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Battle of the Nile (47 BC)

The Battle of the Nile in early 47 BC saw the combined RomanEgyptian armies of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra VII defeat those of the rival Queen Arsinoe IV and King Ptolemy XIII and secure the throne of Egypt.

First Battle of the Nile
Part of the Alexandrian war and Caesar's Civil War

Map of the battle
Dateearly 47 BC
Location
Result

Roman victory

  • Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV installed as co-rulers of Egypt
Belligerents
Roman Republic (pro-Caesar forces)
Ptolemaic Kingdom (pro-Cleopatra forces)
Greek forces of Mithridates
Kingdom of Judea
Ptolemaic Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Julius Caesar
Cleopatra VII
Mithridates of Pergamum
Antipater the Idumean
Ptolemy XIII 
Arsinoe IV (POW)
Ganymedes 
Strength
c. 20,000 infantry
c. 1000 cavalry
c. 27,000 infantry
c. 2000 cavalry

Prelude edit

After pursuing his rival Pompey to Egypt, Caesar, recently victorious in a civil war closer to home, became entwined in the Alexandrine civil war after his rival, Pompey Magnus, was killed by King Ptolemy XIII in an attempt to please Caesar.[1]

From September 48 BC until January 47 BC, Caesar was besieged in Alexandria, Egypt with about 4,000 men. He was attempting to resolve the Egyptian Civil War between Ptolemy XIII and his sister Cleopatra. When Caesar began to appear to favour Cleopatra over him, Ptolemy was first captured, but then released by Caesar, and gathered his army to besiege the Romans in a small area of Alexandria.[2][pages needed]

By January, the Egyptians had begun to get the upper hand in their efforts to cut the Romans off from reinforcements and resupply. Caesar had requested reinforcements from his allies who gathered an army of about 13,000 troops trained in the Roman style of warfare under Mithridates of Pergamum, who marched overland from Asia Minor to assist him. Arriving in Egypt in January, Mithridates stormed and took the strategic city of Pelusium and marched on towards the Nile Delta where he defeated an Egyptian force sent to stop him. A Jewish force, led by Antipater, also joined them. Caesar, getting a message that his allies were close, left a small garrison in Alexandria and hurried to meet them. The combined force, about 20,000 strong, met the Egyptians in February 47 BC at the Battle of the Nile. The Ptolemaic army, equipped in the Greek manner, was slightly larger.[citation needed]

Battle edit

The Egyptians had set up camp in a strong position along the Nile, and were accompanied by a fleet. Caesar arrived shortly afterwards, before Ptolemy could attack Mithridates' army. Caesar and Mithridates met 7 miles from Ptolemy's position. In order to reach the Egyptian camp they had to ford a small river. Ptolemy sent a detachment of cavalry and light infantry to stop them from crossing the river. Unfortunately for the Egyptians, Caesar had sent his Gallic and Germanic cavalry to ford the river ahead of the main army. They had crossed undetected. When Caesar arrived he had his men make makeshift bridges across the river and had his army charge the Egyptians. As they did the Gallic and Germanic forces appeared and charged into the Egyptian flank and rear.[citation needed] The Egyptians broke and fled back to Ptolemy's camp, with many fleeing by boat. As Ptolemy himself tried to flee, his ship became overloaded and capsized, killing him.[3][unreliable source?]

Aftermath edit

Egypt was now in the hands of Caesar, who then lifted the Second Siege of Alexandria and placed Cleopatra on the throne as co-ruler with another of her brothers, the twelve-year old Ptolemy XIV. Caesar then uncharacteristically lingered in Egypt until April, enjoying a liaison of about two months with the youthful queen before departing to resume his civil war. Around this time, she became pregnant with Caesarion.[4] The former queen Arsinoe IV was marched through Rome as a prisoner and banished to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. Later, after the death of Caesar, she was executed on the orders of Cleopatra and Mark Antony.[5][verification needed]

References edit

  1. ^ "Pompey the Great assassinated". HISTORY. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  2. ^ Goldsworthy, Adrian (2006). Caesar: Life of a Colossus. Yale University Press.
  3. ^ "Battle of the Nile, February 47 BC". www.historyofwar.org. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  4. ^ "Caesarion | Biography & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  5. ^ Dio Cassius xlii. 39; Appian, Bell. civ. v. 9.

Sources edit

  • Brice, Lee L. (2014). Warfare in the Roman Republic: From the Etruscan Wars to the Battle of Actium. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781610692991.
  • Cary, M. & H. H. Scullard (1980) [1976]. A History of Rome. London: MacMillan. ISBN 0-312-38395-9.
  • Fischer-Bovet, Christelle (2014). Army and Society in Ptolemaic Egypt. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107007758.
  • Grainger, John D. (2013). Egypt and Judaea. Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781848848238.
  • Smith, William (1867). "Achillas". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Tomo I. Boston: Brown.
  • Sorokin, Pitirim Aleksandrovich (1962). Social and Cultural Dynamics: FLuctuation of social relationships, war, and revolution. New York: Bedminster Press.
  • Tucker, Spencer C. (2009). A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781851096725.
  • Yalichev, Serge (1997). Mercenaries of the ancient world. Hippocrene Books. ISBN 9780781806749.

30°54′N 31°7′E / 30.900°N 31.117°E / 30.900; 31.117

battle, nile, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, battle, nile, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Battle of the Nile 47 BC news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message This article cites its sources but does not provide page references You can help providing page numbers for existing citations May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message The Battle of the Nile in early 47 BC saw the combined Roman Egyptian armies of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra VII defeat those of the rival Queen Arsinoe IV and King Ptolemy XIII and secure the throne of Egypt First Battle of the NilePart of the Alexandrian war and Caesar s Civil WarMap of the battleDateearly 47 BCLocationNile Delta EgyptResultRoman victory Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIV installed as co rulers of EgyptBelligerentsRoman Republic pro Caesar forces Ptolemaic Kingdom pro Cleopatra forces Greek forces of Mithridates Kingdom of JudeaPtolemaic KingdomCommanders and leadersJulius Caesar Cleopatra VIIMithridates of Pergamum Antipater the IdumeanPtolemy XIII Arsinoe IV POW Ganymedes Strengthc 20 000 infantryc 1000 cavalryc 27 000 infantryc 2000 cavalry Contents 1 Prelude 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 SourcesPrelude editFurther information Early life of Cleopatra VII and Reign of Cleopatra VII After pursuing his rival Pompey to Egypt Caesar recently victorious in a civil war closer to home became entwined in the Alexandrine civil war after his rival Pompey Magnus was killed by King Ptolemy XIII in an attempt to please Caesar 1 From September 48 BC until January 47 BC Caesar was besieged in Alexandria Egypt with about 4 000 men He was attempting to resolve the Egyptian Civil War between Ptolemy XIII and his sister Cleopatra When Caesar began to appear to favour Cleopatra over him Ptolemy was first captured but then released by Caesar and gathered his army to besiege the Romans in a small area of Alexandria 2 pages needed By January the Egyptians had begun to get the upper hand in their efforts to cut the Romans off from reinforcements and resupply Caesar had requested reinforcements from his allies who gathered an army of about 13 000 troops trained in the Roman style of warfare under Mithridates of Pergamum who marched overland from Asia Minor to assist him Arriving in Egypt in January Mithridates stormed and took the strategic city of Pelusium and marched on towards the Nile Delta where he defeated an Egyptian force sent to stop him A Jewish force led by Antipater also joined them Caesar getting a message that his allies were close left a small garrison in Alexandria and hurried to meet them The combined force about 20 000 strong met the Egyptians in February 47 BC at the Battle of the Nile The Ptolemaic army equipped in the Greek manner was slightly larger citation needed Battle editThe Egyptians had set up camp in a strong position along the Nile and were accompanied by a fleet Caesar arrived shortly afterwards before Ptolemy could attack Mithridates army Caesar and Mithridates met 7 miles from Ptolemy s position In order to reach the Egyptian camp they had to ford a small river Ptolemy sent a detachment of cavalry and light infantry to stop them from crossing the river Unfortunately for the Egyptians Caesar had sent his Gallic and Germanic cavalry to ford the river ahead of the main army They had crossed undetected When Caesar arrived he had his men make makeshift bridges across the river and had his army charge the Egyptians As they did the Gallic and Germanic forces appeared and charged into the Egyptian flank and rear citation needed The Egyptians broke and fled back to Ptolemy s camp with many fleeing by boat As Ptolemy himself tried to flee his ship became overloaded and capsized killing him 3 unreliable source Aftermath editEgypt was now in the hands of Caesar who then lifted the Second Siege of Alexandria and placed Cleopatra on the throne as co ruler with another of her brothers the twelve year old Ptolemy XIV Caesar then uncharacteristically lingered in Egypt until April enjoying a liaison of about two months with the youthful queen before departing to resume his civil war Around this time she became pregnant with Caesarion 4 The former queen Arsinoe IV was marched through Rome as a prisoner and banished to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus Later after the death of Caesar she was executed on the orders of Cleopatra and Mark Antony 5 verification needed References edit Pompey the Great assassinated HISTORY Retrieved 2022 03 19 Goldsworthy Adrian 2006 Caesar Life of a Colossus Yale University Press Battle of the Nile February 47 BC www historyofwar org Retrieved 2022 03 19 Caesarion Biography amp Facts Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 2022 03 19 Dio Cassius xlii 39 Appian Bell civ v 9 Sources editBrice Lee L 2014 Warfare in the Roman Republic From the Etruscan Wars to the Battle of Actium Santa Barbara ABC CLIO ISBN 9781610692991 Cary M amp H H Scullard 1980 1976 A History of Rome London MacMillan ISBN 0 312 38395 9 Fischer Bovet Christelle 2014 Army and Society in Ptolemaic Egypt Cambridge University Press ISBN 9781107007758 Grainger John D 2013 Egypt and Judaea Pen and Sword ISBN 9781848848238 Smith William 1867 Achillas Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Tomo I Boston Brown Sorokin Pitirim Aleksandrovich 1962 Social and Cultural Dynamics FLuctuation of social relationships war and revolution New York Bedminster Press Tucker Spencer C 2009 A Global Chronology of Conflict From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East Santa Barbara ABC CLIO ISBN 9781851096725 Yalichev Serge 1997 Mercenaries of the ancient world Hippocrene Books ISBN 9780781806749 30 54 N 31 7 E 30 900 N 31 117 E 30 900 31 117 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of the Nile 47 BC amp oldid 1209039861, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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