Battle of Zela

Porta Collina - Pistoria - Bagradas - Dyrrhachium - Pharsalus - Nile - Zela - Thapsus - Munda - Forum Gallorum - Mutina - Philippi - Mylae - Naulochoi - Actium

The Battle of Zela occurred near Zile in Asia Minor on May 21, in 47 BC ( Julian calendar) between Gaius Julius Caesar on one side and Pharnakes II, King of the Bosporan Kingdom, on the other side.

Prehistory

Pharnakes had in the Battle of Nicopolis the Roman legate Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus defeated and then wanted the territories of his father Mithridates VI. recapture of Pontos. After the victory, the Roman traditions, Pharnakes committed atrocities against Roman citizens and the former allies of Rome. However, when he heard of the Middle Caesars, he sent envoys immediately with peace offerings, which decided rejected the Roman commander, as his peace terms, such as immediate withdrawal of Pharnakes from Pontos, were not met.

The Battle

After Pharnakes had been informed of the hostile intentions of Caesar, he positioned his troops on a hill near the present town of Zile. He had only a few units are well- educated, a large part of his army consisted of mercenaries and soldiers forcibly committed. Caesar, who had a very experienced, proven in the Civil War Legion, his troops had also set up camp on a hill, around, as well as Pharnakes to be in a good defensive position. Against all military logic Pharnakes attacked the army of Caesar uphill to what caused at first by the Romans for some confusion and loss. However, the experienced Roman legionaries were able to surprise attack strike back quickly and beat the Pontic army to flight. Pharnakes fled with a few followers from the battlefield, but was assassinated in the same year of the usurper Asandros in the Crimea in an ambush.

Follow

Ending after only five days -long campaign against Pharnakes and four hours decisive battle against the Bosporan King Caesar put the words Veni Vidi Vici ("I came, I saw, I conquered " ) in a letter, according to the Greek biographer Plutarch, to his friend Gaius Matius. It was also carried a sign with these three words according to Suetonius in his triumph over Pontus.