Julius Caesar · 45 BCE · mediterranean

Julius Caesar's account of the civil war against Pompey and the Senate, the Commentarii de Bello Civili, of 49 to 48 BC. Crossing the Rubicon into Italy, Caesar drives Pompey from Rome to the sea, secures Spain, then pursues his rival across the Adriatic to the decisive field of Pharsalus in Greece, and on to Egypt. The route spans the Roman Mediterranean from the Rubicon to Alexandria.

1. 1
   The Rubicon

   Defying the Senate, Caesar leads his legion across the Rubicon into Italy, the die cast, and civil war begins.

2. 2
   Rome

   Pompey and the Senate abandon Rome before him, falling back south toward the sea as Caesar takes the capital almost unopposed.

3. 3
   Ilerda

   Rather than follow Pompey at once, Caesar marches into Spain and at Ilerda forces the surrender of the Pompeian legions there, securing his rear.

4. 4
   Brundisium

   Returning to Italy, he gathers ships at Brundisium to carry the war across the Adriatic after Pompey.

5. 5
   Dyrrachium

   He lands in Greece and grapples with Pompey's larger army around Dyrrachium, where he is checked and nearly broken.

6. 6
   Pharsalus

   On the plain of Pharsalus in Thessaly the two armies meet at last, and Caesar's veterans shatter Pompey's host, deciding the war.

7. 7
   Alexandria

   Pompey flees to Egypt and is murdered there, and Caesar follows to Alexandria, drawn into a new war and the court of Cleopatra.