The Battle of Zela – The Declaration of Veni, Vidi, Vici by Julius Caesar

Posted on August 3, 2015 Updated on August 3, 2015

Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor defeated the Ptolemaic forces at the Battle of the Nile and began marching through the far eastern provinces. He moved through Judaea and Syria accepting apologies and pardoning Kings who had joined forces with Pompey.

Meanwhile during the Roman Civil War, Pharnaces II, king of Pontus, and son of the great Roman enemy Mithridates VI had defeated Caesar’s Legate Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus, at the Battle of Nicopolis and proceeded to commit severe atrocities against the Roman prisoners and civilians of the region.

Pharnaces, on hearing about Caesar’s approach asked him for a pardon. Caesar agreed to pardon him only if he left Pontus, released all prisoners and paid a heavy fine. Although Pharnaces initially agreed, he kept delaying Caesar as long as possible which caused Caesar to declare war.

The battle of Zela was fought in Zile, a small town in in the Tokat province of northern Turkey.  This place was of great historical significance to both as Pharnaces’ father; Mithridates had defeated a Roman army 20 years earlier in this place. Though the positioning of the Pontic army provided Pharnaces provided them with some initial advantage, the uphill fight soon exhausted his soldiers. Within no time the Pontic army was routed completely, however Pharnaces managed to escape capture.

To commemorate this massive victory Caesar erected a monument at the battle site. He appointed Mithridates of Pergamum as King of Pontus for his loyalty towards Caesar and his service in Egypt.

Post the battle, Caesar crossed Asia and set sail for Italy and sent a message to the Roman Senate informing them of his overwhelming victory  that simply read “VENI VIDI VICI”, I came, I saw, I conquered.

Source: UNRV History; ccancients.net; livius.org