On 6 April 46 BCE, the Battle of Thapsus was fought between Julius Caesar and Metellus Scipio during the Roman Civil Wars.
Why did it happen?
Following his victory over Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus, Julius Caesar defeated Ptolemy XIII of Egypt and Pharnaces II of Pontus. However, Metellus Scipio, who had commanded Pompey’s centre at Pharsalus, escaped to North Africa, and on 28 December 47 BCE, Caesar landed in North Africa. On 4 January 46 BCE, Caesar suffered a setback when Titus Labienus defeated him at the Battle of Ruspina. A stalemate ensued for three months until reinforcements arrived to aid both sides. On 4 April, Caesar pitched camp near Thapsus and besieged it. In response, Scipio encamped eight miles from Thapsus, and Caesar subsequently left two legions to continue the siege. He led the remainder of his force to engage Scipio in battle on 6 April.
Who was involved?
Julius Caesar’s army at Thapsus numbered 20,000 infantry, 1,200 cavalry, and 2,000 archers. Regarding infantry, Caesar posted the Eighth and Ninth Legions on his left and the Tenth and Seventh Legions on his right with 2,500 soldiers of the Fifth Legion in reserve. The cavalry and archers were arrayed on both wings. Metellus Scipio’s army at Thapsus numbered 28,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry and 64 war elephants. The infantry was arrayed in the centre, with the cavalry on the flanks and war elephants in front of the cavalry wings. Metellus Scipio commanded the centre, with Juba I of Numidia leading the left wing and Titus Labienus leading the right wing.
What happened?
Against his orders, Caesar’s right wing charged Scipio’s left wing and shot at the Numidian war elephants with arrows, which caused them to flee. At the same time, the war elephants on Scipio’s right wing charged Caesar’s left wing and inflicted heavy casualties on the Fifth Legion before being driven off. At that point, Scipio and Caesar’s infantry engaged each other in close combat while Juba I held his Numidian cavalry back on Scipio’s left wing. At that point, Caesar’s cavalry on the left wing charged and routed Labienus’ cavalry and turned to attack Scipio’s infantry in the rear. As a rout ensued, Juba withdrew from the battle while 10,000 legionaries under Scipio fled back to their camp and offered to surrender. Caesar refused and had them all killed, while his losses numbered 1,000 killed or wounded throughout the battle.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of Thapsus was a victory for Julius Caesar. Not only was it the last battle in which the Romans used war elephants, but it ensured that Caesar would ultimately be victorious in the civil war. To quote R.G. Grant, “Although the civil war continued, Caesar’s enemies no longer had any real prospect of success” (Grant, 2011, p.78). Labienus, who fought at Thapsus, escaped to Spain, where he allied himself with Pompey’s two sons: Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Sextus Pompeius Magnus. In 45 BCE, these forces were decisively defeated by Caesar at the Battle of Munda. During the fighting at Munda, Caesar took a shield from one of his soldiers and exhorted his men to keep fighting, saying, “This will be the end of my life and of your campaigns” (Fields, 2010, p.31). The morale boost had its effect, and Caesar went on to declare himself dictator for life before being murdered in 44 BCE.
Bibliography
Caesar, Julius. African War. Translated by A.G. Way. London, Loeb Classical Library, 1955.
Fields, Nic. Julius Caesar. Oxford, Osprey Publishing, 2010.
Grant, R.G. 1001 Battles That Changed the Course of History. London, Cassell Illustrated, 2011.
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