Thaps

Thaps ( Latin Thapsus ) is an ancient city located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea south of Carthage .

Known for the battle between Julius Caesar and the Pompeians on April 6, 46 BC. er . In order to lure the Numidian cavalry of the supporter of Gnei Pompey , King Yuba I , Caesar besieged Thaps, which was located on a cape, protruding strongly into the sea and separated from the mainland by a large salt lake. Caesar hoped that his opponents would come to the rescue of the city and then they would have to join the battle in the area favorable to Caesar's legions.

As a result, this calculation was justified: the supporters of Pompey, under the command of Metellus Scipio , Yuba, Petraeus , Labiena and others, approached Caesar's camp and began building their three camps. At this time, Caesar's legionnaires rushed at them with such swiftness and fury that they attacked all three camps, while not giving mercy to anyone, despite Caesar's requests. More than 5,000 people died in this battle on the part of Caesar's opponents, while a relatively small number of legionnaires were killed at Caesar.

This victory decided the fate of the Pompey party in Africa: its leaders - Cato the Younger , Tsar Yuba, Afraniy and Petraeus - committed suicide. The troops were partly exterminated, partly fled. Caesar turned Numidia into a Roman province , and he punished the Carthaginian cities, taking a huge indemnity from them.