Battle of Dyrrhachium (48 BC)

Battle of Dyrrhachium
Part of Caesar's invasion of Macedonia during Caesar's civil war
Caesar's forces   Pompey's forces
Date 10 July 48 BC Location Dyrrhachium (modern Durrës) 41°19′00″N 19°27′00″E / 41.3167°N 19.4500°E / 41.3167; 19.4500 Result Pompeian victory
Belligerents
Pompeians	Caesarians
Commanders and leaders
Pompey Labienus	Julius Caesar Mark Antony
Strength
50,000	28,000
Casualties and losses
2,000+[1]	1,000–4,000[a]

The Battle of Dyrrachium (or Dyrrhachium) took place from April to late July 48 BC near the city of Dyrrachium, modern day Durrës in what is now Albania. It was fought between Gaius Julius Caesar and an army led by Gnaeus Pompey during Caesar's civil war.

Caesar attempted to capture the vital Pompeian logistics hub of Dyrrachium but was unsuccessful after Pompey occupied it and the surrounding heights.^[2] In response, Caesar besieged Pompey's camp and constructed a circumvallation thereof, until, after months of skirmishes, Pompey was able to break through Caesar's fortified lines,^[3] forcing Caesar to make a strategic retreat into Thessaly.

After the battle, Pompey pursued Caesar into Thessaly and then towards Pharsalus, where the decisive battle of Caesar's Greek campaign would be fought.

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