Two Accounts of The Battle of Pharsalus essays

Two Accounts of The Battle of Pharsalus essays The battle of Pharsalus, which took place on August 9th 48 BC, was the turning point in the Roman civil wars fought from 49-44 BC. These wars arose primarily from a struggle between the two powerful members of the First Triumvirate, Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. Pompeys defeat by Caesar at Pharsalus resulted directly in his own death and Caesars rise to unimpeachable power in the Roman Republic. The focus on individual leaders as the center of military and political power that was exemplified by the battle of Pharsalus became the overarching structure of governance in Rome, eventually bringing about the end of the Senate-led Republic and the beginning of imperial rule. The first source describing the battle of Pharsalus is found in the seventh book of Lucans epic poem Pharsalia. Lucan was a Roman poet who began writing this poem in 61 AD. It was left unfinished upon his death in 65 AD., therefore the poem is only ten books long ending with Caesars arrival in Egypt in 48 BC. He became successful under Neros reign in Rome, however, there seemed to be an increasing dispute growing between the two after the Pharsalia was published. Many critics assume the cause of the dispute to be based on Lucans anti-imperialistic views that he expresses throughout the poem. The second source describing the battle of Pharsalus is found in book 3.72-99 of Caesars Civil Wars. Caesar himself writes in 48 BC an account of his war against Pompey and the Senate. Book 3.72 begins after Caesars regroups his army in Thessaly because of his defeat at the battle of Dyrrhacium by Pompeys army. Caesar justifies his actions of fighting against Pompey and the senate based on his ultimate goal, which was that of restoring order to the Roman people by bringing an end to the civil wars that had plagued Rome for the past couple of years. In an indirect way h...