August 9, 48 BC · Thessaly (central Greece) Theater
August 9, 48 BC
The battle that destroyed the Roman Republic was fought on the plain of Pharsalus in Thessaly on August 9, 48 BC. Pompey had a significant numerical advantage — perhaps 45,000 infantry to Caesar's 22,000 and 7,000 cavalry to Caesar's 1,000. His plan was simple: use his overwhelming cavalry on the left wing to sweep away Caesar's horsemen, then envelop the Caesarian infantry from the rear. Caesar anticipated exactly this and placed six secretly withdrawn cohorts behind his cavalry with orders to advance obliquely when the Pompeian horse charged. The plan worked precisely: Pompey's cavalry, unused to infantry counter-attacking from unexpected angles, broke and fled. The six cohorts then wheeled into the Pompeian infantry's unprotected flank. Caesar's veteran infantry, advancing simultaneously from the front, completed the encirclement. The Pompeian army collapsed entirely; Pompey fled the battlefield without giving any orders, according to Caesar's own account. Caesar reported 15,000 Pompeians killed and 24,000 prisoners; his own losses were 200 soldiers and 30 centurions.
Commanders