Battle of Pharsalus

Battle of Pharsalus
Part of Caesar's invasion of Macedonia during Caesar's Civil War
Date 9 August 48 BC Location Palaepharsalus, Greece 39°22′15″N 22°20′01″E / 39.3707°N 22.3335°E / 39.3707; 22.3335 Result Caesarian victory Territorial changes Most of the Eastern Roman provinces defect to Caesar[1]
Belligerents
Caesarians	Pompeians
Commanders and leaders
Julius Caesar Mark Antony Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus Publius Cornelius Sulla	Pompey Titus Labienus Metellus Scipio Lucius Domitius † Lucius Cornelius Lentulus
Units involved
Legio VI Legio VII Legio VIII Legio IX Legio X Legio XI Legio XII Legio XIII	Syrian legions Cilician legions Legio I Legio III
Strength
23,000+ 22,000 legionaries 1,000 cavalry A few light infantry	41,000–52,000+ c. 36,000–45,000 legionaries 5,000–7,000 cavalry Thousands of light infantry
Casualties and losses
200–1,200 killed	30,000–39,000[2][3][4][i] 6,000–15,000 killed 24,000 captured
class=notpageimage| Location within Greece

The Battle of Pharsalus was the decisive battle of Caesar's Civil War fought on 9 August 48 BC near Pharsalus in Central Greece. Julius Caesar and his allies formed up opposite the army of the Roman Republic under the command of Pompey.^[6] Pompey had the backing of a majority of Roman senators and his army significantly outnumbered the veteran Caesarian legions.

Pressured by his officers, Pompey reluctantly engaged in battle and suffered an overwhelming defeat, ultimately fleeing the camp and his men, disguised as an ordinary citizen. Eventually making his way to Egypt, he was assassinated upon his arrival at the order of Ptolemy XIII.^[7]

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