Introduction

In January 49 BC Caesar led a legion across the Rubicon and marched on Rome, and civil war broke out. These three books are Caesar's own account of the war: Pompey and many senators flee Italy in haste; Caesar defeats Pompey's generals in Spain and besieges Massilia, then crosses to Greece, is checked at Dyrrachium and crushes Pompey in the decisive battle of Pharsalus; the work ends as Pompey, fleeing to Egypt, is murdered, and Caesar enters Alexandria. As in The Gallic War Caesar writes in a cool third person, yet every line pleads his cause: he claims he was forced to take up arms only to defend his own dignity and the rights of the people.