In practice, this was rarely the case, especially if, like Caesar’s legions at Pharsalus, they had been on campaign for some time. This meant that on paper, a legion consisted of 4,800 men. Six centuries made up a cohort, and ten cohorts a legion. These were organised into ‘centuries’ of 80 men, each one commanded by a centurion who led from the front and a second-in-command called an optio, who was stationed in the rear to keep the ranks in order. The backbone of both armies was provided by professional Italian heavy infantry. Warriors and weapons at the battle of Pharsalus His plan was simple – while his own infantry place, his horsemen would sweep aside the enemy’s paltry cavalry force and then wheel inwards to attack Caesar in the flank and rear. Realising this, Pompey massed his cavalry against Caesar’s right flank. That way it was impossible for Pompey’s fast-moving cavalry to ride around them. Surprise strategyīoth generals deployed their troops in three lines, Caesar making sure that the left flank of his army was hard up against the river Enipeus. Pompey began to see Caesar as a dangerous enemy whose power urgently needed curbing. ![]() But, when Crassus was killed, Julia died and Caesar began amassing power in Gaul, the alliance fell apart. The trio dominated Roman politics for seven years. The secret alliance he concluded with his rivals Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus – cemented when he married Caesar’s daughter, Julia – initially worked well. Such was his power and prestige that, in 70 BC, although well below the legal age for such a post, he was appointed consul – the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic. He played an important part in Sulla’s victory over Marius in the Roman civil war of 82 BC, fought in Sicily, Spain and Africa, helped to stamp out the Spartacus slave revolt, cleared the Mediterranean of pirates and conquered Armenia, Syria and Palestine.Īn excellent administrator, his organisation of Rome’s newly won territories in the east was a huge success. ![]() During his long career, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great) won a string of impressive military victories.
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