On October 2, 48 BC, the Roman Consul Gaius Julius Caesar arrived with 4000 men at Alexandria Egypt. On our calendar it was July 27. Caesar was certainly expecting to engage with Pompey in one last fight, one-on-one. But the great general was to be denied this glory. Theodotus, Ptolemy's advisor presented Caesar with a signet ring and a severed head. Caesar hadn't seen that face since April of 56 BC. Caesar wept on the site of Pompey's head. But under tears of grief Caesar must have then realized that he was now undisputed master of Rome. In fact, officially he was. When news of the battle of Pharsalus reached Rome, Caesar was made dictator for 1 full year. Caesar had sent Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) back to Italy as Master of the Horse, the assistant of the dictator. In Egypt however, Caesar was now in trouble. Caesar had caused much a stir in Alexandria. As consul (he had not yet learned he was dictator) the fasces was carried before him, and the Egyptians considered this an insult. Over the next few days many soldiers are killed by the mob. Caesar immediately called for legions to be brought from Asia by Mithridates of Pergamum. Caesar himself decided to stay in Alexandria. One reason was that escape was impossible by ship since there were no southerly winds. Another reason was that Caesar wanted to get back the money that Egypt owed Rome and Caesar himself. Egypt itself was in a civil war. Alexandria supported Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, who was about 14 years old. The other faction was led by Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, the 21 year old second daughter of the late Ptolemy XII. He had willed the country to both his son and daughter, who were to be officially married in joint rule. But they didn't get along well. Cleopatra had a magic of captivation and a singular wit, backed up by a seductive voice. Clearly she wished to rule without this boy. But it was a man's world and she couldn't do this. In the end, Cleopatra was driven out of Egypt into Syria, with her younger sister Arsinoe IV. When Pompey was killed at Pelusium, Cleopatra and her forces were at the border. When Caesar arrived at Alexandria, he was able to take control of the city since there was no army to stop him. Since Caesar had wanted to settle the score with Pompey Roman to Roman, it was not unusual that he seized the palace quarter for his command center. Ptolemy XIII had wanted Caesar's support. But Caesar wanted peace and money, as well as grain. He ordered that Cleopatra and Ptolemy come and see him and seek lawful, or Roman arbitration. It seems that Caesar privately sent for Cleopatra. This would show he thought Ptolemy's supporters were not worthy. So Caesar may have wanted to use Cleopatra. But Cleopatra had ideas of her own.

Now Cleopatra must have known that she was on thin ice, if she knew what ice was. Clearly Caesar would give his support to Ptolemy if she just arrived before Caesar in an unstable political manner. Caesar wasn't the type to give support to someone he didn't trust or believe he could control. So Cleopatra decided to establish a personal relationship with Caesar. It was a calculated risk, but a good one. Caesar was 52 and probably needed some non-military "distraction". Cleopatra wasn't physically beautiful like a Greek goddess, but she likely had the best physical appearance she would have in her life; she was 20. So, on a mid October night, Cleopatra was rowed in a rowboat by a Sicilian named Apollodorus to the palace area. But to get inside the palace to Caesar's apartments required some original thinking. She decided to hide herself in a gift for Caesar. But she chose, not a oriental carpet or rug, but a coverlet of a bed to hide in. From here getting into Caesar's presence wasn't a problem. Caesar was obviously impressed with this extraordinary woman. Now Caesar and Cleopatra must have had a private talk. In the end Cleopatra gave herself to Caesar. In reality he was her ticket to power, and Caesar could more easily trust a girlfriend ruling a country than an adolescent young boy. So on that night Cleopatra likely did relieve Caesar of certain stresses. No further description is needed here. But it should be noted that Caesar made no mention of a personal relationship in his own writings.

The next day the meeting of the 3 parties was to take place. Cleopatra was of course still in the palace and Ptolemy had no idea about what had "happened." So when he came in and saw Cleopatra standing in the same room with Caesar, Ptolemy needed no explanation. He stormed out of the palace screaming that he had been betrayed. The people of the city were gathered outside and saw their Pharaoh yelling. He also threw away his golden diadem, a small crown. Caesar's men quickly snatched the young man and brought him back to the palace. Ptolemy was in effect, under arrest. The people of Alexandria were infuriated by such actions. Caesar later tried to pacify the people by reading Ptolemy XII's will in public, as well as granting the island of Cyprus to the younger two children, Ptolemy the younger and Arsinoe IV. The people were calmed, but not the courtiers of Ptolemy. Pothinus, the mastermind of the end of Pompey, got word to Achillas at Pelusium of what was going on. Achillas and his army 20,000 strong marched on Alexandria. Caesar's only option was to secure the palace and the harbor next to it. Achillas captured the city and besieged Caesar and the others. Caesar couldn't deal since an embassy that he sent under the name of Ptolemy, two men named Dioscorides and Serapion, were apprehended and killed. Caesar's men had to fight in the streets constantly, which wasn't any aid to Achillas. In the end Caesar was able to hold his fortress (the palace) and was also able to keep the Egyptian fleet from completely isolating him. In late October or so Caesar had the ships that threatened his survival burnt. But in the hot summer, it was actually mid August by season, the fire spread from the docks to the nearby warehouses and then to the great library. A good portion of the scrolls inside were burned into nothing. This was a great loss to civilization, but Caesar couldn't mourn the loss, he had more pressing matters. Caesar was also suffering from lack of water, since the pipes to the palace were cut. In the fighting at this time Caesar learned that Pothinus was giving secrets to the enemy and had him put to death. Also Arsinoe was able to escape from the palace and reach Achillas. Caesar also likely had Ptolemy and Cleopatra married at this time. This may or may not be true, but they certainly were to live in the fashion of their ancestors for a month or so. By now Caesar likely knew he was dictator for a year since his judgments were as dictator, not consul. Also Caesar was granted the power of a Tribune, for life.

The Egyptians decided to attack again. What else would they do? So around November 1 the Egyptians tried another sea attack, one which was a big threat to the Romans. Also there was a leadership change on the Egyptian side. Arsinoe IV had Achillas killed and here servant Ganymedes was now in command of the Egyptian forces. Caesar in the meantime was awaiting the arrival of the 37th legion from Asia, made up of Pompey's former troops. He was also digging wells for fresh water, since the aqueduct was cut off. Just after the legion arrived, Caesar sailed out with his ships only to seemingly test the Egyptian navy. 4 enemy ships charged a ship of Caesar's and in the rescue Caesar sunk one, captured another, and disabled a third. Caesar didn't risk anymore fighting. But Ganymedes began to build a much larger fleet, even out of old rotting ships. In the end the Alexandrians had 27 large ships and many small fire ships and vassals to shoot arrows from. Caesar had 34 ships. In mid November Caesar sailed round Pharos with 17 ships in the front line, Alexandria with 22 in their front. The area of combat was small and it was a case of who got the upper hand first. It was Caesar who did this. His forces captured a bireme and a quinquereme and sunk 3 others. Caesar didn't lose one ship, but the Egyptians managed to get away and reach the city docks where Caesar couldn't follow. Caesar then decided to take the island of Pharos for himself. Not only was the lighthouse there but a fair sized town. The fight for the island and the mole (causeway) joining it to the city was difficult for the Romans. Five Egyptian galleys guarded the rocky shore and landing was in tight order. As in Britain, when Caesar got enough men on the beach, the enemy retreated. But the people of the island didn't man the ramparts of the 30 foot wall that defended their village. In their flee about 600 were taken prisoner. Caesar demolished the town and garrisoned the fort on the island end of the mole. The next day Caesar tried to take the other fort on the city end of the causeway. Using siege engines he drove the enemy from the fort and blocked up the canal which allowed ships to pass. But here the Alexandrians attacked in force from land and sea and burnt Roman freight ships. The Romans now counterattacked without securing their rear and the Egyptians attacked them from behind. Meanwhile the 3 cohorts that Caesar landed to garrison the city-side fort saw that they were being completely surrounded. They fled and only a few managed to escape without drowning. The rest were cut to pieces. And of course Caesar was close by and had to fall back with his men. His own galley was sunk when it was rushed by the fleeing soldiers. So Caesar, at age 52, had to swim "200 paces" to boats that were further away. He removed his purple robe and carried his private papers in his left hand above water. The Egyptians recaptured the fort and cleared the channel. They set up a trophy with Caesar's purple robe on it to commemorate this. One story says that Caesar held the robe in his teeth while swimming. On this day Caesar says he lost 400 legionaries and 400 sailors. But this seems to have angered the Romans. They continually engaged the enemy to make up for their failure. The Alexandrians now seemed to realize that Caesar would not give up. Now it was nearing December on the calendar, mid September by season.

Now things turned political. The Egyptians saw that Arsinoe and Ganymedes wouldn't beat Caesar and used this pretence to ask Caesar to return Ptolemy. It seems that Caesar had Cleopatra and Ptolemy married to fulfill the will of their father. This judgment was done while Caesar was dictator. When the dictatorship commenced is not known. As said before Caesar first called himself consul when he arrived in Egypt, now he was Dictator. So it would seem that Caesar's dictatorship began towards the end of October or even on November 1. Caesar had the will fulfilled but now it seems that he had no more use for Ptolemy. This would indicate he preferred Cleopatra for all the famous reasons. So Caesar sent Ptolemy back to his troops. Ptolemy at first cried to stay but then "escaped like a wild beast" with tears of joy. Ptolemy then carried on the war with vigor. It seems that his release was in early December.

In the mean time Caesar had to wait for the legions under Mithridates to arrive. He was gathering troops in Cilicia and Syria while marching south. So while he gathered the army to help Caesar, Caesar had to hold out in Alexandria, which wasn't so bad since his new girlfriend was now pregnant. In any case Caesar had to protect his supply lines along the coast. Caesar gave command of the navy to Tiberius Nero, father of Rome's second emperor. He along with Rhodian admiral Euphranor sailed the Nile branch called the Canopus. Here Euphranor was killed when he charged the enemy and was surrounded. When this took place is not certain but it would seem that the Egyptians needed some time after losing their earlier sea fight to get more troops for vessals. So the action was likely around late January 47 BC.

Now in the new year by the calendar, still late fall by season, the reinforcements under Mithridates were marching towards the Nile. The first thing they had to do is take Pelusium, where Pompey was murdered. In the month of March Mithridates managed to capture Pelusium using a combined attack from the land and crushed the Egyptian blockade that prevented the Romans from sailing right up to the city. After the blockade was crushed the Roman infantry and ships he had hauled overland to the canal, attacked the city and captured it. In response the new commander of the Egyptians, Ptolemy XIII, ordered an attack to surround Mithridates. Mithridates had to defend his camp but when the Egyptians attacked too quickly, he pounced and cut the Egyptian troops to pieces. But this was only the start. Ptolemy now traveled north to crush Mithridates himself. But Caesar now learned of this by message and set out from Alexandria with the navy he had and set huge fires on the ships to make the enemy think he was going to attack on the Nile. But Caesar wouldn't risk a sea fight against the larger enemy fleet on the river. Hw was able to sneak along the coast and reach Mithridates. Ptolemy had camped on a hill that was well defended by cliffs, swamp, and river. Seven miles from this position was a small river that joined the Nile. Here there were steep banks. Ptolemy sent his cavalry with light troops to stop Caesar. Caesar had wisely scouted for a better place to cross with the German cavalry. The legions used large trees to make a bridge and were able to safely cross. When they came upon the enemy they were so terrified that almost all were killed in the flight to Ptolemy's camp. The fighting was in the middle of the day and Caesar advanced the 7 miles to the camp to incite terror in the enemy. He found the Egyptians well fortified with a defended wall that ran to a fort at a nearby village. The next day, March 27, 47 BC, Caesar smashed this fort with his entire army, in order to strike terror. After the capture of this fort Caesar chased the enemy back to the main camp. Of the two approaches to the camp, one is a narrow pass in front of the river, and the main one from the plain which was heavily guarded. Caesar attacked around the camp and sent a small division to the highest cliffs which were undefended. They were commanded by Carfulenus. The Egyptians were so freaked out by the Romans appearing in the camp behind them that they began to panic. Many of the Egyptians began to hurl themselves over the ramparts on the side of the river, trying to reach the ships that were stationed there to give covering fire incase of an assault on the camp by the Romans. In their flight many Egyptians were crushed in the ditch at the base of the camp. With the mole now filled with dead, many were able to reach the river. In the flight Ptolemy XIII was taken to these ships. Certainly he got on one, but in this chaos the common soldiers would rush this ship as it was trying to cross the river. The weight of the men on one side capsized the vessel and all on board drowned in the river. So on that day the Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII died in the Nile river. Caesar again was victorious. We are told that the body of the king was never found, and this led to a belief that Caesar executed him. This can be dismissed as false. Caesar then turned his troops around and marched back to Alexandria. When he arrived several days later the enemy in the city simply surrendered. He triumphantly entered Alexandria through the enemy's fortifications and reached the palace. Now Caesar fulfilled the will of Ptolemy XII in full by passing the government of Egypt to the youngest of his sons, Ptolemy XIV. He was 12 years old. His coruler (and likely his wife) was Cleopatra VII, now a few months pregnant with Caesar's child. Caesar also had Cleopatra's younger sister Arsinoe banished from Egypt. This was more like being put away safely until she was needed again. Since she was the only "official" ruling member of the family who fought against Caesar that was still alive, she would play the same role that Vercingetorix later would. So ended the Alexandrian War of Julius Caesar.

Now it was early April by the calendar, mid to late January by season. At this time Caesar seems to have decided he needed a real vacation before the next campaign season. What better place than the healthy air of Egypt? In the calendar months of April, May, and June Caesar is said to have been "relaxing" with Cleopatra on her Nile River barge. They seemed to have sailed as far south as his men would let him, which was to the border of Ethiopia. Now is where one must discuss whether Cleopatra was impregnated by Caesar here. All the sources are careful with dealing with the child that Cleopatra was to give birth to in the summer of 47 BC. Plutarch not only says that Caesar was the father, but that he never saw him when he was born, since he had left Egypt. Suetonius seems to have not wanted to state an opinion of his own. Instead he gives both evidence for Caesar being, and not being the father. However it was the legal issue that would have kept Caesar from publicly admitting to his affair with the queen of Egypt. Caesar was certainly the father. Who else could it be? It would serve Cleopatra if Caesar was to be at the head of the Roman state for many years. She was young and intelligent. She knew even then to play the game right. But the fact remains that Caesar and Cleopatra were kept in close quarters in Alexandria for many months due to the war. So when was Caesarion born? There is an inscription that dates the birth of the "Pharaoh Caesar" that corresponds to June 23 (Julian). Was this Caesarion? It was either him or the future emperor Augustus. We may never know for sure.

While Caesar was enjoying his time off, Pompey's son's were gathering forces in Spain and Africa was still in hostile hands, those of Cato and of Scipio, those who had escaped Pharsalus. But worse, Pharnaces II, the son of the old enemy Mithridates the Great (Mithridates Eupator VI) of Pontus was stirring in Asia.

Now after the early spring vacation Caesar had to leave his pregnant mistress to command the war now in Asia. The war began with the Pharnaces II attempting to retake the lands of his ancestors. As said earlier, Lucius Licinius Lucullus had pounded Mithridates VI into the dust of Asia Minor and Pompey was able to gain control of the Third Mithridatic war after his successful pirate expedition. Pompey simply chased down the enemy and Mithridates marched north along the Black Sea to the Crimean territories, known as the Cimmerian Bosporus. Pompey chose not to follow him. The lack of conquest in these areas by the Romans would cause them much trouble in the future. In the Crimea Mithridates could only dream of fighting Rome again, and was killed by one of his sons, Pharnaces, in the city of Panticapaeum in 63 BC. His plan was to invade Italy via Hungary (by way of what Cassius Dio called Scythia). However this didn't mean the Pontic cause was lost. The civil war had diverted many troops to Greece in 48 BC and the Romans were spread quite thin in Asia minor. In fact the war wasn't a native uprising as such. Pharnaces was simply able to role over the weak Asia kingdoms and provinces of Cappadocia, lesser Armenia, Pontus, and allied cities belonging to Bithynia. In December (October on the calendar) of 48 BC Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus, who fought for Caesar at Pharsalus and was now governor of Asia, decided that he should gather as many troops as he could and confront Pharnaces. He did have the crack 36th legion and raised 2 more, one from Pontus and one from lesser Armenia under king Deiotarus, other auxiliaries came from Cilicia. Domitius tried diplomacy and backed it up by marching directly east towards the city of Nicopolis. When he arrived he tried again to make peace but in the end they fought. Pharnaces had intercepted messages from Caesar being sent to Domitius. They requested assistance from Asia for Caesar in Egypt. Pharnaces wanted to wait but Domitius knew he had to attack. The next day in the fight, which was between two parallel ditches 4 feet deep, the 36th legion, probably using the same technique Caesar used at Pharsalus, drove the enemy cavalry back to the walls of the city and crossed the ditch and attacked the rear of the enemy center. But the Pontic legion which did the same was unable to cross the ditch on their side and was unable to help. Meanwhile the Armenian legion in the center was unable to hold and the enemy was able to turn on the 36th legion and surround it. The Romans formed a circle and fought their way out of the battle and retreat to a hill. Their allies were cut into pieces. The 36th legion lost about 250 men. Winter was now approaching and Domitius retreated back to Asia. Pharnaces wanted to mop up what the Romans had now lost, but his governor in the Crimea, Asander, revolted and this stopped Pharnaces Asian advance. This is also what allowed Caesar his spring vacation in Egypt.

Caesar likely left Egypt in late March of 47 BC. Cleopatra wouldn't give birth for several more months. On the Calendar it was early June or so, the beginning of the campaign season. Caesar went into Syria, which today we call Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and modern Syria east to the desert west of the Euphrates and north to the Tarsus Mountains. Caesar traveled through these areas and met with local leaders in short visits. One such man was Herod in Palestine. Caesar here also met the governor Gaius Cassius Longinus. Here he received pardon from Caesar and the governorship was given to Caesar's own relation Sextus Caesar. The purpose for this overland travel was to secure moneys from the rich aristocrats who lived there and had supported Pompey in the past. Caesar was also given royal diadems as gifts. Caesar then went onboard his ships which followed from Egypt and sailed to Tarsus and met all the leaders of the territories in the area. After reaching a settlement he quickly marched north to the city of Comana. Here king Deiotarus begged Caesar for pardon, for he had assisted Pompey before. The king was given pardon and a command in Caesar's army. Pharnaces had noted this and asked Caesar for himself to submit in peace to the dictator of Rome. Pharnaces after all had never helped Pompey. Why couldn't he be a friend of Caesar? Caesar had no wish to be friends with someone who murdered helpless Roman citizens. Gaul again didn't seem to come to his mind. The following message was given:

"That Pharnaces should meet with the utmost justice, if he performed his promises: but at the same time he admonished the ambassadors, in gentle terms, to forbear mentioning Deiotarus, and not to overrate the having refused aid to Pompey. He told them that he never did any thing with greater pleasure than pardon a suppliant, but that he would never look upon private services to himself as an atonement for public injuries done the province; that the refusal of Pharnaces to aid Pompey had turned chiefly to his own advantage, as he had thereby avoided all share in the disaster of Pharsalia; that he was however willing to forgive the injuries done to the Roman citizens in Pontus, because it was now too late to think of redressing them; as he could neither restore life to the dead, nor manhood to those he had deprived of it, by a punishment more intolerable to the Romans than death itself. But that he must quit Pontus immediately, send back the farmers of the revenues, and restore to the Romans and their allies what he unjustly detained from them. If he should do this, he might then send the presents which successful generals were wont to receive from their friends"

Pharnaces promised to agree and sent Caesar a gold crown. He wanted to wait Caesar out. Now it was mid May by season (late July on the calendar) and everyone knew that Caesar wanted to get back to Italy ASAP. So the enemy dragged their feet. So Caesar decided to force battle. Pharnaces camped on a hill 3 miles from the town of Zela, where his father had defeated the Romans 20 years before. A valley separated the positions of the 2 armies which were 5 miles apart. Caesar later moved his army to the position of the Roman defeat on the edge of the valley. Now the armies were sitting across valley at a miles distance. Caesar began building fortifications. The next day, August 2, 47 BC, what was actually about May 30 or a little earlier (this was a non-intercalendary year so the calendar may have drifted up to five days backward), Pharnaces moved his troops across the valley toward Caesar. Caesar thought the enemy was insane and just testing him. He kept only one line in battle order, the others were still employed in the building. Caesar laughed and didn't bother. But when he saw that Pharnaces began to march up the hill, the laughing stopped! Caesar had 4 hastily gathered legions including the 6th legion of which he brought from Egypt, and had only 1000 men left. Caesar had to get them in battle order pretty quickly. Pharnaces attacked with scythed chariots, but they were no match against the Roman javelins. In the fighting that immediately followed, it was a classic hand to hand. Caesar's right wing began to push the enemy back thanks to the 6th legion. In the center and the left the fighting lasted longer and was undecided. For the luck of Caesar his men began to win the fight and the enemy began to flee down the hill. The Romans chased them down the side of the valley and the fleeing troops dropped their weapons and many were stomped to death in the flight. When the enemy reached the other side of the valley wall they couldn't stop the pursuing Roman legions. Pharnaces left several hundred men to guard his camp and the Roman easily went through them. Almost all the enemy army was killed or captured. Since his men fought the Romans at his camp, Pharnaces was able to escape with some cavalry. He escaped to the Black Sea. Caesar gave the enemy camp as plunder for his troops and set up a monument to commemorate this victory, to erase the 20 year old defeat. The initial fight lasted 1 hour or so according to Caesar, the rounding up of prisoners another 3. He was so proud in the speed and success of this campaign that he sent his famous message to the Senate in Rome; "VENI VEDI VICI" which translates "I came, I saw, I conquered". Caesar himself set out the next day for the Bosphorus of Byzantium. The 6th legion was sent directly back to Italy. Two legions were left to guard Pontus under Caelius Vincianus. Caesar gave the title of King to Mithridates of Pergamus in return for his loyalty in Egypt and Asia. Caesar traveled to the province of Asia via Bithynia. Here he reorganized the boundaries of the Roman allies in Asia Minor. Crossing to Thrace and then through Greece, he sailed for Italy. It was now the later half of September, early July by season. He wasn't expected back in Italy so soon by those he left in charge there.