( c January 14 83 BC&ndash August 1, 30 BC known in English as Mark 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. The Battle of Dyrrachium (or Dyrrhachium on 10 July 48 BC, was a battle of Caesar's civil war in modern Albania.

Pompey did not immediately follow up on his success. An indecisive winter (49–48 BC) of blockade and siege followed. Year 49 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus Year 48 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Gaius Julius Caesar, Pompey eventually pushed Caesar into Thessaly and urged on by his senatorial allies, he confronted Caesar near Pharsalus. Thessalia redirects here For the Butterfly Genus, see Thessalia (butterfly. 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.

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. The Gallic Wars were a series of Military campaigns waged by the Roman proconsul Julius Caesar against several Gallic tribes, lasting from Legio X Equestris ( Latin: "Tenth legion 'mounted'" - Equestris was the legions name not a type of unit was a Roman legion, levied Legio VIII Augusta was a Roman legion created by Julius Caesar and continuing in service to Rome for at least 400 years thereafter Legio XII Fulminata ("wielder of the thunderbolt" also known as Paterna, Victrix, Antiqua, Certa Constans, and Galliena Legio I Germanica, (Latin pronunciation prima germánica) the Germanic first legion, was a Roman legion, possibly levied in 48 BC Legio III Gallica was a Roman legion levied by Julius Caesar around 49 BC, for his civil war against the conservative republicans 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.

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. In Greek mythology, Enipeus was a river god son of Oceanus and Tethys. 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). A sling is a projectile Weapon typically used to throw a blunt Projectile such as a stone Archery is the practice of using a bow or Crossbow to shoot Arrows Archery has historically been used in Hunting and Combat and has 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.

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. Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a Skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of Infantry, harassing For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," Titus Labienus led a cavalry charge, and succeeded in pushing back Caesar's cavalry and light infantry. Titus Labienus (ca 100 BC– March 17, 45 BC was a professional Roman soldier in the late Roman Republic. 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. The pilum (plural pila) was a heavy javelin commonly used by the Roman army in ancient times 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.

Aftermath

Pompey fled from Pharsalus to Egypt, where he was assassinated on the order of Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator ( Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Θεός Φιλοπάτωρ, Ptolemaĩos Theós Philopátōr, lived 62 BC/61 BC– The Battle of Pharsalus ended the wars of the First Triumvirate. See also the First Triumvirate (Argentina which came to power in 1811 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. Optimates (singular optimas, The Best of Men, Italian: ottimati; also known as the priests or boni, the After finally completing this task, he was assassinated in a conspiracy arranged by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Marcus Junius Brutus (85&ndash42 BC or Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus was a Roman senator of the late Roman Republic. For the Roman consul see Gaius Cassius Longinus (consul 171 BC.

Note

The date of the battle is given as 9 August. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus 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). Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 48 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Gaius Julius Caesar, Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 48 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Gaius Julius Caesar, 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.

Named after battle

The battle gives its name to

Pharsalia, a poem by Lucan
Pharsalia, New York, U.S.
Pharsalia Technologies, Inc. Pharsalia was also an ancient district in Greece in which Pharsalus was located Marcus Annaeus Lucanus ( November 3, 39 AD – April 30, 65 AD better known in English as Lucan, was a Roman Pharsalia is a Town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Pharsalia Technologies Inc was founded in December 1999 located in Roswell Georgia, as an Emerging company developing network infrastructure products

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