The story of Caesar's best Legion

The Legion that invaded Rome (Full History of the 13th)

The Impressive Training and Recruitment of Rome’s Legions

The officers and ranking system of the Roman army

Caesar's civil war (49–45 BCE) was one of the last politico-military conflicts of the Roman Republic before its reorganization into the Roman Empire. It began as a series of political and military confrontations between Gaius Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Before the war, Caesar had led an <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Gallic-Wars" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">invasion of Gaul</a> for almost ten years. A build-up of tensions starting in late 49 BCE, with both Caesar and Pompey refusing to back down led, however, to the outbreak of civil war. Eventually, Pompey and his allies induced the Senate to demand Caesar give up his provinces and armies. Caesar refused and instead marched on Rome. The war was a four-year-long politico-military struggle, fought in <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Italy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Italy</a>, Illyria, <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Greece" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greece</a>, <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Egypt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Egypt</a>, Africa, and <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Spain" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hispania</a>. Pompey defeated Caesar in 48 BCE at the Battle of Dyrrhachium, but was himself defeated decisively at the Battle of Pharsalus. Many former Pompeians, including Marcus Junius Brutus and Cicero, surrendered after the battle, while others, such as Cato the Younger and Metellus Scipio fought on. Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was assassinated on arrival. Caesar intervened in Africa and Asia Minor before attacking North Africa, where he defeated Scipio in 46 BCE at the Battle of Thapsus. Scipio and Cato committed suicide shortly thereafter. The following year, Caesar defeated the last of the Pompeians under his former lieutenant Labienus in the Battle of Munda. He was made dictator perpetuo (dictator in perpetuity or dictator for life) in 44 BCE and, shortly thereafter, assassinated.

Visual Timelines

Great Roman Civil War Timeline

Great Roman Civil War Timeline

Prologue

Senatus Consultum Ultimum

Crossing the Rubicon

Alea Iacta Est: Crossing the Rubicon

Pompey abandons Rome

Preliminary movements

First Opposition: Siege of Corfinium

Caesar controls the Italian peninsula

Siege of Massilia

Caesar takes Spain: Battle of Ilerda

Siege of Curicta

Battle of Tauroento

Battle of Utica

Pompeians win in Africa: Battle of the Bagradas

Caesar appointed Dictator in Rome

Consolidation and Eastern Campaigns

Crossing the Adriatic

Battle of Dyrrhachium

Siege of Gomphi

Battle of Pharsalus

Assassination of Pompey

Alexandrian War

Siege of Alexandria

Battle of Nicopolis

Final Campaigns

Battle of the Nile

Veni, Vidi, Vici: Battle of Zela

Caesar's African Campaign

Battle off Carteia

Battle of Ruspina

Battle of Thapsus

Second Spanish Campaign

Battle of Munda

Battle of Lauro

Epilogue

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