page_title: Julius Caesar's planned invasion of the Parthian Empire
section_title: Preparation and invasion plans
hierarchical_section_title: Julius Caesar's planned invasion of the Parthian Empire / Preparation and invasion plans
caption_attribution_description: English: A cropped image of Burebista's statue in Calarasi. The full uncropped image can be found at [[File:Burebista statue in Calarasi.jpg]]
context_page_description: Julius Caesar's planned invasion of the Parthian Empire was to begin in 44 BC; however, due to his assassination that same year, the invasion never took place. The campaign was to start with the pacification of Dacia, followed by an invasion of Parthia. Plutarch also recorded that once Parthia was subdued the army would continue to Scythia, then Germania and finally back to Rome. These grander plans are found only in Plutarch's Parallel Lives, and their authenticity is questioned by most scholars.
context_section_description: There is evidence that Caesar had begun practical preparation for the campaign some time before late 45 BC. By 44 BC Caesar had begun a mass mobilization, sixteen legions (c.60,000 men) and ten thousand cavalry were being gathered for the invasion. These would be supported by auxiliary cavalry and light armed infantry. 
  Six of these legions had already been sent to Macedonia to train, along with a large sum of gold for the expedition. Octavius was sent to Apollonia (within modern Albania), ostensibly as a student, to remain in contact with the army. As Caesar planned to be away for some time he reordered the senate and also insured that all magistrates, consuls, and tribunes would be appointed by him during his absence. Caesar intended to leave Rome to start the campaign on 18 March; however, three days prior to his departure he was assassinated. 
  The expedition was planned to take three years. It was to begin with a punitive attack on Dacia under King Burebista, who had been threatening Macedonia's northern border. It has been suggested by Christopher Pelling that Dacia was going to be the expedition's main target, not Parthia.
  After Dacia the army was then to invade Parthia from Armenia. Here the ancient sources diverge. Suetonius states that Caesar wished to proceed cautiously and would not fully engage the Parthian army unless he could first determine their full strength. Although he implies that Caesar's goal was an expansion of the empire, not just its stabilization. Plutarch, however, describes a bolder campaign. As he writes that once Parthia had been subdued, the army would move through the Caucasus, to attack Scythia and return to Italy after conquering Germania. Plutarch also states that the construction of a canal through the isthmus of Corinth, for which Anienus had been placed in charge, was to occur during the campaign.
caption: King Burebista of Dacia was the initial target of Caesar's plans.
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