Both armies accordingly reached Thessaly, although by different routes, and soon they were encamped on the plain of Pharsalia, where, in August 48 B.C., a great and decisive battle was fought.
Pompey’s confidence was placed chiefly on his splendid cavalry, and he believed that his 7000 horsemen would speedily scatter the 1000 which was all that Cæsar had to oppose to his great force.
But if his body of cavalry was small, Cæsar had supported it well by his infantry and archers.
His horsemen were, it is true, driven back before the brilliant charge of the enemy, but the infantry and archers attacked Pompey’s cavalry so furiously, that soon it was forced from the field in utter confusion.
Cæsar’s infantry then advanced against the main body of Pompey’s army. The soldiers first hurled their javelins at the enemy and then closed in upon them, doing deadly havoc with their swords.
Before long Cæsar sent a reserve troop of soldiers to their aid, and soon the army of Pompey was put to flight. For the patrician officers had not proved skilful on the battlefield, nor had they now any control over their undisciplined followers.
When Pompey saw that his cavalry was scattered at the beginning of the day, he lost hope and hastened to his tent, where he sat, amid the confused noise of battle, bewildered and dismayed.
Only when the victorious army began to attack the camp did he seem to realise that he must bestir himself, unless he would be captured by the enemy.
‘What, into my camp too,’ he is said to have cried indignantly as he heard the clash of arms and shouts of victory drawing nearer and nearer. Then swiftly laying aside his military dress, the defeated general slipped into a simple garment, and hurrying from the tent, mounted a horse, and with a few followers fled toward the coast. It was useless for him to think of meeting Cæsar again, for his army was slain or scattered. So he resolved to seek shelter in Egypt.
It was a sad voyage on which Pompey embarked, for he had been overthrown, and that by his rival, who would reign supreme.