The Battle of Pharsalus

Initially, Gaius Julius Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus formed a partnership. This partnership (First Triumvirate), led to increased wealth as well as military experience and a large military force. Due to the death of Carassus, Pompey and Caesar took the opportunity to consolidate power and claim the sole emissary of Rome. The Battle of Pharsalus was the decisive battle between Pompey and Caesar fought on August 9, 48 BCE and led to the end of the Roman Civil War.[1]

Julius Caesar, with an army numbering around 22,000 experienced veterans, faced Pompey’s army of nearly twice as many soldiers and a sizable cavalry at Pharsalus. Pompey’s initial plan was to use the size difference of his army and the calvary to outflank Caesar. Caesar, anticipating the flanking maneuver, held troops in reserve to counterattack as well as place them in a position to support his flanks. The terrain, which should have given Pompey and advantage, eventually hindered his ability to maneuver and gave Caesar the ability to use his reserves effectively.

Pompey, who maintained a cautious and defensive posture, did not utilize his reserve properly. They were unable to advance due to the proximity to the forward troops. Caesar, on the other hand, had the foresight to recognize the weakness of Pompey’s lines and was able to direct attacks along the Pompeian line.[2] The inability to advance any reserves in Pompey’s army led to confusion and the breakdown of the line. Caesar’s troops were trained to be flexible and responded quickly to changes in the battle.

Some of the technology used during this battle were the Gladius, Pilum, and the Scutum. The gladius, or Roman short sword, was primarily used in close combat and was adopted by the Romans at the end of the third century.[3] The Pilum was a javelin often used by the Romans dating back to 400BCE and was thrown by soldiers before engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The Scutum, or Roman Shield, was wielded by soldiers as a means of defense against projectiles and hand-to-hand combat.[4]

The resulting rout of Pompey led to him fleeing to Egypt, later to be assassinated. For Caesar, this battle gave Caesar control over Rome. As a turning point in the Roman Civil War, this battle also led to the ultimate dictatorship of Caesar over Roman citizens. The Battle of Pharsalus remains important in the study of military tactics. Enhancing the reading with tactical maps would present the reader with a greater appreciation for the terrain as well as the maneuvers.

Bibliography

Pelling, C. B. R. “Pharsalus.” Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte 2, no. 22 (1973): 249-259. https://doi.org/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4435333.

Loades, Mike. Swords and swordsmen. Casemate Publishers, 2011.

Searle, Arthur, “Note on the Battle of Pharsalus.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 18 (1907): 213–18. https://doi.org/10.2307/310555.

Taylor, Michael J. "Roman infantry tactics in the mid-Republic: a reassessment." Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte (2014): 301-322.

[1] C. B. R. Pelling “Pharsalus.” Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte 2, no. 22 (1973). https://doi.org/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4435333.

[2] Arthur Searle, “Note on the Battle of Pharsalus.” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 18 (1907): 213–18. https://doi.org/10.2307/310555.

[3] Mike Loades, Swords and swordsmen. Casemate Publishers, 2011.

[4] Michael J. Taylor, "Roman infantry tactics in the mid-Republic: a reassessment." Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte (2014): 301-322.