Pharsalus, Battle of

Pharsalus, Battle of
(48 BC) Decisive engagement in the Roman civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey.

Caesar had recently been defeated by Pompey when the two met again in Greece. Though Pompey had twice as many men, Caesar used unorthodox tactics to overwhelm him. Pompey fled and about half his men surrendered; the rest were killed or took flight.

* * *

▪ ancient Roman history
  (48 BC), the decisive engagement in the ancient Roman civil war between Julius Caesar (Caesar, Julius) and Pompey (Pompey the Great). After Caesar had been defeated by Pompey at Dyrrhachium in 48 BC, both armies departed and again made contact somewhere near what is today Fársala, Greece. After several days of maneuvering, Pompey finally offered Caesar battle (August 9 by the uncorrected Roman calendar; June 6, Julian). Caesar had approximately 22,000 men; Pompey possibly had as many as 45,000.

      Pompey massed the main force of his cavalry on his left infantry wing, hoping to outflank and overpower Caesar's right wing, which was made up of a mixed band of cavalry and infantry. Caesar, however, foresaw the defeat of his right wing and had stationed behind it about 2,000 of his best legionnaires. In the ensuing battle, Pompey's cavalry drove back Caesar's cavalry, only to find itself faced by the advancing corps of select men using their pila as stabbing spears rather than as javelins. Confused by the unusual infantry attack, Pompey's cavalry turned and fled. The victorious legionnaires then began to outflank the left wing of Pompey's infantry; at the same time, Caesar's third division, which had been held in reserve, was ordered to attack. Pompey's legions broke, and he himself fled to Larissa. About 24,000 of Pompey's troops surrendered; the rest were dead or in flight. When Caesar, whose casualties were less than 250, surveyed the stricken field and Pompey's dead supporters he exclaimed, “They would have it so” (“Hoc voluerunt”).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Battle of Pharsalus — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Pharsalus partof=Caesar s Civil War caption= date=August 9, 48 BC place=Pharsalus (Greece) result=Decisive Populares victory combatant1=Populares combatant2=Optimates commander1=Gaius Julius Caesar,… …   Wikipedia

  • battle — battle1 battler, n. /bat l/, n., v., battled, battling. n. 1. a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces: the battle of Waterloo. 2. participation in such hostile encounters or engagements: wounds received in battle. 3. a… …   Universalium

  • Pharsalus (Rome) — Rome episode title=Pharsalus caption=Pompey and his family. season=1 (2005) episode=7 (HBO; see BBC editing) air date=October 9, 2005 (HBO) December 7, 2005 (BBC) writer=David Frankel director=Tim Van Patten setting=Greece (Pharsalus), Rome, and… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Crannon — Infobox Military Conflict caption= conflict=Battle of Crannon partof=the Lamian War date=August 322 BC place=Thessaly result=Macedon victory combatant1=Macedonians combatant2=Greek confederacy commander1=Antipater, Craterus commander2=Antiphilus …   Wikipedia

  • battle of Pharsalus — noun Caesar defeated Pompey in 48 BC • Syn: ↑Pharsalus • Regions: ↑Greece, ↑Hellenic Republic, ↑Ellas • Instance Hypernyms: ↑pitched battle …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pharsalus — noun Caesar defeated Pompey in 48 BC • Syn: ↑battle of Pharsalus • Regions: ↑Greece, ↑Hellenic Republic, ↑Ellas • Instance Hypernyms: ↑pitched battle * * * /fahr say leuhs/ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Battle of Philippi — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Philippi partof=Roman civil wars (Liberators civil war) campaign=Philippi Campaign caption=Philippi Location date=October 3 and 23, 42 BC place=Philippi casus= territory=Eastern provinces of Roman… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Thapsus — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Thapsus partof=Caesar s civil war caption=Thapsus in relation to Rome date=April 6, 46 BC place=Thapsus (Tunisia), modern Ras Dimas casus= territory= result=Populares victory combatant1=Populares… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Munda — For the World War II battle, see Battle of Munda Point. Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Munda partof= Caesar s civil war caption= date=March 17, 45 BC place=Mundane, near Osuna, modern southern Spain casus= territory= result=Decisive …   Wikipedia

  • battle — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. fight, engagement, combat; contest. See contention, action, attack. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [An armed encounter] Syn. engagement, fight, action, skirmish, encounter, contest, clash, brush, sortie,… …   English dictionary for students

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”