Battle of Dyrrhachium

The Battle of Dyrrhachium was fought in the Great Roman Civil War between Julius Caesar and Pompey (49-45 BCE).

10 July 48 BCE at Dyrrhachium (Durres, Albania), opposite Brindisi and Bari in Italy.

In 49 BCE after Julius Caesar had threatened Rome by Crossing the Rubicon, Pompey fled and sailed from Brindisium (Brindisi) to Dyrrhachium (Durres) with his Army taking the Roman Fleet of 600 ships.
This left Julius Caesar with no ships to pursue him. Whilst awaiting construction of a new Fleet, Julius Caesar marched his Legions to Spain, and pre-empted a Rebellion in his rear. When he returned to Brindisi, only half his ships were ready.

Julius Caesar made a decision to split his Army in half, cross the Adriatic to the coast of Epirus, with the first half and return for a second crossing for the remainder.
The Fleet landed the first half of the Army successfully. But the Naval Commander Marcus Calpurnius Balbulus, intercepted and burnt the Fleet as it returned, leaving inadequate forces to face Pompey.
Julius Caesar attempted to hold a Treaty with Pompey but he refused to hold talks.

Reinforcements then arrived under Mark Anthony. Julius Caesar was now dependent on Mark Anthony breaking through the naval blockade to save him.
Mark Anthony‘s army landed to the north of Julius Caesar‘s position. Pompey then moved north to meet him, but Julius Caesar closed in behind. Pompey was forced to retreat to Dyrrhachium (Durres).

Pompey had the Sea and Mountains to his Rear. No frontal assault was possible, and he could be re-supplied by sea.
Julius Caesar decided to pin Pompey against the sea, by getting his engineers to build walls and fortifications around Pompey‘s army. Pompey immediately built his own walls and fortifications opposite those of Caesar’s.
As summer came their positions changed. Caesar now had access to grain, but Pompey was getting low on fresh water.
Pompey needed to break out. Two deserters from Caesar’s army told him where the weakest point was in Caesar’s wall.

On the 10th July 48 BCE Pompey launched six Legions against the weakest point, which was defended by Caesar’s Legio IX Hispana.
Initially, Mark Anthony using 12 cohorts and repulsed Pompey‘s Army.
But eventually Pompey‘s larger forces overwhelmed Julius Caesar‘s Army, forcing him to retreat from Dyrrhachium.
Julius Caesar was obliged to rally and organise a withdrawal. Pompey stopped the onslaught expecting another counterattack, but it never came, and he missed the opportunity of defeating and capturing Caesar.

Caesar withdrew to the nearby town of Gomphi, to resupply and reconsolidate, before continuing to Pharsalus for the impending Battle of Pharsalus.

Durres, Albania