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How did Julius Caesar defeat Pompey’s forces in Spain?

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Statue of Julius Caesar in Roman military attire stands in front of a domed building in Rome, Italy, with a clear blue sky in the background. — Julius Caesar Julius Caesar, bronze sculpture in Rome.

In 49 BCE, during the Campaign of Ilerda, Julius Caesar defeated Pompey’s forces in Spain through strategic maneuvering rather than direct battle.

After Caesar arrived at Ilerda, he faced five Pompeian legions commanded by Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius. When Caesar struggled with supply shortages caused by river flooding, he diverted the Sicoris (Segre) River to create a ford near his camp. This tactical move forced the Pompeian commanders to move two of their legions across the river to protect their communications, effectively stripping them of their advantageous position.

Following this, the Pompeian forces attempted to retreat toward the Ebro River. Caesar pursued them, and after a week of intense maneuvering, he successfully forced the Pompeian army to surrender.1