Back معركة فيليبي Arabic Битка при Филипи Bulgarian Emgann Philippoi Breton Batalla de Filipos Catalan Bitva u Filipp Czech Brwydr Philippi Welsh Schlacht bei Philippi German Μάχη των Φιλίππων Greek Batalo de Filipio Esperanto Batalla de Filipos Spanish

Battle of Philippi

For the American Civil War battle, see Battle of Philippi (1861).
Battle of Philippi
Part of Liberators' civil war

Location of the Battle of Philippi
Date3 and 23 October 42 BC
Location
Near Philippi, Macedonia (modern Greece)
Result Victory for the Triumvirate
Belligerents
Second Triumvirate
Supported by:
Ptolemaic Egypt (sent ships but too late to aid in the fighting)[1][2]		 Rebels
Supported by:
Parthian Empire (cavalry force)[3]
Commanders and leaders
Mark Antony
Octavian		 Brutus †
Cassius †
Allienus (unknown)
Serapion (retreats to Tyre)
Strength
53,000–108,000[4]
40,000–95,000 infantry in 19 legions[4]
13,000 cavalry[4]		 60,000–105,000[4]
40,000–85,000 infantry in 17 legions[4]
20,000 cavalry[4]
Casualties and losses
16,000 killed (3 October) 8,000 killed (3 October)
Surrender of entire army (23 October)
Total Dead: 40,000[5]
Movements of armies in the Battle of Philippi

The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Liberators' civil war between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (of the Second Triumvirate) and the leaders of Julius Caesar's assassination, Brutus and Cassius, in 42 BC, at Philippi in Macedonia. The Second Triumvirate declared the civil war ostensibly to avenge Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, but the underlying cause was a long-brewing conflict between the so-called Optimates and the so-called Populares.

The battle, involving up to 200,000 men in one of the largest of the Roman civil wars, consisted of two engagements in the plain west of the ancient city of Philippi. The first occurred in the first week of October; Brutus faced Octavian, and Antony's forces fought those of Cassius. The Roman armies fought poorly, with low discipline, nonexistent tactical coordination and amateurish lack of command experience evident in abundance with neither side able to exploit opportunities as they developed.[6][7] At first, Brutus pushed back Octavian and entered his legions' camp. However, to the south, Cassius was defeated by Antony and died by suicide after hearing a false report that Brutus had also failed. Brutus rallied Cassius's remaining troops, and both sides ordered their army to retreat to their camps with their spoils. The battle was essentially a draw but for Cassius's suicide. A second encounter, on 23 October, finished off Brutus's forces after a hard-fought battle. He took his own life in turn, leaving the triumvirate in control of the Roman Republic.

  1. ^ Roller (2010), p. 75.
  2. ^ Burstein (2004), pp. 22–23.
  3. ^ Bivar, H.D.H (1968). William Bayne Fisher; Ilya Gershevitch; Ehsan Yarshater; R. N. Frye; J. A. Boyle; Peter Jackson; Laurence Lockhart; Peter Avery; Gavin Hambly; Charles Melville (eds.). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge University Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-521-20092-X.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Goldsworthy 2010, p. 252.
  5. ^ Cartwright, Mark. "The Battle of Philippi 42 BCE". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  6. ^ Goldsworthy 2010, p. 257.
  7. ^ Goldsworthy 2010, p. 259.