Q. C. METELLUS PIUS SCIPIO (47-46 BC)

"The Battle of Thapsus" On the morning of April 6, 46 BCE, Scipio's forces positioned themselves outside the city of Thapsus, facing Caesar's legions. They were arranged in the traditional three-line formation, with numerous cavalry units on the flanks. Elephants were deployed in front of the flanking divisions.

The terrain favored Caesar, as the narrowed battlefield forced both sides to fight in tight formations, which suited his battle-hardened veterans. An attack by Caesar’s cohorts from the right flank immediately broke through the Pompeian line, forcing them into a retreat. Panicked elephants trampled their own troops. Scipio’s left wing collapsed and fled.

The battle devolved into a massacre. The commander-in-chief, Metellus Scipio, committed suicide when his ship was intercepted by Caesar’s fleet.