Forum Gallorum

Battle of Forum Gallorum
Date April 14, 43 BCE Location Northern Italy Result Republican victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Mark Antony's forces
Commanders and leaders
Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus† Aulus Hirtius Octavian	Mark Antony
Strength
8 legions 2 veteran legions that deserted from Mark Antony 2 of Octavian's veteran legions 4 newly recruited legions of Pansa a regular amount of cavalry	2 veteran legions with a larger cavalry force
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Lighter because of their timely retreat

The Battle of Forum Gallorum was fought on 14 April 43 BCE near a village in northern Italy (perhaps near modern-day Castelfranco Emilia) between the forces of Mark Antony and legions loyal to the Roman Senate under the overall command of consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus, aided by his fellow consul Aulus Hirtius and the untested Caesar Octavian (the future Augustus).

Antony had confined Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus in a position around Mutina (modern Modena), just south of the Padus (Po) River on the Via Aemilia. Pansa was sent north from Rome to link with Hirtius and Octavian, bringing four legions of recruits in order to provide Brutus with aid. Antony, seizing the central position, hoped to deal with the enemy in piecemeal fashion, destroying the columns one at a time.

The bitter, bloody battle began with the victory of the legions of Mark Antony (II and XXXV) in an initial clash with Vibius Pansa, who was severely wounded. Jubilant, Antony called off the pursuit of the broken army but was then astonished to see Hirtius crashing into his own exhausted ranks, taking two Roman eagles and 60 standards. The victory was turned into a disaster, Antony with his cavalry pulled back to his camp, having lost the initiative and the battle.

After the victory over the forces of Mark Antony, Marcus Tullius Cicero, a fierce adversary of the Antonian faction, pronounced in the Senate the Fourteenth Philippic, exalting the success and praising the two consuls and young Caesar Octavian. In fact, the battle was not decisive, but instead was followed six days later by the Battle of Mutina, which forced Antony to abandon the siege of the city and retreat westward along the Via Aemilia.

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