The African War (Bellum Africum)

Anonymous, Bellum Africum

The war in Africa (46 BC): Caesar against Scipio, Labienus and King Juba, ending at Thapsus and with Cato's suicide at Utica. 98 sections, 539 sentences, each with an English translation.

Read it with every word glossed and parsed, and keep your place.

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Chapter 1Caesar at LilybaeumCaesar itineribus iūstīs cōnfectīs nūllō diē intermissō a. d. XIV Kal. Iān.
Chapter 2The crossing to AfricaLegiōnibus collēctīs VI et equitum II mīlibus, ut quaeque prīma legiō vēnerat,…
Chapter 3The landing at HadrumetumPostquam ad Hadrūmētum accessit, ubi praesidium erat adversāriōrum, cui…
Chapter 4Plancus writes to ConsidiusL. Plancus interim lēgātus petit ā Caesare, utī sibi daret potestātem cum…
Chapter 5Caesar decides not to besiege HadrumetumPostquam ūnā nocte ad oppidum cōnsūmptā neque respōnsum ūllum ā Cōnsidiō…
Chapter 6The march to RuspinaItaque castra cum movēre vellet, subitō ex oppidō ērūpit multitūdō atque…
Chapter 7Leptis; Moorish horsemen attack the watering partyKal. Iānuāriīs inde mōvit et pervēnit ad oppidum Leptim, līberam cīvitātem et…
Chapter 8Caesar sends for supplies and reinforcementsCaesar interim in Sardiniam nūntiōs cum litterīs et in reliquās prōvinciās…
Chapter 9Caesar forages and returns to RuspinaCaesar a. d. III Nōn. Iān.
Chapter 10Caesar sails by night; the army's fearsItaque ibi relictō P. Sasernā, frātre eius, quem Leptī proximō oppidō…
Chapter 11The lost ships returnCaesar ūnā nocte in nāvibus cōnsūmptā iam caelō albente cum proficīscī…
Chapter 12The enemy appearInterim cum iam Caesar prōgressus esset ā castrīs circiter mīlia passuum III,…
Chapter 13The two battle linesHostēs interim, quōrum dux erat Labiēnus et duo Pacīdēī, aciem dērigunt…
Chapter 14A new kind of fightingCum utrimque exspectātiō fieret neque Caesar sēsē movēret et cum suōrum…
Chapter 15Caesar's men surroundedCaesar novō genere pugnae oblātō cum animum adverteret ōrdinēs suōrum in…
Chapter 16Labienus and the veteran of the TenthLabiēnus in equō capite nūdō versārī in prīmā aciē;
Chapter 17Caesar breaks the ringCaesar interim cōnsiliō hostium cognitō iubet aciem in longitūdinem quam…
Chapter 18Petreius and Piso renew the fightInterim M. Petrēius et Cn. Pīsō cum equitibus Numidīs MDC ēlēctīs peditātūque…
Chapter 19What the deserters reportedInterim eā rē gestā et proeliō dirēmptō ex adversāriīs perfūgēre complūrēs ex…
Chapter 20Caesar strengthens his positionCaesar interim castra mūnīre dīligentius, praesidia firmāre cōpiīs maiōribus…
Chapter 21Short of grain; ships at riskHāc necessitāte Caesar coāctus prīvātōs ambiendō et blandē appellandō…
Chapter 22Cato rebukes young PompeyM. Catō interim, quī Uticae praeerat, Cn. Pompēium fīlium multīs verbīs…
Chapter 23Young Pompey fails at AscurumHīs verbīs hominis gravissimī incitātus adulēscentulus cum nāviculīs…
Chapter 24Scipio arrives; hardship in campScīpiō interim cum hīs cōpiīs, quās paulō ante dēmōnstrāvimus, Uticae grandī…
Chapter 25Juba turns back to defend his kingdomDum haec ita fierent, rēx Iuba cognitīs Caesaris difficultātibus cōpiārumque…
Chapter 26Caesar's impatience for his armyCaesar interim, cum dē suō adventū dubitātiō in prōvinciā esset neque quisquam…
Chapter 27Scipio trains his elephantsScīpiō interim elephantōs hōc modō condocefacere īnstituit.
Chapter 28Vergilius captures the TitiiDum haec ad Ruspinam ab utrīsque ducibus administrantur, C. Vergilius…
Chapter 29Skirmishes; Labienus at LeptisTurmae interim equitum, quae prō vallō in statiōnibus esse solēbant, cōtīdiē…
Chapter 30Scipio offers battleScīpiō interim ferē cōtīdiē nōn longē ā suīs castrīs, passibus CCC, īnstruere…
Chapter 31Caesar's restraintQuibus rēbus cognitīs Caesar iubet mīlitēs, quī extrā mūnītiōnēs prōcesserant…
Chapter 32Numidians and Gaetulians desertScīpiō interim paulisper, ut anteā dīxī, in eō locō commorātus, ut quasi…
Chapter 33Acylla comes overDum haec ad Ruspinam fīunt, lēgātī ex Acyllā, cīvitāte līberā et immūnī, ad…
Chapter 34Sallust at Cercina; reinforcements from SicilyPer id tempus C. Sallustius Crispus, quem paucīs ante diēbus missum ā Caesare…
Chapter 35Two Gaetulian spiesQuibus rēbus Scīpiō, quīque cum eō essent comitēs, mīrārī et requīrere: C.…
Chapter 36Cato at Utica; Thysdra; SittiusDum haec ad Ruspinam geruntur, M. Catō, quī Uticae praeerat, dīlēctūs cōtīdiē…
Chapter 37Caesar marches out by nightCaesar postquam legiōnibus veterānīs duābus, equitātū levīque armātūrā cōpiās…
Chapter 38Fortifying the ridgePostquam Caesar ad iugum, dē quō docuī, ascendit atque in ūnumquemque collem…
Chapter 39The fight for the hillCaesar in opere mīlitēs adhortārī neque adversāriōrum cōpiīs movērī.
Chapter 40Labienus' cavalry routedErat in eō campō, ubi ea rēs gerēbātur, vīlla permagna turribus IV īnstrūcta;
Chapter 41Before UzitaHīs rēbus gestīs Caesar posterō diē ex omnibus praesidiīs cohortēs ēdūxit atque…
Chapter 42Caesar declines battleCum iam prope sōlis occāsum Caesar exspectāvisset neque ex eō locō, quō…
Chapter 43Considius abandons AcyllaInterim Cōnsidius, quī Acyllam… et VIII cohortibus stīpendiāriīs Numidīs…
Chapter 44A captured ship and Scipio's offerIntereā ex secundō commeātū, quem ā Siciliā mīserat Alienus, nāvis ūna, in quā…
Chapter 45The centurion's defianceHāc habitā ōrātiōne Scīpiō cum exīstimāsset prō suō beneficiō sine dubiō ab hīs…
Chapter 46Scipio's revenge; Caesar punishes his captainsPostquam haec centuriō praesentī animō adversus opīniōnem eius est locūtus, īrā…
Chapter 47The hailstormPer id tempus ferē Caesaris exercituī rēs accidit incrēdibilis audītū.
Chapter 48Juba arrivesRēx interim Iuba dē equestrī proeliō Scīpiōnis certior factus ēvocātusque ab…
Chapter 49Caesar advances along the ridgeCaesar postquam animadvertit Scīpiōnī auxilia ferē, quae exspectāsset, omnia…
Chapter 50Labienus' ambush in the valleyErat convallis satis magnā lātitūdine, altitūdine praeruptā, crēbrīs locīs…
Chapter 51Caesar's lines towards UzitaHāc rē per equitēs gestā Caesar legiōnibus opera distribuit atque in eō colle,…
Chapter 52A cavalry battle at nightfall; desertions from ScipioCaesar ab eō opere cum iam sub vesperum cōpiās in castra redūceret, magnō…
Chapter 53Two legions arrive from SicilyDum haec circum Uzitam ab utrīsque ducibus administrantur, legiōnēs duae, X et…
Chapter 54Caesar dismisses mutinous officersQuibus legiōnibus expositīs memor in Ītaliā prīstinae licentiae mīlitāris ac…
Chapter 55The Gaetulians rise against JubaGaetūlī interim perfugae, quōs cum litterīs mandātīsque ā Caesare missōs suprā…
Chapter 56Siege works at Uzita; Gaetulian nobles desertCaesar brachiīs perfectīs prōmōtīsque usque eō, quō tēlum ex oppidō adigī nōn…
Chapter 57Juba's arrogance towards ScipioQuod postquam Scīpiō, quīque cum eō erant, cognōvērunt, cum commōtī ex tālī…
Chapter 58The armies drawn up; Caesar waitsPosterō diē ūniversās omnium cōpiās dē castrīs omnibus ēdūcunt et supercilium…
Chapter 59Scipio's battle orderNōn arbitror esse praetermittendum, quemadmodum exercitūs utrīusque fuerint in…
Chapter 60Caesar's battle orderCaesaris autem aciēs hōc modō fuit conlocāta, ut ab sinistrō eius cornū ordiar…
Chapter 61A day-long standoff and a costly skirmishSīc utrōrumque exercitūs īnstrūctī nōn plūs passuum CCC interiectō spatiō, quod…
Chapter 62Varus' fleet raids LeptisInterim Vārus classem, quam anteā Uticae hiemis grātiā subdūxerat, cognitō…
Chapter 63Caesar's pursuit at seaCaesar interim celeriter per nūntiōs, in castrīs cum opera circumīret, certior…
Chapter 64The fate of the prisonersIn eā nāve captus est P. Vestrius, eques Rōmānus, et P. Ligārius Afrāniānus,…
Chapter 65Hidden grain storesEst in Āfricā cōnsuētūdō incolārum, ut in agrīs et in omnibus ferē vīllīs sub…
Chapter 66Labienus' ambush is turnedCaesar interim dē īnsidiīs Labiēnī ex perfugīs certior factus paucōs diēs ibi…
Chapter 67Caesar moves to AggarCaesar interim quoniam inopiā frūmentī premēbātur, cōpiās omnēs in castra…
Chapter 68Caesar takes ZetaOppidum erat Zēta, quod aberat ā Scīpiōne mīlia passuum X, ad eius regiōnem et…
Chapter 69Attacked on the marchCum iam nōn longē ā castrīs Scīpiōnis abesset, quae eum necesse erat…
Chapter 70The fighting retreat to campCum iam ad sōlis occāsum esset, et nōn tōtōs C passūs in hōrīs IV esset…
Chapter 71Caesar retrains his armyCaesar contrā eiusmodī hostium genera cōpiās suās nōn ut imperātor exercitum…
Chapter 72The problem of the elephantsQuibus ex rēbus Caesar vehementer commovēbātur, quod quotiēnscumque proelium…
Chapter 73Caesar's new cautionOb hās causās, quās suprā commemorāvī, sollicitābātur Caesar tardiorque et…
Chapter 74Vaga destroyed by JubaLēgātī interim ex oppidō Vagā, quod fīnitimum fuit Zētae, cuius Caesarem…
Chapter 75Labienus is routedCaesar interim lūstrātō exercitū a. d. XII Kal. Aprīl.
Chapter 76Sarsura taken; Thysdra too strongPostquam Caesar ad oppidum Sarsūram vēnit, īnspectantibus adversāriīs…
Chapter 77Thabena revolts; reinforcements arriveThabenēnsēs interim, quī sub diciōne et potestāte Iubae esse cōnsuēssent in…
Chapter 78The cavalry battle at TegeaErat oppidum īnfrā castra Scīpiōnis nōmine Tegea, ubi praesidium equestre…
Chapter 79The night march to ThapsusPostquam nūllā condiciōne cōgere adversāriōs poterat, ut in aequum locum…
Chapter 80Caesar closes the approachesErat stagnum salīnārum, inter quod et mare angustiae quaedam nōn amplius mīlle…
Chapter 81Caesar Draws Up for BattleQuō postquam Caesar pervēnit et animadvertit aciem prō vallō Scīpiōnis…
Chapter 82The Trumpet Sounds Without OrdersItaque in circumeundō exercitū animadvertit hostēs circā vallum trepidāre atque…
Chapter 83The Elephants BreakQuod postquam Caesar intellēxit incitātīs mīlitum animīs resistī nūllō modō…
Chapter 84A Veteran of the Fifth and the ElephantNōn vidētur esse praetermittendum dē virtūte mīlitis veterānī V legiōnis.
Chapter 85The Slaughter of the DefeatedInterim, Thapsō quī erant praesidiō, ex oppidō ēruptiōnem portā maritumā…
Chapter 86Caesar before ThapsusCaesar trīnīs castrīs potītus occīsīsque hostium X mīlibus fugātīsque…
Chapter 87Massacre at Parada and Riot at UticaEquitēs interim Scīpiōnis, quī ex proeliō fūgerant, cum Uticam versus iter…
Chapter 88The Death of CatoComplūrēs interim ex fugā Uticam perveniunt.
Chapter 89Caesar Pardons the PompeiansCaesar interim ab Thapsō prōgressus Uzitam pervēnit, ubi Scīpiō magnum frūmentī…
Chapter 90Caesar at UticaPosterō diē māne in oppidum introiit cōntiōneque advocātā Uticēnsēs incolās…
Chapter 91Zama Shuts Its Gates on JubaRēx interim Iuba, ut ex proeliō fūgerat, ūnā cum Petrēiō interdiū in vīllīs…
Chapter 92Zama SubmitsZamēnsēs interim lēgātōs dē hīs rēbus ad Caesarem Uticam mittunt petuntque ab…
Chapter 93Considius and VergiliusDum haec utrōbīque geruntur, Cōnsidius, quī Thysdrae cum familiā suā,…
Chapter 94The Deaths of Juba and PetreiusRēx interim ab omnibus cīvitātibus exclūsus dēspērātā salūte cum iam coenātus…
Chapter 95Faustus and AfraniusP. Sittius interim pulsō exercitū Saburrae, praefectī Iubae, ipsōque interfectō…
Chapter 96The End of ScipioScīpiō interim cum Damasippō et Torquātō et Plaetōriō Rustiānō nāvibus longīs…
Chapter 97The Settlement of AfricaCaesar interim Zamae auctiōne rēgiā factā bonīsque eōrum vēnditīs, quī cīvēs…
Chapter 98Caesar Returns to RomeHīs rēbus gestīs Īdibus Iūn.

Anonymous, Bellum Africum. Latin text: B. Kübler and E. Wölfflin, C. Iulii Caesaris Commentarii, vol. III (Leipzig: Teubner, 1896–97), public domain; transcribed for this app from the Internet Archive scan. Word analysis: LatinCy, then every word checked and corrected by hand. English translation, notes and grammar hints: written for this app.

The African War (Bellum Africum)

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