Gaius Julius Caesar

Recorded sideRoman Republic

Recorded resultvictory

Decisive Roman victory; completion of the conquest of Gaul

Caesar built two concentric rings of fortifications — an inner wall to trap Vercingetorix's army and an outer wall facing out to fend off the relief force. Caught between besieged and besiegers, his troops held both lines and broke the Gallic revolt.

What followed

The masterpiece of Roman siege engineering and the decisive end of Gallic independence.

Recorded sideCaesarians (Gaius Julius Caesar)

Recorded resultvictory

Decisive Caesarian victory; Pompey fled and was later killed in Egypt

Anticipating that Pompey would use his huge cavalry advantage to envelop the open right flank, Caesar concealed a fourth line of veteran cohorts behind it. When Pompey's cavalry charged and scattered Caesar's outnumbered horse, the hidden cohorts rose and thrust their pila at the riders' faces, panicking and routing the cavalry. The reserve then wheeled into Pompey's exposed left wing while the disciplined Caesarian legions broke the infantry; Pompey fled the field.

What followed

Decisive battle of Caesar's Civil War; broke the senatorial/Optimate cause and made Caesar master of the Roman world, leading to his dictatorship and the end of the Republic. Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was murdered.