NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... ones in pacifying Attics, but Juba posed to be a greater threat. He had superior numbers to Curio, and better knowledge of the terrain and used this to his advantage. He ambushed Curio surrounding him and crushing his army. Curio had a chance to escape with his life, but instead chose to remain and fight with his soldiers until the end. He died with the hope of a quick end to the war.
Caesars momentum had been stopped with this battle. Another major problem facing Caesar was the gathering force that Pompey was creating in Greece and Albania. He had eleven Roman legions in training, and another ready force of approximately three thousand archers, twelve hundred slingers, nearly seven thousand cavalry, five hundred warships, and huge gain and other war materials which had come from his blockade of the sea. Pompey was ready for a full-scale invasion of Italy that is of course, until Caesar landed in Albania. Both men were hoping to take control of a very strategic point, Dyrrhacium. It was a key spot, where Pompey could launch an invasion of Italy rather easily, and Caesar could defend against one.
It was pretty much an all out race for this spot, and Pompey won. He gained control of this spot, right as Caesar started a siege against it. Caesar got into trouble though, he accidentally over extended his troop lines, and Pompey broke it at the weak point. Caesar faced a strong reversal against him, and decided to bring the battle to different ground.
He went farther inland, where Pompey's great fleet would prove useless, but in doing so opened up all of undefended Italy. Instead of taking Italy, Pompey chose to pursue Caesar. He was confident that he would defeat Caesar because he had superior numbers, greatly out numbering Caesar. Caesars men totaled 22, 000 troops, while Pompey had nearly 47, 000. Also, Pompey's cavalry nearly outnumbered Caesars 7: 1. Caesar ended up at Pharsalus, and knew the circumstances.
He knew hed have to use wise tactics in order to defeat Pompey, or his forces would be crushed. That was exactly what he did. Caesar predicted that Pompey would over-rely on his cavalry to flank his troops, and thought the only way to counter them was to arm his troops with spears, and pretty much do what they did in Braveheart. Raise the spears and stab the horses causing chaos in their lines. Then, flank Pompey's troops with his own cavalry and defeat them. All this worked out exactly as planned.
Pompey's great army was crushed by Caesar, about 15, 000 of Pompey's men died, and over 24, 000 were taken prisoners, the rest fled off. Pompey, seeing his defeat rode off on horseback to Lesbos to see his wife. After the battle Caesar decided to go off and search for Pompey, more than likely in hope to make an alliance, and bring a quick end to the war. Pompey however, could not make one, after going to his wife, he thought he would go to Egypt, and try to regain power. He arrived at time when Egypt itself was in a Civil War, Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy were fighting for the throne. Pompey, after requesting to see the king, was stabbed and killed by a renegade Roman.
He decapitated him, and waited for Caesars arrival to give it to him as a gift. When Caesar arrived and saw what had been done to him, he burst into tears and ordered a proper burial of him. The man who committed this was found, and executed for doing an act of violence to a Roman leader. The Romans in Egypt were greatly disliked; there were many muggings and murders of soldiers in the streets. To put an end to all this, Caesar ordered both Cleopatra and Ptolemy to come to Alexandria where they would decide who had the right to rule. The decision of Caesar was that Cleopatra should be the ruler, but Ptolemy did not agree.
He attacked Caesars army and kept him at siege in Alexandria for many months. Caesar was vastly outnumbered, and the only hope he had was with two legions that he had ordered to come. Once they arrived, the superior Roman army rather easily crushed the Egyptians. They tracked Ptolemy down, and when they finally caught up to him, drowned him in the Nile.
Then, Caesar gave the crown to Cleopatra and another brother Ptolemy XIV, who later became her husband. Afterwards, Caesar continued on to Syria, where Pontus was committing crimes and causing mayhem to Roman citizens there. Caesar quickly tracked down his entire army, and defeated it in five days. He wrote afterwards in a letter to his friend Veni, Vidi, Vici. Meaning, I came, I saw, I conquered. Then quickly headed back to Italy to deal with the matters that were forming while he was gone.
Many problems formed while he was in absence for over eighteen months in Egypt. He had to restore the order by solving the social and economic problems. He had to raise money and restore discipline for his soldiers, who were becoming mutinous. Also, defeat the remaining forces loyal to Pompey's cause in Africa, who planned to invade Italy. Caesars fix to the mutiny, was rather quick.
He gave a speech to his soldiers, and asked them what they wanted. When they replied to be decommissioned he allowed it. Then, at the end of his speech he addressed them as his fellow citizens. Out of embarrassment, they begged to be re-instated as soldiers. Caesar gladly allowed of it. The great debt of most people was relieved when Caesar had issued that all loans would go without interest for a year.
Once this took effect, all rioters stopped, and society returned to somewhat normal. With another one of Caesars quick fixes he left for Africa, where he ran into a lot of trouble. Scipio, the commander of the army in Africa vastly outnumbered Caesar. He had 50, 000 infantry and over 18, 000 cavalry. Caesar had about half as much infantry, but only about one-sixth the cavalry.
Caesar was lucky indeed though, because Scipio wasnt the smartest of leaders. Scipio had Caesar trapped at Source, but didnt use this to his advantage. He could have sent some of his army and invaded Italy, or even lured Caesars army into the desert, which would be a horrible place for Caesars men to fight. But, instead, he chose to fight Caesar on the ground he was on.
Not only that, but he chose to dig trenches in a place where his cavalry could not be deployed. Caesar spotting this opportunity attacked before their completion, and defeated them. He captured all their cavalry, and stood as the victor. The only resistance he faced now was a small army in Spain that was rebelling. He sent eight legions, and expected a quick and easy victory.
This, he did not receive. They were commanded by two of Pompey's sons, Sextus and Gas. They were wise tacticians and had fifteen legions of soldiers. Caesar attempt to lure them into a fight by attacking their cities, but failed. They instead lured him into an uphill battle. This battle had heavy casualties on both sides, but due to Caesars more discipline and wise generalship, he proved to be the victor.
Gnaeus was captured a few weeks after the battle, but Sextus later returned in his life to fight Caesars successors. This was the end of the Civil War, all resistance was defeated, and Caesar returned to Rome, where his dictatorship was renewed for another ten years to come.
Free research essays on topics related to: cavalry, caesar, caesars, civil war, pompey
Research essay sample on Quick End To The War Invasion Of Italy Caesar
