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Battle of Thapsus
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Battle of Thapsus

Roman history
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Article History
Quick Facts
Date:
February 6, 46 BCE
Location:
Tunisia
Participants:
Gaius Caesar
Pompey the Great
Context:
Roman Civil War

Battle of Thapsus, (February 6, 46 bce [Julian calendar]), in ancient Roman history, battle during the civil war between the Caesarians and the Pompeians (49–46 bce). Thapsus was a North African seaport about 5 miles (8 km) east of present-day Teboulba, Tunisia. Quintus Metellus Scipio, Pompey’s father-in-law, intending to relieve Caesar’s siege of Thapsus, drew up his 14 legions (some 70,000 men) and 15,000 cavalry on the corridor of land that formed the northern approach to the city.

Caesar’s officers could not restrain their own forces, which numbered approximately 60,000 men. The Caesarian troops surged forward and overwhelmed the enemy and then, completely out of control, slaughtered about 10,000 of them. Cato, who commanded the forces of the North African city of Utica, committed suicide rather than surrender to Caesar. Within three weeks of his victory, Caesar had conquered Roman Africa.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.