The Country That Caused Caesar To Utter Veni, Vidi, Vici
Who was visited, seen, and ultimately conquered?
Veni, vidi, vici is one of the most famous phrases of all time. The phrase is a masterclass in concise writing and alliteration. Veni, vidi, vici means I came, I saw, I conquered (or I won), and it has been used to gloat over quick military victories for over two thousand years. The words are attributed to Julius Caesar, but few people know who these words refer to. Who did Caesar come, see and conquer? Caesar is one of the most prolific military commanders in history, so it is no surprise that he was the one to pen these immortal words. But who were the unfortunate losers?
The Battle of Zela (47 BCE)
After Caesar fought his way out of Egypt following the death of his rival Pompey, he traveled northward in a bid to crush any remaining resistance to his rule. One of the nations in his path was the Kingdom of Pontus. This was a small kingdom with a rich history and long standing animosity towards Rome. The ruling Mithridatic dynasty was Persian and was always looking for ways to distance themselves from Rome and embrace their ancient…
