Battle of Munda

Battle of Munda
Part of Caesar's Civil War
Caesar's campaign to Munda
Date 17 March 45 BC Location Campus Mundensis, probably near La Lantejuela, Andalusia, modern southern Spain Result Caesarian victory
Belligerents
Populares	Optimates
Commanders and leaders
Gaius Julius Caesar Subordinate commanders: Octavian, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa	Titus Labienus † Publius Attius Varus † Gnaeus Pompeius
Strength
8 legions, 8,000 cavalry Total: c. 40,000 men	13 legions, cavalry and auxiliaries Total: c. 70,000 men
Casualties and losses
7,000	30,000

The Battle of Munda (17 March 45 B.C.), in southern Hispania, was the final battle of Caesar's civil war against the Roman Republic, and against the leaders of the Optimates. With the military victory at Munda, and the deaths of Titus Labienus and Gnaeus Pompeius (eldest son of Pompey), Caesar was politically able to return in triumph to Rome, and then govern as the elected Roman dictator. Subsequently, the assassination of Julius Caesar began the Republican decline that led to the Roman Empire, initiated with the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus.

The conservative republicans had initially been led by Pompey, until the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC and Pompey's death soon afterwards. However, in April 46 BC, Caesar's forces destroyed the Pompeian army at the Battle of Thapsus.

After this, military opposition to Caesar was confined to Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula, comprising modern Spain and Portugal). During the Spring of 46 BC, two legions in Hispania Ulterior, largely formed by former Pompeian veterans enrolled in Caesar’s army, had declared themselves for Gnaeus Pompeius (son of Pompey the Great) and driven out Caesar’s proconsul. Soon they were joined by the remains of the Pompeian army. These forces were commanded by the brothers Gnaeus Pompeius and Sextus (sons of Pompey) and by the talented general Titus Labienus, who had been one of the most trusted of Caesar’s generals during the Gallic Wars. Using the resources of the province they were able to raise an army of three legions. These were the two original veteran legions, and one additional legion recruited from Roman citizens and local inhabitants in Hispania. They took control of almost all Hispania Ulterior, including the important Roman colonies of Italica and Corduba (the capital of the province). Caesar’s generals Quintus Fabius Maximus and Quintus Pedius did not risk a battle and remained encamped at Oculbo, about 35 miles (56 km) east of Corduba, requesting help from Caesar.

...
Wikipedia