Battle of the Bagradas River (49 BC)

The Battle of the Bagradas River It took place on 24 August 49 BC Between the general of Julius Cesare Gaio Scribonio Curione and the Republican Pompeians under publisher Attio Varo and Giuba I. The outcome was a scorching defeat of the Cesarians and the death of Curione.

Engaged in the civil war against the Roman General Gneo Pompeo Magno, supported by numerous republican senators, in 49 BC, Cesare sent a force to proconsular Africa commanded by Gaio Scribonio Curione, to face the Pompeian forces. ^[first] The new governor of Africa, curious, used less legions than they were at his disposal, leaving two in Sicily. ^[2] After dealing with a series of scaramucce in Numidia, he defeated Varo in the battle of Utica, where he took refuge. In the confusion of the battle, Curione was invited to take the city before he was in the way he could recover, but he retained, since he did not have the means at hand to undertake the assault of the city. ^[3] However the following day, Utica’s value began, with the intention of hungry the inhabitants to force them to submission. Varo was approached by the most important men of the city, who asked him to surrender and save the city from the horrors of a siege. ^[3] I win, however, he had just known that King Giuba was approaching with great strength, and reassured them saying that with the help of Giuba they would soon defeat curious. ^[3] The latter, when he knew that Giuba was less than 23 miles from Utica, abandoned the siege, making his way to his base in Castra Cornelia.

Highly entrenched himself in the Castra Cornelia, he sent an urgent message to Sicily, asking for the officers to immediately send him the two legions and the cavalry he had left you. His initial plan was to defend his position until the reinforcements had arrived, while he had access to the sea, allowing easy supply and communication with Sicily, and there were enough water, food and timber enough for the place for his needs. ^[4]

He quickly changed his plans, however, when some false deserters from Utica came with the announcement of the approach of the forces of Numidia. They also said that Giuba was not nearby, but 120 miles away near Leptis great , having to do with a revolt. ^[4] They informed curious that the army that was approaching was only a few troops under Saburra, commander of Giuba. Raised by the news, and after sunset he sent his cavalry with the order to locate the camp of Saburra and wait for the rest of the army. Leaving a quarter of his strength to defend the field, under the command of Marcio Rufo, Curione began his march towards the Bagradas river about two hours before dawn. ^[4]

Saburra had his field about 10 miles away from Bagradas, but part of his had already crossed the river. The cavalry of Curio took over them while this avant -garde was sleeping, and, taking advantage of the confusion, attacked her. The gods were unable to oppose any resistance, most of them were killed or captured, while the rest fled. ^[4] After this success, the cavalry did not wait close to the river, but went back to find Curione, meeting him 6 miles south of Castra Cornelia. ^[4] Curione asked the prisoners, who told him that Saburra was in command of the forces at the Bagradas river. By proposing to attack Saburra while his men were in disarray, Curione ordered a forced march towards the river, without worrying about leaving most of the cavalry back due to the tiredness of the horses and proceeded with his thin legions and 200 knights. ^[5]

At the same time, Giuba, who had placed the southernmost field and on the other side of the Bagradas and about 6 miles away from the back of Saburra, was informed about the scaramuccia near the river. He immediately sent his body of the body of Gallic and Hispanic mercenaries, including about 2000 knights, together with a infantry body chosen to strengthen Saburra. ^[5] Juba then with the rest of the forces he spoken the river and proceeded north. Saburra, of course that Curione would attack quickly, ordered his men to retire as soon as the Romans had been in sight, but notifying them of being ready to reverse the course and attach to his signal. ^[5]

By moving away from the river, Curione finally saw the Saburra army. When Curione saw the retreat of the enemies, he got off the slopes that delimited a sandy and water plain, to face the gods. Because of the scorching sun that beat above them, his soldiers were very tired and thirsty. ^[5] Saburra gave the signal and the soldiers changed its course and attacked the Romans. He kept the infantry in reserve, basing the attack only on the cavalry. The open and flat plain was perfect for the Numidi knights, who continued to harass the Roman legionaries. However, the Romans fought well given the circumstances, forcing Saburra to grant ground with their inexorable movement forward. ^[6]

However, the effort of Curione’s troops sent the situation to their disadvantage, and they were too tired to pursue the gods they were back back again, and the knights of Curione were too few and too weak to take advantage of the interruption of the attack. ^[6] Soon the cavalry Numida returned again and still wrapped the Roman deployment, insisting to attack the Roman back. Whenever a cohort loaded the enemy, the Numids escaped away, surrounded the legionaries by turning around them, and preventing them from reuniting with the rest of the soldiers killed them on the spot. ^[6] It was also worse for the Romans that Giuba continued to strengthen Saburra with new fresh reserves, while the Romans continued to weaken. ^[7] With the weakening of the Roman will, Curione tried to encourage them, asking them to hold on. But soon he understood that his forces were starting to break, then he ordered their men to retire north to some low hills that delimited the plain. ^[6] Saburra saw what the Romans were doing and ordered their knights to prevent Roman retreat. The Romans then began, desperate, to disperse, some fled by running, and were killed in the race, others, exhausted, lying on the ground, waiting for death. ^[6]

One of the Legati di Curione, Gneo Domizio, approached him with a punch of men, urging him to escape and lead him to the field. Curione asked him how he could ever watch Caesar in his face after losing his army, and he turned against the gods who were coming to face them, and fell fighting them until the last. Only a few soldiers managed to avoid the blood bath that followed the defeat, while the three hundred knights who had not followed Curione returned to Castra Cornelia, bringing bad news. ^[6]

Marcio Rufo, left in office of the detachment of Castra Cornelia, tried to maintain the order after the news spread in the field. ^[6] He ordered the captains of transport and other ships to keep their boats ready ready to bring the troops back to them. But with the army of Giuba who was getting closer quickly and the legions of laugh that were positioning themselves for the attack, the discipline came less quickly. ^[8] Most of the galleys and transports left without waiting for the soldiers left on the ground, while the few who took care of bringing the military back, were quickly submerged by terrified soldiers, and some sank in the process. ^[8] The soldiers fought with each other to have a place on the boats, and other boats, given what happened to the first on the shore, portrayed. The sailors on the boats finally agreed to bring some of the married soldiers back home fathers at home, while others swimming towards the ships were hoisted on board. Among the few who had managed to escape there were Gaio Caninio Rebilo and Gaio Asinio Pollione. ^[9]

The remaining soldiers sent their centurions as delegates to the launch, looking for guarantees that would not have been harmful, and he launched his word. ^[7] However, when Giuba arrived, he explained the remaining soldiers of Curione, excluding a few senators, to give the example. Giuba, riding in Utica escorted by a group of armed senators loyal to Pompey, met with a launch and took control of the city. ^[ten] Giuba sent a message to Pompey and the senators of the Republic in Macedonia, who replied recognizing the title of King of Numidia. ^[ten] . Caesar and the remaining of the Roman senators proclaimed him public enemy. ^[8] Then Giuba returned to Numidia, together with the senators captured for their execution.

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• ( IN ) Roller, Duane W., The world of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: royal scholarship on Rome’s African frontier , Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.