Julius Caesar's Civil War by Julian Romane

Author:Julian Romane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Ancient
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2023-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Pharnaces

Once he had marched to Pontus, Caesar gathered his force together. It was not strong, the VI Legion was by now about a thousand swords, battle and hard travel having taken their toll. But these were the hardiest men and best fighters in all of Caesar’s army; they were veterans of many battles, skilled at killing. Caesar also had the two legions which Calvinus had commanded in his expedition to Pontus, XXXVI Legion, and the Pontic legion; their commanders had brought them up to strength, but they were no better than they were under Calvinus. Deiotarus’ cavalry was, however, strong, and skilled. Pharnaces’ representatives soon approached Caesar. They offered peace since King Pharnaces would do all that Caesar might request and handed over a golden victory crown. Further, they went on, King Pharnaces refused to grant Pompey’s demand for troops, unlike Deiotarus who sent troops to Pompey; yet Caesar had forgiven Deiotarus.

Caesar answered the representatives: he would be more than forgiving of Pharnaces if he carried out Caesar’s instructions. But the king needs to be mindful of the fact that not sending troops to Pompey as a favour to Caesar was over-shadowed by his severe injuries to many Roman citizens in his power. Since it was not in Caesar’s power to bring back the dead or restore mutilated manhood, he did forgive Pharnaces. These are Caesar’s orders: Pharnaces must immediately withdraw from Pontus, release all the slaves which his minions and their families held, and restore property and positions to those injured by his actions. Caesar had the golden victory crown returned to Pharnaces’ representatives, saying, ‘If he does these things Caesar demands, then he might send a victory crown and gifts that victorious commanders are pleased to receive from their friends.’

To all Caesar’s demands, Pharnaces readily agreed. Everyone interested in the political world around them knew there were many reasons requiring Caesar to return to Rome. Pharnaces assumed a full assurance of complying with Caesar’s demands would send Caesar off toward Rome and actual fulfilment of the demands was not going to be necessary. Caesar was more than Pharnaces’ equal in chicanery: without forewarning, he marched against his stronghold, Zela.

Near the Galatian border, Zela was surrounded by hills easily fortified. One of these hills, the highest, was the site of a significant Roman defeat during the Mithridatic Wars. Pharnaces rebuilt the fortified camp that had been on the hilltop and occupied it with his field force. Caesar reached the area and set up camp about five miles from Pharnaces’ camp. He scouted out the land around and located a site that had many of the same defensive qualities that protected Pharnaces’ camp. Separated from Pharnaces’ hilltop by a deep ravine, the same steep ascent to grapple with his forces was matched by an ascent to the site Caesar found. The problem with the site was whether Caesar could occupy and fortify it quickly enough before Pharnaces successfully attacked.

Caesar, in his camp five miles away, ordered his men to collect the timbers required by a fortification brought to him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.