In Further Spain the tribune 06Cassius Longinus whom Caesar had made governor in 49 BC, had treated the provincials with such cruelty that they eventually drove him out and welcomed the remnants of the Pompeian army, which by now had swollen to thirteen legions, as well as a large number of cavalrymen and light-armed auxiliaries, under the command of Pompey’s two sons and Labienus.
Caesar had eight legions and eight thousand cavalrymen. As most of the Pompeian forces were of dubious quality and the commanders unwilling to risk a battle, Caesar’s task was the same as had been in Africa – to force them to fight.
Caesar was soon approached by a delegation from Corduba (central-south) offering to surrender. He marched there to attack the garrison under Sextus Pompeius (8), while troops under 01Vibius Paciaecus reinforced Ulia (further south) which Gnaeus 07Pompeius Magnus was besieging. Caesar crossed the Baetis River near Corduba and attempted to force Sextus into a battle. After some skirmishes Caesar moved off to besiege the Pompeian base at Ategua (to the southeast) with Gnaeus following and camping a safe distance away.
Caesar started a siege and when more Caesarians arrived Gnaeus retreated and camped outside Corduba. Caesar followed and after some skirmishes near the Salsum River, a tributary of the Baetis, supporters and soldiers of the enemy began to defect to Caesar.
Ategua surrendered and Gnaeus moved southeast to Ucubi. Caesar’s men won a skirmish east of the Salsum at Soricaria and killed about five hundred of the enemy. After more clashes Gnaeus to hold his army together had no choice but to fight. The decisive battle took place outside the town of Munda (possibly north of the Genil) on 17 March.
The Pompeians held the high ground and after showing some reluctance they marched down the hill and the fight began. When the struggle became intense both Caesar and Gnaeus entered the fight. Caesar’s Tenth began to push back the enemy’s left and Gnaeus began moving a legion on his right over to support the left. Caesar’s cavalry responded by attacking the enemy’s weakened right flank.
The battle was still undecided when Labienus ordered five cohorts to shift their position to protect their camp from another unit of Caesar’s cavalry. To get there, Labienus’ men had to cross the rear of the battlefield. Veteran soldiers would have understood the move, but to Gnaeus’ inexperienced men it looked like a retreat and the bulk of his army turned and fled. The result was a rout and Caesar’s men proceeded to slaughter the enemy. When it was all over they had killed 30,000 Pompeians; Labienus and Attius were among those killed. Caesar admitted to one thousand dead.
Caesar left his legate 18Fabius Maximus (cos.45 BC) to besiege Munda and moved on to pacify the province. When Corduba surrendered, the men in arms in the town (mostly slaves) were executed and the city had to pay a heavy indemnity. The city of Munda held out for some time but, after an unsuccessful attempt to break the siege, surrendered with 14,000 prisoners being taken. Gaius Didius (2), a naval commander loyal to Caesar, hunted down most of the Pompeian ships. Sextus escaped but Gnaeus was captured and executed.
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