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under Achillas from Pelusinm. Achillas takes possession of Alexamlria, except the part held by Caesar, which the
latter places in a state of defence. Caesar also holds Ptolemy and Pothinus as hostages.
Caesar being now in an embarrassing position, secures his rear by taking possession of the tower on the island of
Pharos ; sets alxjut obtaining reinforcements in ships and troops ; and calls on Mithridales of Pergamura to march an
army to his aid b}' way of Syria.
Caesar not only holds his own amidst the intrigues against him in Alexandria, but also goes out himself with his
fleet and successfully brings in a convoy of reinforcements arriving from Rhodes. An attempt to intercept him in
this venture is frustrated by a naval victory gained by Caesar and the Rhodian admiral Euphranor over the
Alexaudiians.
The Alexandrians now prepare a fresh fleet in order to blockade Caesar. Eut seeing the danger, Caesar takes his
fleet to the Eunostos harbour, attacks tlie enemy and signally defeats them. He tlien captures the entire island of
Pharos, so as to command tlie mole (Heptastadiiim) and the entrance to both harbours.
The next day Caesar attacks the Alexandrian fort on the south end of t!ie mole ; and in a fight on the mole, between
the island and the city, Caesar is defeated and his troops put to liight, Caesar himself being saved bj- swimming to a
galley. His troops, however, soon recover their spirit. At this time Caesar, approached by the Alexandrians, bunds
over Ptolemy to them.
The Alexandrians, still in an unsettled state, now hear the true rumour that a force is marching overland to Caesar's
aid, and also a false rumour that a convoy of troops is approaching him by sea. They take steps to intercept the
latter, and Caesar sends out a fleet under Tiberius Nero to fall upon their ships. In this action Caesar's fleet is
defeated.
47.—In January, Mithridates of Pergannun arrives across Syria with reinforcements for Caesar. He assaults and captures
Pelusium, then marches towards Memphis, and soon approaches the Delta.
Ptolemy despatclies a force from Alexandria to check Mithridates. This force meets Mithridates 30 miles below
Memphis and is signally defeated.
On news of this reaching Alexandria, Caesar and Ptolemy both set out, one to aid the other to resist Mithridates.
Caesar, leaving a garrison behind, is conveyed by his fleet along the coast ; he disembarks and marches along the
south of lake Mareotis, and joins Mitluidates before Ptolemy is aware of his movements.
Ptolemy is encamped on a hill protected by the Nile on one side aiul a morass on the other. But Caesar so
manoeuvres his force as to take Ptolemy in the front and rear, and signally defeats and routs the Alexandrians.
Ptolemy himself perishes by drowning.
Caesar then advances with liis cavalry to Alexandria, which opens its gates and sues for pardon. He now settles
matters bj- ])lacing Cleopatra and the jounger son on the throne, and, leaving a garrison, himself starts by sea for
Syria with the sixth legion.
\Vlule Caesar was engaged in Egypt, there was trouble in Illyricum. A. Gabinius is sent fiom Italy to assist
Cornuficius, but in a winter campaign is defeated by Pompey's lUyrian auxiliaries and retreats to ijalonae, where he
is invested ; Pompey's lieutenant, Octavius, also overnnis half Illyricum.
P. Vatinius now collects ships at Brumlisiuiu and goes to the relief of Illyricum. He con)pels Octavius to raise the
siege of Djrrhachium, and inflicts on him a severe defeat near the Island of Tauris. Octavius then retires to Africa,
and Illyricum is saved to Caesar.
While the opposing Roman parties are engaged, trouble arises also in Asia Minor. Pharnaces, king of the Bosporus,
thinking the occa.sion suitable, threiitens Armenia and Cappadocia, which appeal to Domitius Calvinus, Caesars
representative in Asia. Domitius marches from Comaiia to the west of
is defeated and compelled to retire into Roman Asia. Pharnaces
Pontus.
Nicopolis, and in the action with Pharnaces
now re-establishes his father's kingdom in
and from Tarsus starts
Caesar, on his wa3' from Egypt, after visiting certain Sj'rian towns (see Map), sails to Cilicia ;
at once for Pontus by «ay of ilazaca in Cappadocia.
Doubting tlie good faith of Pharnaces, Caesar refuses to accept his submission and iletermines to punish him. Caesar
seizes an unoccupied hill near Zela, where Pliarnaces is encamped, whereupon the latter attacks the Romans. A
severe struggle ends in the defeat and flight of Pharnaces, and tlie destruction of his army. Leaving a garrison in
Pontus, Caesar, on the next day, starts
equiliim.
for Rome, where he had been made dictator, with Antony as his ma'ji-iter
The Roman province of Africa was now in the hands of Pompey's adherents ; Metellus Scipio, Cato, Labieuus, the
two sons of Pompey and others having collected there the remnants of the Pompeian army. Cato was the praetor at
Utica. Ring Julia was allied to the Punipcians.
Caesar, determined to break up this coalition, collects transports and troops and starts for Africa. Taking Lilybaeuni
on the way, he sets sail from Aponiana, passes Clupea ami Neapolis, and lands and encamps at Hadruiiietum with
3,000 men and loO cavalry, having parted company with the rest of his ships, which were blown by the wind, where
he knew not. Not finding himself strong enough to attack the place, he retires to Ruspina, then to Leptis, and
returns again
troops.
to Ruspina, where he forms an entrenched camp. Here he is joineil by his missing ships and
Socn after, Caesar with a small force goes into the interior for a foraging expetlition, wlien he is practically surrounded
by an army of Pompeians under Labieuus, Petreius and others. By his tactical manoeuvres Caesar extricates
himself, inflicts a defeat on the Pompeians, and regains his camp at Ruspina.
Scipio,
fortify
leaving a strong garrison at Utica, marches to Hadrumetum, then
a camp three miles south of Caesar's position at Ruspina and
joins Labienus and Petreius. They
practically blockade him from the
land-side.
At this time young Pompey is urged by Cato to invade Mauretania ; he is, however, driven away from the coast and
sails for the Balearic islands. Owing to this attempt, Bogudes, king of Mauretania, anxious to assist Caesar, joins
P. Sittius, a soldier of fortune, and they invade Numidia and capture Cirta, thus coin])elling the return of Juba to
defend his country. Scipio thus loses at a critical time a valuable ally, to the great relief of Caesar.
Scipio now garrisons Hadrumetum and Thapsus and attempts to shut Caes;ir in. He also holds Ucita in the
plain south of Ruspina, but owing to dilKcultics in obtaining water, moves his camp to the hills west of Ucita.
Caesar thereupon marches from Huspina along the coast and strikes to the west towards Ucita, where he throws uj)
works on the slopes facing west. Scipio and Labienus attempt to intercept him, and Labienus leads his horse to the