Battle of Nicopolis (48 BC)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Nicopolis was fought in December 48 BC
between the army of Pharnaces II of Pontus
, the son of Mithdridates VI Eupator
, and a Roman army led by Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus.
After defeating Pompey the Great and the optimates at Pharsalus
, Julius Caesar
went to Asia Minor and then to Egypt. In Asia province he left Calvinus in command with an army consisting out of the XXXVI legion, made up out of mainly veterans from Pompey's disbanded legions. With Caesar preoccupied in Egypt and the Roman republic in the midst of civil strife, Pharnaces saw an opportunity to expand his Kingdom of the Bosphorus
into his father's old Pontic empire. In 48 BC he invaded Cappadocia
, Bithynia
and Armenia Parva
.
Parva, which were armed and organised in the Roman style by King Deiotarus
of Galatia
. He also had local auxiliary skirmishers and cavalry from Cilicia
. Despite being outnumbered by Pharnaces, Calvinus advanced toward Pontus in order to strengthen his forces with military settlers hastily recruited from Rome's Pontian colonies. Pharnaces tried to delay Calvinus by diplomatic means but failing in this, retired to the vicinity of Nicopolis in Armenia Parva. Calvinus brought his army to within seven miles from Nicopolis and, avoiding an ambush set by Pharnaces, deployed his army. Pharnaces now retired to the city and awaited a further Roman advance.
The Romans deployed the 36th legion on the right wing, the force of former legionaries recruited from the Pontic colonies on the left and the recently levied green legions in the center. The Roman auxiliaries formed the advance guard and what little cavalry the Romans had were put on the flanks. As Pharnaces outnumbered the Romans, Calvinus spread his army thin in order to match Pharances' deployment and avoid being outflanked. The battle began poorly for Calvinus' as his levied Asiatic troops fled soon after the onset of battle. With a large segment of his line now gone, Calvinus could not assault the enemy positions with any hope of victory and had little option but to retreat. The steadiness of his veteran legionaries saving him from complete annihilation, he oversaw a fighting withdrawal. Although the XXXVI Legion escaped with light losses, Calvinus had lost nearly two thirds of his army by the time he had fully disengaged.
.
48 BC
Year 48 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Vatia...
between the army of Pharnaces II of Pontus
Pharnaces II of Pontus
Pharnaces II of Pontus, also known as Pharnaces II was a prince, then King of Pontus and the Bosporan until his death. He was a monarch of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. Pharnaces II was the youngest son and child born to King Mithridates VI of Pontus from his first wife, his sister Queen...
, the son of Mithdridates VI Eupator
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI Mithradates , from Old Persian Mithradatha, "gift of Mithra"; 134 BC – 63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120 BC to 63 BC...
, and a Roman army led by Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus.
After defeating Pompey the Great and the optimates at Pharsalus
Battle of Pharsalus
The Battle of Pharsalus was a decisive battle of Caesar's Civil War. On 9 August 48 BC at Pharsalus in central Greece, Gaius Julius Caesar and his allies formed up opposite the army of the republic under the command of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus...
, Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
went to Asia Minor and then to Egypt. In Asia province he left Calvinus in command with an army consisting out of the XXXVI legion, made up out of mainly veterans from Pompey's disbanded legions. With Caesar preoccupied in Egypt and the Roman republic in the midst of civil strife, Pharnaces saw an opportunity to expand his Kingdom of the Bosphorus
Bosporan Kingdom
The Bosporan Kingdom or the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus was an ancient state, located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus...
into his father's old Pontic empire. In 48 BC he invaded Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
and Armenia Parva
Lesser Armenia
Lesser Armenia , also known as Armenia Minor and Armenia Inferior, refers to the Armenian populated regions, primarily to the West and North-West of the ancient Armenian Kingdom...
.
Prelude
Calvinus concentrated his forces at Comana. These forces consisted of the Roman XXXVI Legion, two recently levied green local legions recruited in ArmeniaArmenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
Parva, which were armed and organised in the Roman style by King Deiotarus
Deiotarus
Deiotarus of Galatia was a Chief Tetrarch of the Tolistobogii at Western Galatia, Asia Minor, and a King of Galatia at Anatolia, Asia Minor. He was considered one of the most adept of Celtic kings, ruling the three tribes of Celtic Galatia from his fortress in Blucium...
of Galatia
Galatia
Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace , who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. It has been called the "Gallia" of...
. He also had local auxiliary skirmishers and cavalry from Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
. Despite being outnumbered by Pharnaces, Calvinus advanced toward Pontus in order to strengthen his forces with military settlers hastily recruited from Rome's Pontian colonies. Pharnaces tried to delay Calvinus by diplomatic means but failing in this, retired to the vicinity of Nicopolis in Armenia Parva. Calvinus brought his army to within seven miles from Nicopolis and, avoiding an ambush set by Pharnaces, deployed his army. Pharnaces now retired to the city and awaited a further Roman advance.
Battle
Calvinus advanced to find Pharnaces' heavy infantry formed in deep ranks between two trenches, fronted by his skirmishers and flanked by numerous cavalry beyond the trenches.The Romans deployed the 36th legion on the right wing, the force of former legionaries recruited from the Pontic colonies on the left and the recently levied green legions in the center. The Roman auxiliaries formed the advance guard and what little cavalry the Romans had were put on the flanks. As Pharnaces outnumbered the Romans, Calvinus spread his army thin in order to match Pharances' deployment and avoid being outflanked. The battle began poorly for Calvinus' as his levied Asiatic troops fled soon after the onset of battle. With a large segment of his line now gone, Calvinus could not assault the enemy positions with any hope of victory and had little option but to retreat. The steadiness of his veteran legionaries saving him from complete annihilation, he oversaw a fighting withdrawal. Although the XXXVI Legion escaped with light losses, Calvinus had lost nearly two thirds of his army by the time he had fully disengaged.
Aftermath
A subsequent rebellion in his rear prevented Pharnaces from capitalizing on his victory, forcing him to return to deal with it. By the time the rebellion was quelled, Caesar had arrived to rectify the situation and then decisively defeated Pharnaces at the Battle of ZelaBattle of Zela
The Battle of Zela was a battle fought in 47 BC between Julius Caesar and Pharnaces II of The Kingdom of Pontus.-Prelude:After the defeat of the Ptolemaic forces at the Battle of the Nile, Caesar left Egypt and travelled through Syria, Cilicia and Cappadocia to fight Pharnaces, son of Mithridates...
.