4940. After three days in his pursuit (for as much as can be gathered from the epitome of Lucan), Caesar came to Alexandria. King Ptolemy was still around the Cassius Mountain. {Appian, p. 483.} He found that the Alexandrians were in rebellion over the death of Pompey. He dared not go ashore immediately but left the shore and stayed off for some time. {Dio, l. 42} Lucan stated: {Lucan, l. 9.}
-------where when he saw the shore With giddy tumult all confused over Doubting if safe to trust them did forbear To bring his ships to land-------
4941. When Caesar knew Pompey was dead, he went first from his ship and heard the shout of the soldiers whom Ptolemy had left for a garrison in the town. He saw them come running out to him because his fasces was carried before him. In this all the crowd said that the royal majesty was disgraced. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.} {Dio, l. 42} Concerning this event, Lucan wrote: {Lucan. l. 9.}
But perceiving that the throng Of people murmured that in Egypt he Bare the ensigns up of Rome's authority He finds their wavering faiths-------
4942. In spite of this, Caesar entered Alexandria when it was in a turmoil without any danger to himself. {Livy, l. 112.} He retired by fleeing into the palace. The weapons were taken from some of his soldiers. The crowd went back as all the ships came to shore. {Dio, 42.}
4943. Caesar was very angry when Theodorus offered to him the head and signet of Pompey. He took the ring and started to weep. {Livy, l. 112.} {Plutarch, in Caesar} We read {Aurelius Victor, de viris illustr. c. 77.} that the head of Pompey with the ring was presented to Caesar by Achillas, the captain of Ptolemy's guard and was wrapped in an Egyptian covering. Caesar had it burned with many and most precious odours. He did not stop weeping. Lucan mentions concerning the head that was given to him by the captain of the guard: {Lucan. l. 9.}
Bringing his king's dire guise great Pompey's head With an Egyptian mantle covered.
4944. Both Dio and Lucan think Caesar was being a hypocrite and the tears were not genuine.
Caesar at his first gift would not refuse
Nor turn his eyes
away but fixedly views
Till he perceived it was true, and plainly
saw,
It was safe to be a pious father-in-law:
Then shed forced
tears and from a joyful breast
Drew sighs and groans as thinking
tears would best
Concealed his inward joy.
4945. Concerning the burial of the head, Lucan brings in Caesar commanding:
-------But do you interr
This worthies head, not that the
earth may bear
And hide your guilt; bring fumes and odours store,
To appease his head, and gather from the shore
His scattered
limbs; compose them in on tomb.
4946. However, Caesar ordered the head to be buried in the suburbs and there dedicated a temple of Nemeses (revenge!). {Appian, p. 484.}
4947. So that he might show more of his good will toward Pompey, he kindly entertained his friends and associates who were captured as they wandered in that country by the king. He won them to himself by favours that he did for them. He wrote to his friends at Rome that the greatest and most pleasant fruit that he took of his victory was that he daily saved some citizens that had opposed him. {Plutarch, in Caesar}
4948. Before his army came to him and for lack of his own company, Caesar gave himself to idle pursuits. He courteously entertained all he met and walked about to see the city. He admired its beauty and stood to hear many of the professors of wisdom. His leisure won him favour and good account with the people of Alexandria. {Appian, Civil War, p. 483. fin. p. 484. init.} Thus Lucan said that he visited the temples and the cave where the body of Alexander the Great lay.
Then with a look still hiding fear goes he,
The stately temple
of the old god to see;
Which speaks the ancient Macedonian
greatness.
But there delighted with no objects sweetness,
Nor
with their gold nor gods majestic dress,
Nor lofty city walls,
with greediness,
Into the burying vault goes Caesar down.
There
Macedonian Philip's mad-brained son,
The prosperous thief lies
buried: whom just fate
Slew in the world's revenge-------
4949. Caesar turned over to Cn. Domitius Calvinus, the government of Asia, and the neighbouring provinces, {Hirtius, de bello. Alexandrino., l. 1.} Caesar ordered him to take the armies that were in Asia with him and he should make war on King Pharnaces. {Dio, l. 42.} When Caesar saw that there were many riots daily at Alexandria because of the great gathering of the multitude and that many soldiers were killed in various places of the city, he ordered the legions to be brought to him from Asia which he had gathered together from Pompey's soldiers. He was detained there by the etesian winds which are most contrary to them that sail from Alexandria. {Caesar, l. 3.} Those are the northern winds which stop blowing about the end of the Julian August we may learn from in the Ephemerides of Geminus and Ptolemy and also in Pliny, {Pliny, l. 2. c. 47.} and Columbella, {Columbella, de re rustica., l. 2.} From there we find the error of Lucan who stated {Lucan, l. 8.} that Pompey came to Egypt at the time of the autumnal equinox. Lucan {Lucan, l. 9.} also told of that weary march of Cato with the legions through African desert, (concerning this see Livy, {Livy, l. 112.}) after he heard of the death of Pompey. He said it was taken by him in the winter that followed this equinox.
4950. When Cato left Cyrene, he tried to cross the Syrts with his fleet. A storm cast him into the marshes of Tritonis. Sextus Pompey was left with part of the forces in the more fruitful places of Africa. Cato intended to march by land since the sea was now impassable because of storms. He wanted to find the king of Mauritania as Lucan described:
Part of the fleet got off from hence again,
And from the Syrts'
driven, did remain
Under great Pompey's oldest son's command,
On
this side Garamantis in rich land:
But Cato's virtue brooking no
delay,
Through unknown regions led his troops away,
To encompass
round the Syrts by land, for now.
The stormy seas unnavigable
grow
In winter time---------------
4951. Plutarch {Plutarch, in Cato} affirmed that this overland march took place in the winter.
4952. His army was miserably oppressed in the country of the Nasamones which is near the Syrts. The winds blew the sand about and water was scarce. They found a huge number of different kinds of snakes. Cato arrived at the temple of Jupiter Ammon, and was advised by Labeio to consult the oracle about his future fortune. He refused and finally after wandering two months through the sandy deserts of Africa, he came to Leptis. He spent the winter there. {Lucan, l. 9.} After winter he assembled his 10,000 soldiers again. {Plutarch, in Cato}
4953. Caesar was detained at Alexandria by the etesian winds and spent his time in Egypt in raising money and deciding the controversy between Ptolemy and Cleopatra. {Dio, l. 42.} He collected some of that vast sum of money that was owed to him by Ptolemy Auletes, the father of the young king, to pay the costs of his army. {Plutarch, in Caesar} The Egyptians did not take kindly to Caesar's collection procedures. They, of all people, were most superstitious worshippers of a multitude of gods, and did not approve of Caesar taking those things that were dedicated to their gods. {Dio, l. 42.} Although in this, he was deceived by the king's guardians that they might by this show that the king's treasury was empty and so that they might stir up the people to hate Caesar. {Orosus, l. 6. c. 15.} To encourage this unrest, the eunuch, Pothinus, a man who was in greatest authority, spoke and did many things in public. For he gave the soldiers old and musty grain and told them that they should be content because they were fed at the expense of another. He ordered that his own supper should be served up in wooden and earthen dishes and said that Caesar had taken away all the gold and silver plate, for the payment of the debt. {Plutarch, in Caesar}
4954. Caesar thought that the controversies of the king and queen belonged to the people of Rome and to him because he was a consul. They were associated with his office because in his former consulship, there was a league made with Ptolemy the father of them both. Therefore he told them that it was his pleasure that both king Ptolemy and his sister Cleopatra should dismiss their armies. They should settle their controversies by law before him rather than between themselves by fighting. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.}
4955. The death of Pompey was not believed at Rome until his signet ring was sent there later. It had three trophies engraved on it (or as Plutarch thought, a lion holding a sword.) Then the Romans strove to see who would give most honours to Caesar. He was given power to do with Pompey's side as he wished. He was given authority to make war and peace with whomever he wanted without consulting the Roman people. He was made consul for five years. He was made dictator for a whole year not the normal six months time. He would have the authority of a tribune as long as he lived and he would sit with the tribunes and determine anything to be done together with them. This was never done before. {Dio, l. 42.}
4956. When Caesar had accepted these honours, although he was out of Italy, he immediately entered into the office of dictator. {Dio, l. 42.} Josephus correctly begins his rule from this time and assigned it a period of three and an half years. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.} In Syria, as the Antiochians seem to reckon the times of the Caesars from his first dictatorship, so the Lacedomonians from this second dictatorship. Eusebius in his Chronicle at the second year of the empire of Probus showed that the Laodicean account was later than the Antiochian account, but by only one year.
3957a AM, 4666 JP, 48 BC
4957. Velleius Paterculus stated that the king and those by whom he was governed, attempted treason against Caesar. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 54.} Suetonius affirmed this of King Ptolemy himself. {Suetonius, in Julio, c. 35.} Eutropius, {Eutropius, l. 6.} and Plutarch stated the eunuch Pothinus was the instigator of the treasons that were plotted against him. Caesar began to feast whole nights in his own defence. Pothinus would tell him, that now it was time to stop and to attend to his important business and later return to his feasting. Caesar replied that he did not require any advice from any of the Egyptians. He sent for Cleopatra secretly from the country. {Plutarch, in Caesar}
4958. Previously Cleopatra, had pleaded her case before Caesar through other men. As soon as she knew his nature that his weakness was women, then she desired that she personally might plead her own case before him. {Dio, l. 42.} This was granted, and she only took one of her friends with her, Apollodorus Siculus. They sailed in a light ship to the palace as soon as it was dark. Since she could not easily hide herself, she laid herself a long in a mattress that was folded up, which Apollodorus tied up with a cord and carried up through the gate to Caesar. {Plutarch, in Caesar} Lucan describes her arrival to Caesar like this: {Lucan, l. 10}
Now the young king come from Pelusium
Had pacified the peoples wrath: in whom
As hostage of his peace in Egypt court
Caesar was safe; when, lo, from Pharos port,
Bribing the keeper to unchain the same,
In a small galley Cleopatra came,
Unknown to Caesar entering the house
The stain of Egypt, Rome's pernicious
Fury, unchaste to Italy's disgrace.
4959. Cleopatra fell at Caesar's feet and asked for her part of the kingdom. She was an exceedingly beautiful woman and her beauty was much increased by this. She did seem to suffer so great an injury as also the hatred of the king himself who had murdered Pompey. The king did not do this for Caesar's sake and would have just as easily killed Caesar if he could. {Florus, l. 4. c. 2.} When Caesar saw Cleopatra and heard her speak, he immediately became her slave. As soon as it was day, he sent for Ptolemy and mediated a peace between them. He became Cleopatra's advocate, whose judge he was previously. This thing and because he saw his sister with Caesar before he was aware of it, so inflamed the lad with anger that he ran out to the people. He shouted that he was betrayed and took his crown and threw it to the ground. {Dio, l. 42.}
4960. After this a large uproar resulted. Caesar's soldiers took Ptolemy and carried him in but the Egyptians were all in an uproar. Unless Caesar who was afraid and had not gone to talk to them from a safe place and promised them that he do what they wanted, they could have easily captured the palace on the first assault. They had entered it by sea and land. The Romans who thought they had been among their friends, had no means to resist. {Dio, l. 42.}
4961. After these things, Caesar together with Ptolemy and Cleopatra, went out to the people and read the will of their father. It stated that after the ancient custom of the Egyptians, that the two should be married together and should hold the kingdom in common and they should be under the protection of the people of Rome. Caesar added that it was his part, who now was dictator and had all the power of the people of Rome, both to take care of the children and to see their father's will was followed. Therefore, he gave the kingdom of Egypt to Ptolemy and Cleopatra. He gave Cyprus to Arsinoe and Ptolemy the younger for he was so afraid at that time that he would willingly have given anything of his own rather then have taken anything away that belonged to the Egyptians. By this was the riot appeased. {Dio, l. 42.} {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.} {Livy, l. 112.} {Plutarch, in Caesar}
4962. King Dejotarus came to Cn. Domitius Calvinus, Caesar's lieutenant in Asia and wanted him not to allow Armenia the Less, his own kingdom, nor Cappadocia, the kingdom of Ariobarzanes, to be occupied and plundered by Pharnaces. Unless his activities were checked, they could not do as they were commanded nor pay the money that they had promised to Caesar. Domitius immediately sent messengers to Pharnaces that he should get out of Armenia and Cappadocia. He thought this order would carry greater weight if he came nearer those countries with his army. Therefore he selected a legion from the three legions that he had with him. He took the 36th and the other two were sent into Egypt to Caesar who had written to him for them. In addition to the 36th legion, he added two more that he had received from Dejotarus. They were disciplined and armed after the Roman manner. As well as, he gave him an hundred cavalry and Domitius took as many from Ariobarzanes. He sent also P. Sextius to C. Paetorius, his quaester, to bring to him a legion that he had quickly raised. He sent to Q. Patiscus in Cilicia, to bring more troops. All these forces were ordered by Domitius to meet as quickly as possible at Comiana. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrino.}
4963. In the meantime, the ambassadors returned an answer from Pharnaces that he had left Cappadocia and that he had recovered Armenia the Less, which he ought to keep since it belonged to his father. Furthermore, the whole business of that king should be referred to Caesar himself, for he would do whatever he should decide. He left Cappadocia because he could more easily defend Armenia since it was nearer his own kingdom than Cappadocia. When Domitius knew his reply, he still thought that he should get out of Armenia for he had no more right to Armenia than to Cappadocia. His request was unjust that the whole business should be tabled until Caesar came for nothing would change in the meantime. After Domitius had replied, he marched with his forces into Armenia. In the meantime, Pharnaces sent many embassies to Domitius to entreat for peace and offered him expensive presents. Domitius constantly refused them all and answered the ambassadors that he did not account anything more dear to him than to recover the dignity of the people of Rome and the kingdom of their allies. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrino.}
4964. While Caesar carried on the war at Alexandria, Dejotarus did what he could for Caesar and supplied Cn. Domitius' army with lodgings. He added his own forces to Domitius as Cicero confirms in a speech that he made in his behalf. {Cicero, pro Dejotarus}
4965. In Egypt, the eunuch Pothinus, who had the oversight of all the king's treasure and of the whole kingdom, feared lest he should be punished for the former sedition of the Egyptians of which he was the chief ringleader. He was the instigator of a new and difficult war. He first complained among his own friends that the king was called to plead his cause. To others whom he planned to have on his side, he sowed a suspicion that Caesar indeed, to appease the riot, had given the kingdom to both parties but that in the process of time, he would give it to Cleopatra alone. He solicited Achillas by letters and messengers, who was commander-in-chief of all the king's forces. He first provoked him by his own promises and flattered him with promises from the king that he alone should lead all the king's army of foot soldiers and cavalry from Pelusium to Alexandria. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.} {Dio, l. 42.}
4966. Caesar's forces were not so many that if he must be forced to fight outside the town, he dared not trust them. The only thing that he could do, was to stay within Alexandria and wait and see what Achillas planned to do. He wished the king to send some of his most confident friends and of greatest authority as ambassadors to Achillas. So that he should declare his intentions, Dioscorides and Serapion, who had been ambassadors at Rome and had been in great authority with his father, were sent from the king. When they came to Achillas as soon as they came within sight, before Achillas knew why they came, he ordered them to be taken and killed. One of them was wounded and was taken away by his own men for dead and the other was killed. After this, Caesar brought things so to pass that he got the king under his own power. He thought that the name of the king would be of great authority among his own country men and that this war might seem to be undertaken rather by the outrage of a few private men and thieves, than by the advice of the king. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.}
4967. Achillas had substantial forces with him. They were 20,000 trained armed troops. These consisted of the soldiers of Gabinius, who now were accustomed to the life and licentiousness of the Alexandrians and had forgotten the name and discipline of the people of Rome. These were joined by a company of thieves and robbers from the provinces of Syria, Cilicia and the neighbouring provinces. Moreover, there met here many that were condemned persons and banished men. All Roman fugitives were safe and well taken care of at Alexandria. As soon as they said their names, they were enlisted among the soldiers. If anyone was apprehended by his master, he was taken away again by a concourse of soldiers. They defended the violence of their companions because they were just as guilty and for fear of their own punishment. These were used to, according to the old custom of the Alexandrian army, demand that the king's friends be put to death and to plunder rich men's goods to increase their pay. They besieged the king's palace, banished some and recalled others from banishment. There were also 2000 cavalry, many of whom had served a long time in the wars of Alexandria. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.}
4968. Achillas trusted in these forces and despised the fewness of Caesar's soldiers. He captured Alexandria and attempted to break into Caesar's house. However, Caesar, had stationed his cohorts in the passes and they withstood the assault. They fought at the same time at the harbour where the fiercest fighting took place of all. At the same time, the enemy brought their forces and fought in many passes and endeavoured also with many troops to seize the long ships. Fifty of these were sent to help Pompey and when the battle in Thessalia was over, they returned. They were all galleys with either three of five oars on a bank, well rigged and furnished with all tackling for sailing. In addition to these, 22 ships always stationed there at Alexandria to guard it. They were all covered (or rather beaked with ramming prows.) which the enemy had seized since Caesar's fleet had left. They had the harbour and the whole sea at their command and had kept Caesar from all provisions and any help from coming to him. Therefore this was the hottest part of the battle. Caesar knew the importance of the fleet and the harbour for their safety. Caesar got the better of it and burnt those ships and the rest that were in the arsenal because he could not defend them with the few troops that he had. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.}
Nor over the ships alone do flames prevail;
But all the houses
near the shore assail,
The south winds feed the flame, and drive
it on
Along the houses with such motion,
As through the welkin
fiery meteors run,
That wanting fuel fed on air alone. {Lucan, l.
10.}
4969. When this fire had spread to part of the city, it burned 400,000 books that were stored in the adjoining houses. This was a singular monument to the care and industry of their ancestors who had gathered together so many and so great works of famous writers. {Orosius, l. 6. c. 15.} Livy said that here was a famous work of the glory and care of those kings as it is in Seneca, {Livy, de Tranquillitate animi, l. 1. c. 9.} where the same number of books is said to have been burned. A. Gellius {Gellius, l. 5. c. 17.} stated the same. Ammianus Marcellinus {Marcellius, l. 22.} stated that there were 700,000 burned. Indeed when at the end of the Alexandrian war, the city was plundered by the soldiers. However, Plutarch, {Plutarch, in Caesar} stated that at the beginning of this war, the flame was increased by the arsenal and that the library was burned. Dio {Dio, l. 42.} confirmed that the store houses, granaries and library were burned together with the arsenal.
4970. After the fleet was burned and the enemy was still engaged in fighting, Caesar at the island of Pharos (which was joined to the city with a narrow neck of land of 900 paces long and makes the harbour) landed his soldiers from the ships and placed a garrison there. As soon as he had done this, he was able to bring grain and troops to him by ship. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.} Lucan wrote of the taking of Pharos by him: {Lucan, l. 10.}
Two helps on Caesar both that fort bestow:
Commands the seas,
the foes incursions stayed,
And made a passage safe for Caesar's
aid.
4971. In other parts of the town they fought so that neither of them had the upper hand. Neither side gave ground because of the narrowness of the places and only a few were killed on either side. After Caesar had taken the most important places, he fortified them by night. On that side of the town, there was a little part of the palace where they first brought him to live. A theatre which was joined to the house, was like a citadel and had a way to the harbour and the arsenal. He strengthened these fortifications daily so that they would be like a strong wall for him and so that he might not be forced to fight except when he wanted to. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.}
4972. The Egyptians feared lest Caesar who won the battle at sea, would now seize the harbour of the city. They built a rampart to bar his entrance and only left a little space. Caesar blocked that space by sinking cargo ships filled with stones. This blocked all the enemy's ships in the harbour so they could not leave. By this he could get what he needed with less trouble. He was able to get water also (for Achillas, had taken all water from him, by cutting the conduits.) {Dio, l. 42.}
4973. Caesar sent into all the neighbouring countries and called for help from there. {Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.} He sent for the whole fleet from Rhodes, Syria and Cilicia. He ordered them to bring archers from Crete and cavalry from Malchus, the king of the Nabataeans. He ordered to be brought to him battering rams, grain and other supplies. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} He told Domitius Calvinus of his danger and desired him by all means to send supplies to him as soon as he possibly could. He wanted him to come to Alexandria through Syria. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} However, Mithridates of Pergamos was a man of great nobility in his country with knowledge and valour in the wars. He was held in great esteem, credit and friendship with Caesar. He was sent into Syria and Cilicia, to hurry on the supplies. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Josephus, Wars, l. 14. c. 14.} {Dio. l. 42.}
4974. In the meanwhile Ganymedes, an eunuch, stole away Arsinoe who was carelessly guarded, and carried her to the Egyptians. They made her queen and fought the war with new enthusiasm than before because they had gotten one of the family of the Ptolemy's as a commander. {Dio, l. 42.} Lucan wrote thus: {Lucan, l. 10.}
Arsinoe from court escaped goes
By Ganymedes' help to Caesar's
foes,
The crown (as Lagus' daughter) to obtain.
4975. Caesar wrote this near the end of the commentaries of the civil war:
``The young daughter of King Ptolemy, hoped after the vacant possession of the kingdom, escaped from the palace to Achillas and commanded in the war together with him. Immediately there was a dispute as to who would be the chief commander. The matter was aggravated by many bribes among the soldiers. Each strove to get the good will of the soldiers to the detriment of themselves.''
4976. While these things were done among the enemies, Pothinus the king's governor and administrator of the kingdom for Caesar, sent messengers to Achillas. He told him that he should follow the business and not desist in the war. The messengers were approached and apprehended and Pothinus was put to death by Caesar. (Caesar, Civil War, l. 3.} After this, Caesar kept the young king in strict custody and by this he more exasperated the minds of the Egyptians. {Dio, l. 42.}
4977. While these things were happening in Egypt, Domitius Calvinus marched against Pharnaces with long and continual marches. He camped not far from Nicapolis, (a city of Armenia the Less built by Pompey which Pharnaces had already seized to live in.) About seven miles from there, Pharnaces had made ambushs for him which failed. The next day, Domitius moved closer and brought his camp even to the town. Pharnaces set his men in battle array after his own custom and fashion. The next night Pharnaces intercepted the messengers who brought the letters to Domitius concerning the Alexandrian affairs. By this, he knew of the danger of Caesar and the recalling of Domitius. He accounted it as good as a victory if he stalled for time. When Domitius should have been more concerned with the danger of Caesar than his own, he brought his soldiers from the camp and prepared the fight. He placed the 36th legion in the right wing, the Pontic troops on the left and the legions of Dejotarus in the middle of the battle formation. When both armies were in battle array, they came to fight. The Pontic legion was almost wholly lost and most of Dejotarus' soldiers were killed. The 36th legion retreated into the mountains and only lost about 250 men. In spite of this, Domitius rallied the remains of his scattered army and returned to Asia by safe journeys through Cappadocia since winter was now approaching. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 484.} {Dio, l. 42.}
4978. Caesar and the Alexandrians fought hard against one another with fortifications and works. Caesar tried most of all to isolate that part of the city which a marsh had made the narrowest from the other part of the city. Using works and ramparts, he hoped that, first, the city would be divided into two parts. Then his army would be united under him again. Also, if they were in any danger, help could be brought to him from the other part of the city. Most importantly, he wanted the abundant fresh water supply from the marsh. The Alexandrians sent messengers into all parts of Egypt to enlist men. They brought into the town all sorts of engines and weapons that are described in detail by Hirtius. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4979. When Caesar saw the number of the enemy increasing, he began to take notice of an agreement between them. He ordered that Ptolemy be placed where he might be heard of the Egyptians. He was to tell them that he was not harmed in any way and that there was no need for this war. They should make peace and he would take care that the conditions were kept. However, the Egyptians suspected that he was made to do this on purpose by Caesar and still carried on their war. {Dio, l. 42.} They said that Caesar must be quickly driven out. Caesar could not receive help by sea because of the storms and the season of the year. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4980. In the interim, the dissention increased between Achillas, the general of the old army, and Arsinoe, the younger daughter of Ptolemy (Auletes). Both were plotting and scheming against each other. While Achillas aimed at the taking the kingdom, Arsinoe thwarted him with the help of Ganymedes, the eunuch and her foster father. She took over it and put to death Achillas and pretended that he would have betrayed the fleet. After he was killed, she alone enjoyed the whole kingdom and Ganymedes was made the general of the army. When he had assumed that charge, he increased the soldiers' pay and acted in all things with similar care and discretion. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Dio, l. 42.}
4981. Alexandria was riddled with underground channels and these connected to the Nile River. By these, water was brought into private houses. The water settled with time and became drinkable. Ganymedes blocked those channels and all the parts of the city where Caesar's forces were besieged. He pumped salt water into these channels so Caesar's forces did not have fresh water to drink and began to think of fleeing. This advice was not well received and Caesar ordered that wells should be dug in the night. A large quantity of fresh water was found and all the laborious work of the Alexandrians came to nought. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4982. Two days later, the 37th legion composed of those soldiers of Pompey that surrendered themselves and were shipped by Domitius Calvinus. They came to the shores of Africa a little above Alexandria with supplies of grain, arms, weapons and engines. The other legion which was sent by him though Syria by land, had not yet arrived to Caesar. With the etesian winds continually blowing, these ships stood at anchor and could not get into the harbour. When Caesar knew of this, he sailed and ordered his fleet to follow him. He did not take any soldiers with him lest he should leave the forts short of men to defend them. When he came to a steep place called Chersonesus, he set some sailors ashore for fresh water. Some of them were intercepted who told the enemy that indeed Caesar was in the fleet and he had no soldiers in the ships. Therefore they rigged their whole navy and met with Caesar as he returned with the legion of Domitius. Although Caesar did not want to fight that day, a Rhodian ship which was placed in the right wing and far from the rest, was attacked by four covered ships of the enemy and some open ones. Caesar was forced to help them and got the victory. If night had not fallen and stopped the battle, Caesar would have defeated the whole fleet of the enemy. {Dio, l. 42.}
4983. Although the Egyptians were defeated, yet they were again encouraged by Ganymedes. Although they had lost 110 long ships in the haven and arsenal, yet they started earnestly to repair their fleet. For that purpose, they gathered together all the ships from all the mouths of the Nile River and from the private arsenals that belonged to the king. In a few days, beyond the belief of all men, they made a fleet of 22 ships. They had galleys with four tiers of oars and five with five tiers plus many smaller and open ones. They furnished them with soldiers and outfitted them for battle. {Dio, l. 42.} They opened the entrance of the harbour and placed their ships in the road and troubled the Romans very much. {Dio, l. 42.}
4984. Caesar had nine Rhodian ships, (for of the ten that were sent, one was lost in the voyage on the Egyptian shore) eight ships from Pontus, five Lycian and twelve from Asia. Of these five were with five tiers of oars and ten with four. The rest were cargo ships and many were open. With these, Caesar sailed about Pharos and took up a position opposite the enemy's ships. There were sandbars between the two fleets with a very narrow passage. They stayed in that position for a long time while they waited to see who would first cross the passage. The one who crossed first would easily be overcome by the whole enemy fleet before the rest could pass and come to the battle. The Rhodian ships asked that they might be the first to cross. By their singular skill, they withstood the whole fleet of the enemy and never turned their sides to them so that they made a safe passage for the rest to follow and to come to the battle. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4985. Caesar won the victory and did not lose a single ship. On the Alexandrian side, one galley with five tiers of oars was captured and one with two tiers of oars. All the soldiers and sailors on these were captured too. Three ships were sunk and the rest fled to the town of Pharos which was near them. The citizens defended these ships from the forts and buildings which were over them and kept Caesar from getting close. They were routed out of there immediately by the industry of the Romans and lost both the town and island and many of their men. The island was joined to the continent by a double bridge, one of which was abandoned by the enemy. The Romans easily captured it. On the other bridge, through the rashness of some, the Romans were attacked and routed. They fled to their ships. Some of them got to the next ships which were sunk by the number and weight of the men. Some fought and did not know what to do and were killed by the Alexandrians. Some Romans escaped to safety to the ships that were at anchor. A few swam to the next ships. Caesar retired into his own ship. When a large number that followed would have broken in on him, he guessed what would happen. He jumped from the ship and swam to those ships which were farther off. From there he sent boats to help those who were in danger and saved some of them. His own ship sank when it was overloaded with the number of soldiers and a number of troops drowned. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4986. It is not to be forgotten about Caesar what Hirtius did not mention but is remembered by Suetonius, {Suetonius, in Julio, c. 64.} and by Orosius who follows him, {Orosius, l. 6. c. 15.}. When he escaped by swimming to the next ship, he held up his left hand so that his commentaries should not get wet. This is also mentioned by Plutarch, {Plutarch, in Caesar} and Dio. {Dio, l. 42.} Appian, {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 523.} related the story thus. Caesar was surrounded alone on the bridge by the enemy that pressed on him. He cast off his purple coat and leaped into the sea. The king's soldiers pursued him and he swam a long time under water and lifted his head only to get air. He swam to an only ship and by holding up his hands to them was recognised and saved. Although Suetonius wrote that he held his soldier's coat in his mouth and dragged it behind him so that the enemy should not get it. However Florus, {Florus, l. 4. c. 2.} along with Plutarch stated that he left it in the waves either by chance or on purpose so that the enemies who were pursuing him would shoot at it with their arrows and stones. When the Egyptians got the coat, they fixed it to a monument which they had erected for their putting the enemy to flight as if they had taken the general himself. Thus says Appian and Dio. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 484.} {Dio, l. 42.}
4987. In this fight, about 400 soldiers from the legions and a few more of the soldiers who belonged to the fleet and sailors, were killed. In that place the Alexandrians built a citadel and strengthened it with forts and many engines of war. They took the stones from the sea. They made use of the place more freely for the base for sending out their ships, {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4988. In the meanwhile, Mithridates of Pergamos quickly gathered large forces from Syria and Cilicia through the extreme good will of the cities and his own diligence. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} When he first came alone to Askelon, he sent for Antipater, the governor of Judea, to come to him. He brought 3000 soldiers with him and brought it to pass by his influence that Hyrcanus, the hight priest, and other governors joined their forces together. Strabo related this from Hypsicrates, (an historian of the Phoenicians) {Josephus, Wars, l. 14. c. 15.} For Antipater had agreed with the princes of the Arabians that they also should come to his aid. By his means especially with great earnestness, Iamblicus, the governor, Ptolemy's son and Tholomy, the son of Sohemus, who lived at Mount Libanus and almost all the cities of Syria sent help for Caesar. {Josephus, Wars, l. 14. c. 15.}
4989. When the Alexandrians saw that the Romans were more zealous by the losses they recently had and that they were encouraged as well by losses as by success, they sent ambassadors to Caesar. They wanted him to let their king go free and come to them. For a large number were weary of the war and would do whatever the king wished them to do. Caesar thought that by the king's means, they may become Caesar's friends and they would stop fighting. Although Caesar knew that the fidelity both of the king and Alexandrians was suspect, he let him go. He knew by his coming that the enemy's strength would not be increased and the war against a king would be the more glorious. Caesar advised him to take care of his kingdom and to honour the fidelity that he owed to himself and the people of Rome. The king faked his joy by his tears and desired that he might not be let go. When Caesar sent him away, he eagerly pursued the war against Caesar. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Dio, l. 42.}
4990. The Alexandrians found that their new general made them no stronger and the Romans were no weaker. Worse, the soldiers daily mocked the age and weakness of the king. They were much grieved and neither saw how they could help themselves. There were reports that there were large forces coming to Caesar by land from Syria and Cilicia (which yet Caesar heard nothing of.) They determined to intercept the provisions which were brought to the Romans by sea. Therefore they rigged their ships and stationed them in convenient places about Canopus in the channel. They watched for ships bringing the provisions. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} Since the soldiers that Caesar had sent for from Syria were now approaching, they guarded all the shores and did much harm to those forces. Those who were on the African side, brought some help to Caesar. At the mouths of the Nile River, the Egyptians made many fires as if they had been Romans. They took many by this deceit so that the rest dared not come there. {Dio, l. 42.}
4991. Thereupon Caesar commanded his fleet to be rigged, over which Tiberius Nero was the commander. In this fleet, the Rhodian ships included his flagship, the Euphranor. This ship was in every battle and was always victorious but was unlucky in this battle. When they came to Canopus, both fleets stood facing one another. The Euphranor, according to Nero's custom, started the battle and had sank one of the enemy's ships. She followed the chase of the next ship too far and his own side followed too slowly after him. He was surrounded by the Alexandrians and was all alone. He fought valiantly in this battle and died alone with his conquering ship. However, the enemies were defeated in this battle that Tiberius Nero had started so that his own side might safely sail to land. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Dio, l. 42.}
4992. About the same time, Mithridates from Pergamos came from Syria by land where Egypt joined Syria. He brought large forces to Pelusium. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} He tried to go by the mouth of the Nile River which is at Pelusium up stream. The Egyptians had blocked by night the entrance with their ships which were carried into the channel. He transported his ships there, (for it did not reach as far as to the sea) and he went into the Nile River with his ships. He suddenly attacked those who guarded the mouths of the Nile River simultaneously from sea and from the river. He took control of the mouths and attacked Pelusium with his fleet and land forces. {Dio, l. 42} This town was controlled by Achillas with a strong garrison because of its strategic position. (All Egypt was thought sufficiently fortified from any access by sea to it by Pharos and by land to Pelusium.) He suddenly surrounded it with large forces. The defenders stoutly defended it with a strong garrison of men but were overcome. The large number of the attackers was constantly maintained by Mithridates. He replaced any men that were wounded and weary and so by maintained a constant attack. He overcame it in the same day that he attacked it and then stationed a garrison of his own there. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} Antipater acted valiantly for after he broke down a piece of the wall, he was the first to break in, allowing the rest to follow. {Josephus, Wars, l. 14. c. 14.}
4993. The Egyptian Jews who lived in that country called Onias, would not allow Mithridates and Antipater to march to Caesar. Antipater tried to win them over to his side since they were both fellow countrymen. He showed them the letters from Hyrcanus, the high priest, in which they were invited to be friends to Caesar and to provide him food and supplies for his army. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c 14.} However, Asinius (that is, Trallianus, a writer of the civil war) wrote that Hyrcanus himself, the high priest, invaded Egypt with Mithridates as Josephus related from Strabo. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 15.} Also those words of Caesar about Hyrcanus seem to confirm this and were inscribed on a brazen table by him in favour of Hyrcanus. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.}
``In the last Alexandrian war, he came to our aid with 1500 soldiers and was sent by me to Mithridates. He surpassed all those in his company in valour.''
4994. The Jews, the inhabitants of the country of Onias, willingly submitted through the authority of Antipater and Hyrcanus. When those who lived around Memphis heard this, they also sent for Mithridates to come to them. When he came, they also joined his side. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 14.}
4995. King Ptolemy knew that Mithridates approached close to the place which is called Delta, because of its similarity to the Greek letter D. This was not far from Alexandria. Ptolemy knew that he must cross the Nile River. Therefore, he sent large forces against him so that he may either defeat him or prevent him from joining Caesar. Those forces which first crossed over the river at the delta, met with Mithridates and began the fight. They hurried to prevent those who followed lest they should share in the victory. Mithridates withstood their attack with great prudence. He entrenched his camp after the Roman custom. When he saw the attackers carelessly and proudly coming up even to his fortifications, he made a general sally and killed a large number of them. The rout was so complete that they all would have been killed unless the rest had hid themselves in secret places or retired to the boats they used to cross the river. After they were a little recovered from their fear, they joined with those who followed and began a fresh attack on Mithridates. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4996. This battle was fought near the place that is called the Camp of Judah. Mithridates commanded the right wing and Antipater the left wing. Mithridates' wing began to waver and likely would have been routed, unless Antipater quickly marched along the riverside with his forces. They had already defeated his enemies and came to Mithridates' rescue. They forced the Egyptians to flee who were defeating Mithridates. They so hotly pursued after those who fled that Antipater took over the enemies' camp. He shared the plunder with Mithridates and pursued the enemy and he had left Mithridates far behind him. Mithridates lost 800 of his men and Antipater only 50 (or 80, {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 7.}) When Mithridates told Caesar of these things he stated plainly that Antipater was the cause of the victory and their preservation. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 15.}
3957b AM, 4667 JP, 47 BC
4997. Almost at the same time also King Ptolemy marched out to surprise Mithridates and Caesar came to rescue him. The king took the quickest route by the Nile River where he had a large fleet already rigged. Caesar did not take the same route lest he would be forced to fight with his fleet. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} Therefore he sailed by night as though he hurried to one of the mouths of the Nile. He carried many lights on all his ships so that the Egyptians would think he was sailing in that direction. At first went out with his fleet but later he put out his lights and sailed back again. He sailed around the city and he arrived at a peninsula that joined to Africa and landed his soldiers. They marched around the marsh {Dio, l. 42.} and met with the king's forces before they could attack Mithridates. He defeated them and was received safely with his army. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4998. The king with his army took up the higher ground in a place that was naturally well fortified. Caesar was about seven miles from him and there was a river between them. In crossing the river, he would have to fight with the Alexandrians. He crossed it and killed a large number of the Alexandrians that tried to hinder his crossing. Caesar camped a short distance from the king's camp and had joined it to his camp by the outer works. His soldiers pursued the Alexandrians that fled from there even to their camp and came up to their fortifications. They began to fight bravely at a distance but they were wounded with arrows from various places. Those who were behind them fought from the river in which were many ships that were well manned with slingers and archers. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
4999. When Caesar perceived that his men could not fight more bravely, and yet could not prevail because of the difficulty of the places, he saw that the highest place of the camp was deserted by the Alexandrians because it was naturally well fortified. They had come down into the place where the battle was, partly to see and partly to fight. Therefore he commanded his cohorts go around the camp and to capture that highest ground. He put Casulenus in command of this for he was an excellent man both in valour and knowledge of military affairs. As soon as they arrived there, only a few were left to defend the camp. Caesar's soldiers fought bravely and the Alexandrians were frightened with the shouting and fighting of their adversaries and began a general rout. The Romans were so encouraged by their disorder that they captured almost on all sides, the whole camp. However, they first took the highest place of the camp. These ran down and killed a huge number in the camp. To escape this danger, the Alexandrians fled and by heaps cast themselves over the rampart on that side that faced the river. The other side was being overwhelmed with the great violence of the battle so that the rest had the easier escape. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
5000. It is certain that the king fled from the camp and that he was received into a ship and that he died there when the overloaded ship sank because of the large number who swam to the ships that were nearest. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Livy, l. 112.} {Dio, l. 42.} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 16.} His body wallowed in the mud and rolled to the bank of the Nile. It was identified by the golden breastplate which he wore (such as the Ptolemy's used to wear, as Julius Capitolinus confirms in Maximinius the Younger) {Florus, l. 4. c. 2.} {Eutropius, l. 6.} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 16.} After the death of his father, Auleres, he lived 3 years and 8 months. Thereupon Porphyry attributed four years to his reign. {Scaliger, in Grac. Eusebius, p. 226.}
5001. In this battle 20,000 men were killed and 12,000 surrendered. Seventy long ships were captured. Caesar lost 500 men. {Orosius, l. 6. c. 16.} In this battle, Antipater was also wounded. Caesar used him in valiant service in his most dangerous adventures. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 15.}
5002. In confidence by this great victory, Caesar marched the next day by land to Alexandria with his cavalry. He entered that part of the town as conqueror which was held by a garrison of the enemies. However, all the townsmen cast away their arms and left the forts. They put on the clothes they usually wore when they wanted to supplicate their governors. They brought out all their sacred things of their religion with which they were accustomed to appease the offended and enraged minds of their kings. They came and met Caesar and submitted to him. Caesar took them into his protection and comforted them. He came through the enemy's fortifications to his own part of the town with great shouting of his own soldiers. They not only rejoiced that the battle was successful but also that his arrival was so joyful. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
5003. In the marble calender records, {Inscript. Cruter. p. 133} on the date of the 6th of April, it is thus noted. "HOC DIE CAESAR ALXAND. RECEPIT." "This day Caesar recovered Alexandria." Since the year was then reckoned at Rome that day was on the 14th of the Julian January. Hence the was Alexandrian war over. Caesar fought this war in an unfavourable place at a poor time to fight since it was in the winter. {Suetonius, in Julio, c. 35.}
5004. After Caesar had conquered Egypt, he did not subject it to the dominion of the Romans but gave it to Cleopatra for whose sake he had carried on the war. He feared lest the Egyptians would not like being under a queen and by this he would stir up the Romans against him for doing this and for being too familiar with Cleopatra. Therefore, he ordered that she should marry her brother who was still alive and that they should hold the kingdom in common between them. This he did only for appearances' sake. For indeed the whole kingdom was committed to Cleopatra, for her husband was only a child of age eleven. (Thereupon, Strabo said he was a very youth. {Strabo, l. 17. p. 796.}) However, she could do anything with Caesar. Therefore under the pretence of marriage with her brother and of sharing the kingdom equally with her husband, she alone ruled over all. She was too familiar with Caesar also. These things Dio has related more honestly. {Dio, l. 42.} Hirtius stated them more mildly in favour of Caesar, thus: {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
``After Caesar had conquered Egypt, he made those kings whom Ptolemy had appointed in his will and earnestly asked the people of Rome that they would not alter it. Since the king, the older of the two sons was dead, he turned over the kingdom to the younger son and to Cleopatra, the older of two daughters. She remained under his protection and quarters.''
5005. Suetonius stated: {Suetonius, in Julio, c. 35.}
``After Caesar had the victory, he granted the kingdom of Egypt to Cleopatra and her younger brother. He feared to make it a province lest at some time or another, they had a rebellious leader who might start a new rebellion.''
5006. Cleopatra and Caesar feasted many times and sat up until break of day. He sailed with her on the Nile River with 400 ships. He was in the same galley with her that was called Thalamegos. He crossed Egypt as far as Ethiopia but his army refused to follow him any farther. {Suetonius, in Julio, c. 52.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 484.}
5007. At Alexandria, Caesar erected a brazen pillar which contained the liberties that he had granted to the Jews. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17., contra Appion, l. 2. p. 1063.}
5008. Pharnaces had become famous because of his successes. He hoped all things would happen to Caesar as he wished they would. He seized on Pontus with all his forces and conquered it. He was a most cruel king. Since he thought he should have better fortune than his father had, he conquered many towns and plundered the goods of the citizens of Rome and of Pontus. He decreed punishments for those that were commendable for either beauty or age that were worse than death itself. He got Pontus when there was no one to defend it and bragged that he had recovered his father's kingdom. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
5009. He mainly displayed his cruelty on Amisus, a city of Pontus. After it had resisted a long time, he won it by storm and put to death all the men that were of age and gelded all that were under age. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 484.} {Dio, l. 42.}
3957c AM, 4667 JP, 47 BC
5010. Asander, to whom Pharnaces had committed the government of Bosphorus, tried to curry favour with the Romans and hoped to get the kingdom of Bosphorus for himself. He made an insurrection against his master. {Dio, l. 42.}
5011. Caesar sent letters from Egypt to M. Cicero that he should stay where he was and that he should retain the name of imperator (for the victory that he had won in Cilicia.) Pansa carried these letters to him. Cicero returned his fasces adorned with laurel, for him to keep as long as he thought himself fit. {Cicero, pro Ligario} For after he left the province of Cilicia, he had not as yet entered Rome but was accompanied by his lictors everywhere with him, hoping in vain for a triumph. {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 11. epist. 6.} Caesar's letters were delivered to Cicero the day before the ides of August {Cicero, Letters to his Friends, l. 14. epist. ult.} or the last day of the Julian May.
5012. After Pharnaces had captured Bithynia and Cappadocia, he planned to take Armenia the Less. He incited all the kings and tetrarchs of that country to rebel. {Plutarch, in Caesar} He also marched into Asia in hope of the same success that his father Mithridates had there. {Dio, l. 42.}
5013. Appian stated that Caesar spent nine months in Egypt, {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 484.} and Cleopatra had either kept him there longer or accompanied him on his voyage to Rome. Pharnaces forced him to leave Egypt against his will and hindered his speedy march into Italy. {Dio, l. 42.} A short time later, Cleopatra gave birth to a son by him whom the Alexandrians called Caesarion. {Plutarch, in Caesar} That name was given to the son by the mother by the permission of Caesar himself. {Suetonius, in Julio., c. 52.} Plutarch {Plutarch, in Antony} seems to intimate that after Caesar's death, she, had too much familiarity with his enemy Cneus Pompey, the oldest son of Pompey the Great.
5014. Caesar brought from the kingdom, Arsinoe, the younger sister of Cleopatra, in the name of whom Ganimedes had a long time most tyrannically reigned. He wanted to prevent a future rebellion that might arise through seditious men. He wanted to keep her away until time had confirmed the authority of the king. He took his 6th veteran legion and he left three other legions there so that the king's authority might be confirmed. He could not keep the affections of his own subjects because both the king and the queen had constantly persevered in Caesar's friendship. Neither could they claim any basis for their authority since they were new to the throne. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Suetonius, c. 76.}
5015. After Caesar had finished and settled all things, he marched by land into Syria. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Suetonius, c. 35.} {Plutarch, in Julius Caesar} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 484.} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 16.} Josephus wrote that he sailed to Syria {Josephus, Antiq. l. 14. c. 15.} and Hirtius later confirmed this.
5016. The news of Caesar's departure from Alexandria, came to Italy on July 5th, (Julian April 23rd) {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 11. epist. 19.} C. Trebonius left Caesar at Antioch who went from Seleucia Pieria. In a 28 day journey, the 13th day before September, (Julian June 3rd) he came into Italy. {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 11. epist. 13.} From this it is deduced that Caesar was at Antioch 14 days before August. (Julian May 6th)
5017. Johannes Malela Autiochenus, in the ninth book of his Chronicle, (an unpublished manuscript) noted that on the twelfth day of the month, Artemisiusm, or May, there was an edict publicly proposed in the city of Antioch, concerning the empire of Julius Caesar. On the 20th of the same month, another edict was sent out from Julius Caesar concerning the liberty of the same city. It said: En Anpoceia tw mwtropldà iera kz aoulw kz autonomwà kz pbokazhmzuh t atarolhsà iouliosgaios Kaioar &c. "Julius Caesar to the metropolis of Antioch, the holy and privileged asylum and refuge against the vigour of the law." Finally on the 23rd day, Caesar the dictator entered Antioch. However, that he was in Antioch on the 20th day, that edict clearly shows. It should be said that he rather left from the city on the 23rd day, the night he came there.