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Battle of Ilerda: Caesar's Strategic Masterpiece | Ancient Rome History Podcast
When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC, he set the Roman Republic on a collision course with civil war. But while many focus on his battles in Italy or his fateful clash with Pompey at Pharsalus, few remember one of Caesar’s most brilliant and bloodless campaigns — his march into Hispania and the Siege of Ilerda.
In this episode, we explore Caesar’s strategic genius as he faces off against Pompey’s top commanders, Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius, in a campaign that would decide control over the western provinces. With supply lines stretched and his forces cut off by floodwaters and sabotage, Caesar was nearly trapped. Yet through audacious maneuvers, clever engineering, and psychological tactics, he not only broke the stalemate but compelled a much larger enemy force to surrender without a pitched battle.
From the early siege of Massilia to the chaotic river crossings at the Segre and the final encirclement of Afranius’s army, this podcast offers a deep dive into one of the most underappreciated moments of Caesar’s rise to total power. It’s a story of miscalculated resistance, harsh terrain, crumbling morale — and one man’s relentless pursuit of control over the Roman world.
Whether you’re a fan of Roman history, military strategy, or political drama, this episode brings to life the tension and brilliance of Caesar’s Hispania campaign like never before.
🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.
This Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/pcYg1Tm2Htg
Visit our website: https://parabellumhistory.com
Our merchandise store: https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/
Music from our podcast: https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh
Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel
🎤 Voiceover by: Nick Banas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas
#Caesar #Ilerda #RomanCivilWar #AncientRome #HistoryDocumentary #MilitaryHistory #Pompey #CaesarVsPompey #JuliusCaesar #SiegeWarfare #historychannel
Bibliogrpahy
1. Caesar, Gaius Julius. Commentarii de Bello Civili (Commentaries on the Civil War). Translated by Jane F. Gardner. Penguin Classics, 1976.
2. Appian. The Civil Wars. Translated by John Carter. Penguin Classics, 1996.
3. Plutarch. Parallel Lives: Life of Caesar. Translated by Rex Warner. Penguin Classics, 2007.
4. Goldsworthy, Adrian. Caesar: Life of a Colossus. Yale University Press, 2006.
5. Syme, Ronald. The Roman Revolution. Revised Edition. Oxford University Press, 2002.
6. Lintott, Andrew. The Constitution of the Roman Republic. Oxford University Press, 2003.
7. Gelzer, Matthias. Caesar: Politician and Statesman. Translated by Peter Needham. Harvard University Press, 1968.
8. Keppie, Lawrence. The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire. University of Oklahoma Press, 1998.
View all episodes
By Para Bellum HistoryWhen Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC, he set the Roman Republic on a collision course with civil war. But while many focus on his battles in Italy or his fateful clash with Pompey at Pharsalus, few remember one of Caesar’s most brilliant and bloodless campaigns — his march into Hispania and the Siege of Ilerda.
In this episode, we explore Caesar’s strategic genius as he faces off against Pompey’s top commanders, Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius, in a campaign that would decide control over the western provinces. With supply lines stretched and his forces cut off by floodwaters and sabotage, Caesar was nearly trapped. Yet through audacious maneuvers, clever engineering, and psychological tactics, he not only broke the stalemate but compelled a much larger enemy force to surrender without a pitched battle.
From the early siege of Massilia to the chaotic river crossings at the Segre and the final encirclement of Afranius’s army, this podcast offers a deep dive into one of the most underappreciated moments of Caesar’s rise to total power. It’s a story of miscalculated resistance, harsh terrain, crumbling morale — and one man’s relentless pursuit of control over the Roman world.
Whether you’re a fan of Roman history, military strategy, or political drama, this episode brings to life the tension and brilliance of Caesar’s Hispania campaign like never before.
🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.
This Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/pcYg1Tm2Htg
Visit our website: https://parabellumhistory.com
Our merchandise store: https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/
Music from our podcast: https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh
Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel
🎤 Voiceover by: Nick Banas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas
#Caesar #Ilerda #RomanCivilWar #AncientRome #HistoryDocumentary #MilitaryHistory #Pompey #CaesarVsPompey #JuliusCaesar #SiegeWarfare #historychannel
Bibliogrpahy
1. Caesar, Gaius Julius. Commentarii de Bello Civili (Commentaries on the Civil War). Translated by Jane F. Gardner. Penguin Classics, 1976.
2. Appian. The Civil Wars. Translated by John Carter. Penguin Classics, 1996.
3. Plutarch. Parallel Lives: Life of Caesar. Translated by Rex Warner. Penguin Classics, 2007.
4. Goldsworthy, Adrian. Caesar: Life of a Colossus. Yale University Press, 2006.
5. Syme, Ronald. The Roman Revolution. Revised Edition. Oxford University Press, 2002.
6. Lintott, Andrew. The Constitution of the Roman Republic. Oxford University Press, 2003.
7. Gelzer, Matthias. Caesar: Politician and Statesman. Translated by Peter Needham. Harvard University Press, 1968.
8. Keppie, Lawrence. The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire. University of Oklahoma Press, 1998.