Battle of Thapsus The Battle of Thapsus took place on April 6 , 46 BC near Thapsus ( in modern Tunisia ) . The Republican forces of the Optimates , led by Quintus Caecillius Metellus Scipio , clashed with the veteran forces loyal to Julius Caesar . Prelude . In 49 BC , the last Republican civil war was initiated after Julius Caesar defied senatorial orders to disband his army following the conclusion of hostilities in Gaul . He crossed over the Rubicon river with the 13th Legion , a clear violation of Roman Law , and marched to Rome . The Optimates fled to Greece under the command of Pompey since they were incapable of defending the city of Rome itself against Caesar . Led by Caesar , the Populares followed , but were greatly outnumbered and defeated in the Battle of Dyrrhachium . Still outnumbered , Caesar recovered and went on to decisively defeat the Optimates under Pompey at Pharsalus . Pompey then fled to Egypt , where to Caesar ' s consternation , Pompey was assassinated . The remaining Optimates , not ready to give up fighting , clustered in the African provinces and organized a resistance . Its leaders were Marcus Cato ( the younger ) and Caecilius Metellus Scipio . Other key figures in the resistance were Titus Labienus , Publius Attius Varus , Lucius Afranius , Marcus Petreius and the brothers Sextus and Gnaeus Pompeius ( Pompey ' s sons ) . King Juba I of Numidia was a valuable local ally . After the pacification of the Eastern provinces , and a short visit to Rome , Caesar followed his opponents to Africa and landed in Hadrumetum ( modern Sousse , Tunisia ) on December 28 , 47 BC . The Optimates gathered their forces to oppose Caesar with astonishing speed . Their army included 40 , 000 men ( about 8 legions ) , a powerful cavalry force led by Caesar ' s former right hand man , the talented Titus Labienus , forces of allied local kings and The two armies engaged in small skirmishes to gauge the strength of the opposing force , during which two legions switched to Caesar ' s side . Meanwhile , Caesar expected reinforcements from Sicily . In the beginning of February , Caesar arrived in Thapsus and besieged the city , blocking the southern entrance with three lines of fortifications . The Optimates , led by Metellus Scipio , could not risk the loss of this position and were forced to accept battle . Battle . Metellus Scipio ' s army circled Thapsus in order to approach the city by its northern side . Anticipating Caesar ' s approach , it remained in tight battle order flanked by its elephant cavalry . Caesar ' s position was typical of his style , with him commanding the right side and the cavalry and archers flanked . The threat of the elephants led to the additional precaution of reinforcing the cavalry with five cohorts . One of Caesar ' s trumpeters sounded the battle . Caesar ' s archers attacked the elephants , causing them to panic and trample their own men . The elephants on the left flank charged against Caesar ' s center , where Legio V Alaudae was placed . This legion sustained the charge with such bravery that afterwards they wore an elephant as a symbol . After the loss of the elephants , Metellus Scipio started to lose ground . Caesar ' s cavalry outmaneuvered its enemy , destroyed the fortified camp , and forced its enemy into retreat . King Juba ' s allied troops abandoned the site and the battle was decided . Roughly 10 , 000 enemy soldiers wanted to surrender to Caesar , but were instead slaughtered by his army . This action is unusual for Caesar , who was known as a merciful victor . Some sources contend Caesar had an epileptic seizure during the battle and was not fully conscious for its aftermath . Scipio himself escaped , only to commit suicide months later in a naval battle near Hippo Regius . Aftermath . Following the battle , Caesar renewed the siege of Thapsus , which eventually fell . Caesar proceeded to Utica , where Cato the Younger was garrisoned . On the news of the defeat of his allies , Cato committed suicide . Caesar was upset by this and is reported by Plutarch to have said : " Cato , I must grudge you your death , as you grudged me the honour of saving your life . " The battle preceded peace in Africa — Caesar pulled out and returned to Rome on July 25 of the same year . Opposition , however , would rise again . Titus Labienus , the Pompeian brothers and others had managed to escape to the Hispania provinces . The civil war was not finished , and the Battle of Munda would soon follow . The Battle of Thapsus is generally regarded as marking the last large scale use of war elephants in the West .