pr. Non. Ian.
January 4 in Ancient Rome
Battle of Ruspina
politics46 BC
Pre-reform Roman calendar
pr. Non. Ian. · as written (pre-Julian calendar)
Six days after landing in Africa, Caesar's outnumbered army fought Labienus' cavalry and light troops on the open plain near Ruspina from late morning until sunset.
Julius Caesar
Background
After Pharsalus and Pompey's death, the Pompeian cause regrouped in the province of Africa (modern Tunisia), backed by King Juba of Numidia and commanded by Metellus Scipio, with Caesar's former lieutenant Titus Labienus leading their cavalry. Caesar crossed from Sicily late in 47 BC (pre-Julian calendar) with only part of his army; storms had scattered the rest of his transports.
Six days after landing, Caesar went out foraging with about thirty cohorts and a small force of cavalry and archers. Near Ruspina he ran into Labienus with a large force of Numidian horsemen and light infantry, who surrounded his men. The Bellum Africum, written by one of Caesar's officers, describes the legionaries being pinned in a circle; Caesar extended his line, faced alternate cohorts about, and broke out. The fighting lasted from late morning until sunset per the Bellum Africum, a pro-Caesarian account.
Caesar's army survived, but only just. He entrenched at Ruspina and waited weeks for reinforcements, grain and the rest of his legions. The campaign ended at Thapsus in April 46 BC, followed by Cato's suicide at Utica.
Before Caesar's reform (45 BC) the calendar had drifted from the seasons, so the real seasonal date was different; we don't give a modern equivalent. Why?
Ancient source: Bellum Africum 19 (battle: 12–18) · Reference
Sources
Read moreCaesar sails from Brundisium against Pompey
Caesar sails from Brundisium against Pompey
travel48 BC
Pre-reform Roman calendar
pr. Non. Ian. · as written (pre-Julian calendar)
Caesar set sail from Brundisium with seven legions, landing in Epirus the next day to carry the civil war to Pompey in Greece.
Julius Caesar
Background
In 49 BC Caesar had taken Italy and Spain, but Pompey had crossed to Greece with the consuls, much of the Senate and the resources of the East. He controlled the sea with a large fleet, and Caesar was short of ships. Caesar had just been elected consul for 48, which gave his war a legal face.
Caesar says he set sail from Brundisium on the day before the Nones of January with seven legions, so many ships that he could carry only about 15,000 legionaries and 500 cavalry per Caesar's own Civil War, and the men were told to leave their baggage and servants behind to fit. It was winter, normally the closed season for sailing, and Pompey's admiral Bibulus was patrolling. Caesar landed the next day at Palaeste on the coast of Epirus without loss.
The gamble put Caesar across the water, but his second wave under Mark Antony was stuck for months, and Bibulus burned some of the empty returning transports. Caesar's soldiers, cut off and hungry, would spend the spring besieging Pompey at Dyrrachium before the decisive battle at Pharsalus in August.
Before Caesar's reform (45 BC) the calendar had drifted from the seasons, so the real seasonal date was different; we don't give a modern equivalent. Why?
Ancient source: Caesar, Civil War 3.6 · Reference
Sources
☁ Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 12°/4°C (54°/39°F) · rain 28% of days
Rome in JanuaryThe Kalends of January opened the civil year, with new consuls, vows for the…
Columella
Midwinter; much south wind; sometimes rain. (De Re Rust. 11.2)
Fields & crops
Little field work: Columella says pious farmers rested before the Kalends and restarted every task on 1 January for luck; after the Ides, pruning and weeding of autumn-sown grain resumed per Columella 11.2.
Courts & law
Courts reopened after the Saturnalia. New magistrates took up their duties, and the praetor's edict, the rules for his year in office, was posted late Republic.
Senate & politics
From 153 BC the consuls took office on 1 January, sacrificing on the Capitol; the year was named after them. In the empire, officials and soldiers renewed vows for the emperor's safety on 3 January varies by era.
Military
Armies sat in winter quarters; campaigning in snow was rare and feared. Soldiers on the frontiers renewed their oath to the emperor at the start of the year imperial era.
Festivals & religion
Janus, god of doorways and beginnings, was honoured on the Kalends; the Agonalia (9 Jan.), the Carmentalia for the birth-goddess Carmenta (11 and 15 Jan.) and the movable Compitalia at crossroads shrines followed per Ovid, Fasti 1.
Daily life
The Kalends of January opened the civil year, with new consuls, vows for the emperor's safety and small gifts (strenae) of dates, figs and coins for good luck per Ovid, Fasti 1. The Kalends of every month was also when interest fell due, so for debtors the first of the month could be dreaded; the account book itself was called the kalendarium per Seneca and the Digest.
Winter was the hungry season for many. Rome's free monthly grain ration helped only registered male citizens (about 200,000 under Augustus) per Suetonius, Aug. 40, and Res Gestae 15; others bought at market prices. Columella says pious farmers did no field work in the days before the Kalends and restarted every kind of work on 1 January for good omen per Columella 11.2.
Sources: Ovid, Fasti 1 · Columella 11.2 · Suetonius, Augustus 40–42
All days in January →
LATIN LINE OF THE DAY
Sera nimis vita est crastina: vive hodie.
“Tomorrow's life is too late: live today.”
Martial, Epigrams 1.15 · translation ours (literal)
