What was Pompey’s strategy for defeating Caesar during the civil war?

Pompey the Great’s strategic plan at the onset of the civil war was to abandon Rome and Italy to Julius Caesar. He intended to leverage his command of the sea and the vast resources of the East to starve out the Caesarians in Italy.1

However, this strategy faced significant challenges, including a lack of full cooperation from his Optimate allies and Caesar’s rapid advance, which nearly prevented Pompey’s withdrawal from the Italian Peninsula. Across the Adriatic Sea at Dyrrhachium, the effectiveness of his plan was initially demonstrated when Caesar found himself cut off from his base and facing superior land forces.1

Ultimately, Pompey was unable to maintain his naval blockade and, under pressure from his allies, shifted toward a direct military confrontation. This decision led to his forces meeting Caesar in Thessaly, where Pompey suffered a decisive and disastrous defeat at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BCE.12