Battle of Zela
47 BCE · Turkey
The Battle of Zela was fought in 47 BCE in Turkey between Roman Republic vs the Kingdom of Pontus; decisive Roman victory in a few hours, reported to Rome as "veni, vidi, vici".
Battle of Zela: quick facts
- Date
- 47 BCE
- Location
- Turkey
- Belligerents
- Roman Republic vs the Kingdom of Pontus
- Commanders
- Julius Caesar vs Pharnaces II
- Result
- decisive Roman victory in a few hours, reported to Rome as "veni, vidi, vici".
- Era
- 🏺 Ancient Greece & Rome
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Zela?
Caesar swiftly defeated Pharnaces II of Pontus in a battle so quick and decisive that he described it with the famous phrase 'Veni, vidi, vici' — 'I came, I saw, I conquered.' Pharnaces had taken advantage of the Roman civil war to seize territories in Asia Minor. Caesar's veteran legions charged uphill and routed the Pontic army in about four hours, restoring Roman control of the region.
Did you know?
Caesar's dispatch to the Roman Senate about Zela, 'Veni, vidi, vici,' was not just a boast but a pointed insult to Pompey, who had taken far longer to subdue the same region years earlier.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Zela on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.