Caesar sailed into Tarentum, on the sole of the Italian boot, on September 24, 47 BC. He didn't land a moment too soon. He was Dictator for only another month at most. In Rome the situation had degraded greatly. Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius) who was still Master of the Horse had failed to keep peace in the city. The main problem was debt relief. Another of Caesar's aids in the city was Publius Dolabella. He was a young friend of Antony and was serving as Tribune of the Plebs. He tried to get Antony's support in the cancelation of debts. Many opposed such an action. Antony soon came to hate Dolabella since it was rumoured that he was sleeping with Antony's wife. The situation turned to street fighting and Antony got the Senate to declare a state of Martial law (senatus consultum ultimum) to put down Dolabella. Caesar on his journey through Italy received more golden crowns from Italian towns, as well as loans from wealthy citizens. Caesar likely reached Rome about October 1. In the last month of his dictatorship he had the property of his now dead enemies put up for sale. The prices were expected to be paid in full, Antony having to pay in full the bid he put up for Pompey's old house, against his expectation. Antony was clearly not in Caesar's good graces for the moment. The problems with the debts seems to have kept Caesar from receiving a hero's welcome. Caesar couldn't cancel debts when he owed now so much himself. He himself even said so. In any case Caesar still had to win the people over. Certainly before his dictatorship ended, Caesar conducted the elections for 46 BC and the vacant offices of 47. There seems to have been no consuls while Antony ruled Italy. The two consuls for the remainder of 47 were Publius Vatinius and Quitus Fufius Calenus. Caesar himself was elected to the consulship of 46 with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Also as dictator Caesar appointed senators to fill the now vacant positions. But his most reaching measure was to nominate 10 men for the Praetorship. Before there had been only 8. Althought the Roman state could use more praetors to serve as governors, the number had been kept low to keep competion for the consulship as low as posible. The fact that Caesar began to nominate more shows perhaps his eagerness to control more of the state himself. Clearly the consulship wasn't too important to Caesar right now. But soon Caesar had a problem that even he didn't expect. The loyal and the most beloved of his legions, the 10th, mutinied.

Caesar had certainly promised much to the soldiers who served with him for so long. They wanted land and money for their service. But what they found in Campania displeased them. They were also being set to sail ahead to Africa. So they were fed up and nearly killed one of Caesar's new Praetors, Gaius Sallustius Crispus, who was to be known as Sallust the historian. Sallust went back to Rome to warn Caesar and the troops followed, killing those in their path. On of their leaders was Gaius Avienus. Two men killed were the Senators Cosconius and Galba. When the troops reached Rome Caesar himself had to solve the problem. Against his friends advice he allowed the soldiers into the walls and went out alone to meet them. Caesar used brilliant yet simple statagy to quell the revolt. He let them talk and yell their demands at him. When Caesar spoke he said the following:

"Why, of course, Quirites, what you say is right; you are naturally weary and worn out with wounds."

"I discharge both you who are present here and all the rest whose years of service have expired; for I really have no further need of you. Yet even so I will pay you the rewards, that no one may say that after using you in dangers I later showed myself ungrateful, even though you were unwilling to join my campaign while perfectly strong in body and able to carry through all the wars that remain."

"You have all that is due to you for me, and I will compel no one of you to make campaigns any longer. If, however, any one wishes of his own accord to help me accomplish what remains, I will gladly receive him."

The leaders of the Pompeian republicans that escaped the battle of Pharsalus had only Africa to flee to. Those who made it there were Quintus Metellus Scipio Marcus Portius Cato, and Titus Labienus. Another commander was Publius Attius Varus, who, along with king Juba of Numidia, defeated Curio in August 49 BC. Scipio was in overall command. Varus didn't seem to like his command taken from him, so there was some dissention in the ranks. All involved were aware that a Scipio never failed in Africa (202, 146 BC). Also the namesake and son of Pompey, was sent to Spain. Spain was beggining to revolt and could be used as another republican outpost. To counter the prophecy that no Scipio could be defeated in Africa, Caesar had a soldier called Scipio Sallutio join his personal retinue and was placed in the position of a general. So Caesar yanked fate to his side as well. Caesar only spent 2 months in Rome. In December Caesar set sail for Sicily arriving in Lilybaeum (western tip) on December 17. At this point Caesar only had 3000 men in one understrength legion and almost 600 cavalry. Caesar camped his men the surf of the shore to show his men that he was not afraid and could sail at a moments notice. Caesar waited and many joined him, including the veteran V legion. In 8 days Caesar gained a total of 6 legions and 2000 cavalry. On December 24 he ordered his forces to sail to Africa while he finished an auction in the city. Allienus the Praetor was left in charge of Sicily, and therefore reinforcements for Caesar. He himself soon sailed and caught up with his fleet. They sighted the coast of Africa on December 26. Instead of landing near the north shore, Caesar continued down the coast. His ships were scattered in the late autumn winds since it was mid October by season. On December 28 Caesar landed near Adrumetum (also called Hadrumentum, modern Sousse) in dramatic fashion. As he stepped off his ship to the shore, he tripped and fell flat on his face. With such a bad omen being witnessed by his troops, he stretched out his arms, kissed the ground, and said: "Africa, I hold you". Smart man indeed!

Caesar camped with only 3000 men and 150 horse at this time. The scattered ships still had to arrive. He didn't let his captains know where the landing place was. For this Caesar was in a bad spot. Adrumetum had a huge garrison and 3000 Moors for backup. Now here we are given different accounts of what happened next. Caesar himself says that he never attacked the city but was himself attacked by the garrison of the city as he moved south on January 1, 46 BC. That the town sallied forth with some Republican cavalry and captured Caesar's abandoned camp and attacked the rear of the column. Also that "less than thirty Gallic horse repulsed 2000 Moors". This indicates that Caesar needed a great event to cover a defeat he doesn't talk about. Caesar says that night he camped at Ruspina (modern Monastir). Cassius Dio says that Caesar attacked Adrumetum and was thrown back and drove from the camp before leaving for Ruspina. Plutarch also speaks of cavalry defeats. Appian also says Caesar was attacked, but planned to attack Adrumetum. In any event he soon made it to Ruspina and allied himself with the city of Leptis. Caesar then sent for supplies from the friendly provinces. He then moved back to Ruspina on January 3. Caesar then spent the rest of the day gathering corn from the country side. Then he decided to leave the few troops he had and took seven cohorts onboard ship. The men he left behind were gravely concerned. Caesar was preparing to look for his ships when, at daybreak of January 4, his fleet arrived. Caesar got all troops into camp and then decided to gather more forage. Taking 30 cohorts, 400 cavalry, and 150 archers 3 miles from camp, Caesar now met with the enemy horse and light troops. Their commander was Titus Labienus. Caesar was badly outnumbered and forced to extend his lines to the breaking point to avoid being outflanked. But this wasn't very possible. The enemy would throw there javelins and be protected by cavalry, which prevented the Romans from charging themselves, or they'd be outflanked. Being soon surrounded, Caesar formed his men into a back to back formation. Labienus would mock Caesar's men until a man from the 10th Legion threw a javelin at his horse, badly wounding it. Caesar then formed his troops and beat the enemy aside and seems to have been successful enough to convice the enemy to fall back. And it was just enough so that Caesar could deal with the 1600 reinforcements that showed up. Caesar orders his entire force to smash into the enemy and drive them off the plain and over the hill. When the Romans blasted the enemy over the hill, they held it and then marched back to their camp. The enemy did the same. The battle of Ruspina seems to have been quite harder to win than it looked from "The African war". In any case Caesar soon had a greater problem than just a shadowing cavalry. Caesar needed reinforcements and supplies. His enemies were now joining together to crush him. They had 40,000 foot and 2500 cavalry. Even worse was the fact that Scipio was coming with 8 more legions and 3000 horse. But Caesar was not daunted by this. For he began to dig in and and forge weapons on site. This show of confidence was not so good for the enemy of course. Many deserted to Caesar's side, and they were of high rank, who simply believed in Caesar's command ability. Also they could seek clemancy from the man who was the legal consul. They would fare better perhaps than those that were captured at Pharsalus. These men gave him valuable information on enemy intensions. King Juba had marched out with his army and was planing to join Scipio, but his kingdom was invaded and left only 30 elephants behind and marched home to save his country. So Caesar now wrote to Sicily demanding his supplies be sent without excuse. The enemy had completely devastated the countryside to keep Caesar from foraging. The local population had been driven into fortified towns and the livestock in the country were slaughtered wholesale and smaller towns burned to ashes. Caesar was told of the cruelty of the enemy. Children of neutral citizens were taken as hostages against disloyalty and put into virtual slavery. Caesar, it is said abhorred cruelty and couldn't stand it. Again, the irony of Gaul hangs silently over his headd. So Caesar waited in his fortifications, watching the sea for the ships from Sicily.

So while he was waiting the enemy under Scipio marched up to Caesar's fortified camp. Caesar was betting that Scipio wouldn't dare attack his camp. For several days Scipio approached Caesar but Caesar wouldn't budge. Away from the camp at Leptis, Scipio was unable to capture the town. After this more of Scipio's men, local Numidians and Africans, defected to Caesar. It is said they did so because Caesar was the nephew of Gaius Marius. Caesar then received the alliance of the town of Acilla. Scipio tried to capture the city before Caesar could install a garrison under Gaius Messius. Scipio sent Considius Longus from Adrumetum with eight cohorts to capture the town and its supplies. However Messius got there first and the enemy retreated. After cavalry reinforcements, the enemy besieged Caesar's garrison. Gaius Sallustius Crispus had soon secured the island of Cercina and its stores, sending them to Caesar. When these supplies arrived, Caesar was filled with joy when the 13th and 14th legions arrived from Sicily, along with 800 Gallic cavalry and 1000 archers and stone slingers. Caesar's position was now much more secure. The 4 day journey from Lilybaeum to Ruspina had been a rough one though. Caesar sent 6 transports back to bring over the rest of the army. Just after, Scipio sent two Gaetulians to act as spies under the pretence of deserters. However these men were loyal to the memory of Marius and told Caesar everything that Scipio wanted them to do, and that many in Scipio's 4th and 6th legions want to defect. Caesar rewarded them for their bravery and sent them back. The next day many of the said legions came over to Caesar. Caesar now was able to more better confront the enemy. Scipio had been confused by Caesar's patience. So after 20 days Caesar moved his camp more closely toward Ruspina at midnight of January 25. That day Caesar set up his new camp and Labienus was so suprised that he and Scipio marched out to stop Caesar. Caesar only acted when it suited him to. When the enemy was close Caesar attacked with his Spanish cavalry and pushed the enemy back. The enemy's German and Gallic cavalry were cut off and surrounded by Caesar's left and were annihilated. Scipio's legions soon fled in terror. Caesar realized many of the dead were among those captured in in 49 BC. On the 26th Caesar offered battle but Scipio declined. But Caesar kept approaching and Scipio thought he was trying to capture his supplies at Uzita. Scipio had no choice but to form his army infront of the town. Caesar waited until dark and retreated to his camp. The next day he decided to extend his fortifications closer to the city. The actions of Caesar and Scipio now were at an point of change. Caesar knew he'd have to fight and Scipio knew he couldn't fight without more troops from Juba. So Scipio sent desperate messages to him. One reason was that captured men from Caesar's side, who were sailing back to Sicily, refused to switch sides and would rather die.

Juba realizing that it was up to him now, left the command of his kingdom's defence with Sabura, and he marched to join Scipio with 3 legions, light infantry, 1000 cavalry and 30 elephants. He camped slightly away from Scipio. Caesar's men were first gravely concerned but that soon passed. One reason may have been Caesar's following statement:

"Let me tell you that within the next few days the king will be here with ten legions, thirty thousand horsemen, a hundred thousand light-armed troops, and three hundred elephants. Therefore some of you may as well cease to ask further questions or make surmises and may rather believe me, since I know all about it. Otherwise, I shall surely have them shipped on some worn out craft and carried off to whatever lands the wind may blow them." (Suetonius)

Now of course Caesar hadn't forgoten the mutiny in late 47 BC. One of the men who arrived with the 10th legion was the military tribune Gaius Avienus, one of the highest ranking mutineers. He brought over a ship of slaves from Sicily and Caesar wasn't impressed. Gaius Avienus was stripped of his position and ordered out of Africa. 3 other centurions were also were ordered to leave. Meanwhile Caesar had by now extended his "lines of communication" to within 100 feet of Uzita. At this point another thousand cavalry soldiers and servants defected to Caesar. Scipio, obviosly disturbed by this, next day brought out his legions along with Juba's men. Caesar brought out his men in order to make a stand but again waited for the enemy to make the first move, which never happened all day long. But when Caesar began to return to his camp for the night, his horse charged the enemy and were soon driven back. Caesar lost 27 men and was obviosly not impressed since he gave no orders. But Scipio was very impressed. So now the waiting game continued. Caesar spending time building up fortifications (he had much better ground to defend) and marching out his army to counter Scipio when neccesary. While Caesar was doing this, he gets word that his naval situation is wearing thin. Varus is at the moment trying to prevent the landings of the 7th and 8th legions sailing from Sicily. Caesar sent Quintus Aquila to protect landing sites at Adrumetum with 13 ships, unaware that Varus had 55. Varus caught Aquila off guard south of Adrumentum and burned some of his ships. When Caesar learned of this he quickly sailed to help Aquila. Varus retreated immediately when Caesar arrived and after a four mile chase Caesar was able to capture 2 ships (one being originally his own). Caesar was unable to follow the enemy the whole way that day, but the next at Adrumentum, he captured several ships and burned others. On one of the captured ships was Publius Ligarius, a man who fought against Caesar in Spain, and had escaped Pharsalus. Caesar made an example of him, putting him to death. Caesar then returned to his camp.

Later Caesar was able to expliot the enemy's lack of thinking. Caesar had captured much food from a vault that was 10 miles away. When the enemy learned of this, they sent out a force (2 legions under Labienus) to ambush Caesar in the mountains. However Caesar learned of this and delayed more foraging until the enemy, which was continuing to wait for Caesar, became sloppy in operations and Caesar ambushed them and cut off the enemy's further advance with 8 legions. The enemy was able to get away (Caesar likely allowed this) and the next day Juba executed his men who abandoned their positions. Now after a while, which was probably about 20 days (this year was intercalendary, 23 days added after February 24) Caesar ran low on food and decided to move his camp. Setting it on fire, he moved toward the town of Agar. Caesar found supplies and rested his army for a while. Scipio soon was close by. Later Caesar captures the town of Zeta after a night march, along with supplies for the enemy. Caesar took personal part in this and the enemy made a good effort to capture him and his 2 legion contingent. Caesar was caught in a dry place and had to march rather slowly with the enemy beginning to surround him. Caesar also had to fight the enemy off when they charged. But after a thirsty day both sides made it back to there camps, Caesar had only 10 wounded men. Labienus, according to Caesar, had lost 300 men. Caesar at this point gives reason for his success by stating that he trains his men in gladiator like combat, that is more efficient against an unwieldly enemy of light troops. But here he says that his heavy infantry would retreat when approached by the heavy infantry of the enemy. Caesar spent some time marching his troops around in training exercises. Later he learns that the town of Vacca, which volunteered to aid Caesar had been put to the sword by Juba before Caesar could install a garrison. At this point Caear seems to have lost patience and decided to move.

On March 22, 46 BC (which by now was 67 days ahead of the seasons) Caesar marched out his army in battle order to fight the enemy, 2 miles away. The enemy declined. The next day Caesar broke camp and marched towards Sarsura. Labienus harrased his rear and captured some of Caesar's supplies. However Caesar had anticipated this and had 300 heavy infantry lying in wait to attack the enemy, which they did and killed many of Labienus' troops. He was obliged to shadow Caesar at a safe distance in the mountains. Caesar kept marching. At Sarsura Caesar executed the garrison that Scipio had put there. They put up a staunch defence and Caesar seems to have been wanting to incite his enemy by ruthlessness. Caesar gained more supplies here and next day marched to Tisdra. This city was heavily defended (including about 500 gladiators) and Caesar marched back to Agar 4 days later (March 28). Caesar now received the support of the city of Thabena. Then 4000 infantry, 400 cavalry, 1000 archers and slingers joined Caesar from Sicily. Later, before the town of Tegea, Caesar engaged with Scipio's cavalry and was successful in goading them into fighting legionaries. With not losing a man on his side and making fools of the enemy cavalry, the enemy wouldn't decend onto the plain to fight Caesar's legions. So on April 4 at midnight Caesar began a 16 mile march to Thapsus. Arriving there the next day, Caesar began to fortify the place.

Thapsus (modern Ras Dimas) is on a arc of land which has the ocean on one side and a lake on the other. Caesar began to block off the south end of this arc with fortifications and a triple garrison. Scipio now had no choice but to fight Caesar with his 8 legions. He couldn't risk losing Thapsus. So he spent the day and next night marching around the lake to the northern approach of the arc. Caesar of course anticipated this and brought his men to face Scipio on April 6. Caesar found Scipio in battle order with his 60 elephants on the wings of the army. Caesar left 2 legions in his camp and brought out his other 9 legions in 3 lines. The 2nd and 10th legions were on the right wing, the 8th and 9th on the left. 5 legions made up the center, 5 additional cohorts to face the elephants on the flanks with the cavalry, light infantry, and the archers and slingers on the wings. Caesar himself is said to have walked through his ranks to encourage the veterans and new levies alike. The troops begged Caesar to begin the battle and eventually a trumpeter on the right wing, without orders, sounded his trumpet and the army's wings ran forward. Caesar's army ran with such vigour that Caesar had no choice but to encourage them on. He himself was on his horse with his men. On the wings the troops threw so many javelins that the elephants began to stampede on the battle field. They turned back on there own side. On elephant from the left wing ran towards the center, killing a man and a soldier of the 5th legion was going to kill it and was lifted off his feet by the elephant's trunk. The soldier had to stab the trunk with his sword to let him go. Meanwhile the Mauritanian horse began to fall back and Caesar's wings began to flank the enemy. Caesar soon captured the camp the enemy was building and the enemy retreated to their old camp from the day before. But however the fleeing troops had nowhere to make a stand and Juba and his 30,000 men abandoned their camp already, for they took no part in the fighting. Caesar's troops had already captured the remains of Juba's camp and Scipio's men fled to a nearby hill. The amount of men numbered near 10,000 and tried to surrender to Caesar. But Caesar's troops were angered for some reason. It is likely that Caesar's men thought of the enemy as spineless cowards and were enraged. Although Caesar seems to have made an effort to get his troops to spare the enemy, 10,000 men were soon slaughtered. Obviosly Caesar didn't want the repeat of the escapes of Pharsalus. In any event Scipio did escape. Caesar is said to have lost only 50 men, which is not unlikely since this was a running battle and Caesar was the cat against the fleeing mouse. There is a report that Caesar was attacked by epilepsy and wasn't in the battle. This may be so and could explain why Caesar couldn't stop his men from slaughtering the enemy. In any event Caesar was well enough to lay siege to Thapsus again. Gaius Virgilius commanded the garrison and wouldn't surrender, even when Caesar showed his 64 captured elephants before the city. The next day Caesar brought his whole army before the city and split it up. Gaius Rebellius was given 3 legions to continue the siege, Gnaeus Domitius two legions to besiege Tisdra, while he with the rest marched to Utica, to meet its commander Marcus Porcius Cato.

Scipio's men that escaped headed for Utica, 100 miles away. This could be reached in 3 days. News of the battle arrived on the evening of April 9. Cato immediatly realized the situation and aided all those who wished to escape. The people of Utica weren't in a good mood either. After doing this he decided to end his own life. Retirering to his chamber and stabbing himself, he was discovered and his attendants tried to bind his wounds. He ripped them off and tore out his own organs, dieing instantly. It was probably the Ides of April (13th). Caesar had captured city after city on his march north. He likely arrived near Utica about April 14. The next day Caesar assembled the people and imposed terms on them, which the city accepted. Caesar was greatly distressed by Cato's death. Caesar would have had to pardoned him, but Cato wouldn't allow him this. He always considered Caesar a tyrant and therefore died a martyr of the republic, or at least that seemed to be his plan. Cato earned the name "Uticensis" through this act. Later Cicero would write a work that praised Cato, even though it was more about Cato the Elder (Cato's great-grandfather). In the end Caesar wanted Cato alive, obviosly to sqeeze support from him in the future. Plutarch had little doubt he said:

"Cato, I must grudge you your death, as you grudged me the honour of saving your life."

Soon the city of Zama sent word to Caesar to help them before Juba could besiege them. Caesar promised he would. But Caesar infact had little to worry about. Juba had fled with Petreius and Juba killed him in one on one combat. The idea was that one would meet an honorable death. Juba won the fight, then commited suicide. Cato was already dead and Scipio had escaped with 3 other men. Virgilius surrendered his city. Sabura, Juba's lieutenant, had been defeated by the renegade Publius Sittius and soon captured Faustus and Afranius with 1500 men fleeing to Spain. Later Faustus and Afranius were slain in a mutiny. Lucius Julius Caesar, a relative, had begged and received pardon but was later killed by Caesar, which many didn't want to believe, but only Caesar could allow such an act. Sittius later fell upon Scipio at Hippo Regius with his fleet. Scipio's ships had no chance and varing accounts are of Scipio's end. The account of Appian is likely where Scipio stabbed himself and threw himself overboard. Africa was now Caesar's. He sold estates at Zama and imposed fines on the African cities who opposed him. He gave the old Numidian kingdom of Juba to Gaius Sallustius Crispus to govern. His own accounts say that he disliked plundering of others, although he was charged with this, only to have Caesar save him from trial. He earned critical press for this from Cassius Dio. In any event Africa Nova was formed out of Numidia (modern Algeria). All this was completed by June 13. He left Africa from Utica on that day, arriving in Sardinia on the 16th. Settling business there he left for Italy on June 28. After the winds kept him from reaching Italy for a time, after 28 days journey, Julius Caesar arrived in Rome on July 25. So ended the war of Africa.