Battle of Munda

The battles of Munda was held the March 17th 45 av. J. - C. in the plains of Munda, in the south of the Spain. It was the last battle which opposed Jules César to the partisans of the République. After the victory and the death of Titus Labiénus and Pumped the Young person (the son of Pumped Large the), César could return to Rome and controlled with the title of dictator . Its assassination marked the beginning of the process which led to the end of the republic. Its great nephew, Octave, became the first Roman Emperor.

Context

After the defeats of Dyrrhacium, Pharsale and Thapsus, the partisans of the republic, led to the origin by Pumped, was confined in the Spanish provinces. In fact, during spring 46 av. J. - C., two legions of Hispania Ulterior, made up mainly of veterans of the legions of Pumped enlisted in the army of César, were declared faithful to Gnaeus Pompeius (wire of large Pompée) and drove out the proconsul de César. A little later they were joined by the remainders of the army of Pumped which had been destroyed at the time of the Bataille of Thapsus in April 46 av. J. - C.. These troops were ordered by the brothers Gnaeus Pompeius and Sextus Pompeius (wire of Pumped) and by the talented general Titus Labiénus who had been one of the principal generals of César during the War of Gaules. Using the resources of the province, they raised an army made up of 13 legions (two legions of veterans, a legion of Roman citizens living in Spain and the others made up of noncitizens of the province) and took the control of almost all the province of Hispania Ulterior, in particular the important Roman colonies of Italica and Cordoue (the capital of the province). The generals of César Quintus Fabius Maximus and Quintus Pedius did not take the risk to engage the battle, remained in their camp with Oculbo, approximately 50  km in the east of Cordoue, and requested the assistance of César.

Thus, Jules César had to leave Rome for Spain in order to subdue the rebellion. He took along two legions of confidence aguerries (Legio X Equestris and Legio V Alaudae) and several new legions (in particular Legio III Gallica and Legio VI Ferrata), but most of its troops made up of recruits already in Spain. César covered the distance which separated Rome d' Obulco (more 2  400  km) in less than one month and arrived at the beginning of December (he immediately wrote a poem describing the voyage, Iter ). César had required of its Octave great nephew to join it, but, this one fell sick and could join it only after the countryside was finished.

Benefitting from the surprise caused by its arrival, César managed to break the seat which Ulipia underwent (a city which had remained faithful to César and which Gnaeus Pompeius besieged) but could not take Cordoue which was defended by Sextus Pompée. On the council of Labiénus, Gnaeus Pompeius decided to avoid a frontal battle and César had to conduct a winter campaign. After a court sits, César took the strengthened city of Ategua. It was a serious blow carried to moral of the partisans pompéiens and some their local allies started to pass in the camp of César. A skirmish close to Soricaria turned the March 7th in favor of César. Many Romans of the camp pompéien planned to change camp what forced Gnaeus Pompeius to give up its tactic and to fight battle.

Battle

The two armies met in the plains of Munda, close to Osuna, in the south of the Spain. The army pompéienne was located on hill, with approximately 1  km of the walls of Munda, in a defensive position. César had 8 legions (80 Cohorte S) and 8000 riders, while Pompéiens ordered 13 legions, 6000 light infantrymen and approximately 6000 riders. Many the republican soldiers had gone to César at the time of preceding campaigns and had then deserted its army to join Pompée: fearing not to be forgiven one second time (César had already carried out prisoners), they were going to fight with the energy of despair. After a movement intended to reduce Pompéiens from their hill which proved to be a failure, César ordered a frontal attack (with the war cry Venus , goddess whose César was the downward one).

The combat lasted one good moment without no camp taking the advantage. The generals united with the fray. César says later that it fought many times for the victory, but that in Munda it had to fight for its life. César took the command of the right wing, where its favorite legion, the X Equestris, was engaged in a hard combat. Xe legion then started to push back the forces pompéiennes. Conscious of the danger, Gnaeus Pompeius withdrew a legion of its right wing to reinforce its threatened left wing. As of the moment when the right wing pompéienne was weakened the cavalry of César launched a decisive attack. King Bogud of Mauritania and his cavalry, combined of César, attacked the troops pompéiennes on their backs. Titus Labiénus, ordering cavalry pompéienne, saw this operation and sprang with their meeting. Unfortunately for Pompeius, its legionaries believed that the Cavalerie fled. The legions pompéiennes fled then in disorder. Although some could seek the protection of the walls of Munda, much out of soldiers were killed in their retirement. At the end of the battle, approximately 30  000 soldiers pompéiens rested on the field of Bataille whereas the forces of César counted 1  000 killed and 500 wounded. The 13 standards of the legions pompéiennes were captured, a sign of rout. Titus Labiénus died in the combat and César made so that the funerary honors are returned to him. Gnaeus and Sextus managed to flee.

Consequences

César let its legate Quintus Fabius Maximus besiege Munda and went to pacify the remainder of the province. Cordoue went: the men armed with the city (mainly of the armed slaves) were carried out and the city had to pay a strong allowance. Munda held some time, but after an attempt to break the seat which failed, the city went and 14  000 soldiers went. Gaius Didius, which ordered a fleet faithful to César, ran the majority of the boats pompéiens. Gnaeus Pompeius sought refuge in the grounds but soon was stopped and carried out.

Although Sextus Pompeius was not captured, the partisans of the republic had armies likely never again to dispute the domination of César. After its return to Rome, César became dictator with life. César was assassinated the March 15th following year (44 av. J. - C.) by other partisans of the republic carried out by Brutus and Cassius. Thereafter, the Roman République became a empire.

Primary sources

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