THE BATTLE OF PHARSALUSCaesar vs. Pompey

The Numbers 48 BC Caesar: 22,000

Lost 1,200 men Pompey: 40,000 +

Lost 6,000 men Caesar outnumbered about 2 to 1

No line of retreat No supply chain, stranded in enemy

territory

The Siege Caesar sieges Pompey’s camp in hopes

to starve them out One of Caesar’s soldiers defects and

shows Pompey a weakness in their defenses

Pompey attacks and routes Caesar Pompey halts his troops thinking Caesar

may have laid a trap

The Battle Both sides set up the in nearly the same

manner River is on Caesar’s left flank Three lines of infantry All cavalry on the right flank

Caesar knows his cavalry can’t win so he thins his third line of infantry and uses the extra to support his cavalry

The Battle

Old wood block print

Caesar

Pompey

After Pharsalus Pompey flees to Egypt

Assassinated Caesar follows him to Egypt and

becomes involved with Cleopatra Caesar- 44 years old Cleopatra- 22 years old

Caesar and Cleopatra were besieged in Alexandria for three months

Stayed three months after the siege

At Rome Caesar was needed in Rome to lead the

government People were wondering if they would be

assassinated or pardoned This he did on his return to Rome:

Gave North Italian Gauls citizenship Reformed the calander Repressed corruption Planned roads and cities Constructed new ports

Hatred of Caesar Although he pardoned many who betrayed him or

fought for the wrong side, many still disliked Caesar He angered the senate by appointing new

“unqualified members” He was bestowed with numerous honors:

Consul, dictator, censor, “father of our country”, descendent of Venus, statues set up in temples

All these honors made the senate think he wanted to become king

They also worried he might move the capital to Egypt

How he died Senate was meeting in Pompey’s theater Caesar had dismissed his bodyguard About 60 senators involved They attacked while he was being given

a petition