- The Battle of Thapsus (46 BCE) was fought between Julius Caesar and Titus Labienus during the Great Roman Civil War (49-45 BCE).
Date and Location
- Date: 06 April 46 BCE at Thapsus, modern Bakalta in Tunisia.
The Reason for the Battle
- After losing in Iberia and Greece, the Optimates had retreated and consolidated into a defensive position in Africa, where they still posed a threat to Julius Caesar.
The Winner
- Winner: Julius Caesar
- Loser: Metellus Scipio
The Adversaries
- Titus Labienus
- Metellus Scipio
- Marcus Petreius
- Juba I of Numidia
The Commanders
- Titus Labienus
- Cato the Younger
- versus:
- Julius Caesar
The Strength of the Forces under Julius Caesar
- 10 Legions: of which 4 are known:
- Auxiliaries and Allies:
- Allied Cavalry: 5,000
- Losses: 1,000
The Strength of the Forces under Pompey
- Legions: 72,000 men (12 Legions)
- Auxiliaries and Allies: 30,000 Numidians belonging to Juba I.
- 60 War Elephants
- Allied Cavalry: 14,500 horse
- Casualties and Losses: 30,000
How the Armies were Deployed
- On 28 December 47 BCE Julius Caesar left Rome and landed in Hadrumetum (Sousse, Tunisia).
- For the next three months both sides tested each other, whilst Julius Caesar awaited supplies from Sicily.
- Scipio and his Army were camped on a Peninsular behind Thapsus.
How the Battle was Fought
- In February 46 BCE Julius Caesar then moved suddenly and encircled Thapsus on its Peninsular, and blocked its southern entrance with a triple line of fortifications, leaving no escape.
- Scipio was forced to confront Caesar’s Army, and launched his Elephants to the Centre.
- The Centre was held by the Legio V Alaudae who scattered the Elephants with Pilum attacks. Scipio’s Cavalry was also dispersed and Scipio’s Centre then collapsed.
- Seeing this, King Juba I and his 30,000 Numidians retired without ever fighting.
- 10,000 men tried to surrender, but Caesar’s Legions destroyed them.
The Outcome
- Scipio and Labienus escaped. King Juba I committed suicide rather than surrender.
- Although not present, Cato the Younger committed suicide at Utica, after hearing of his Allies Defeat, rather than surrender himself.
- It was the last Battle where War Elephants (60) were used.
- Having eliminated his Enemies’ Armies in the East, Julius Caesar had now successfully dislodged them from their power base in North Africa.
- On the 25th July 46 BCE Julius Caesar returned to Rome, leaving Crispus as Governor of Africa.
- Pompey’s sons had taken control of Iberia during early 46 BCE and Caesar now prepared to defeat them at the Battle of Munda.
Bakalta (Thapsus) Tunisia