Battle of the Asio River (82 BC)

Battle of the Asio River
Part of Sulla's second civil war
A bust of the younger Pompei Magnus
Date March 82 BC Location Rome, Italy Result Decisive Optimate victory
Belligerents
Optimates	Populares
Commanders and leaders
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus	Gaius Carrinas
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Relatively Low	High

The Battle of the Asio River took place in March of 82 BC during the context of Sulla's Second Civil War. The battle pitted the Optimates under the command of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus against the Populares forces commanded by Gaius Carrinas. This battle marked the start of this phase in the civil war and resulted in an Optimate victory.

The Battle

After a brutal winter, fighting commenced between the two opposing forces in the spring fighting season. The Battle for the Asio River was the first battle, taking place on the banks of the river. Fighting was bloody with the Optimate infantry advancing and successfully breaking the Popular infantry who were obliged to fall back. At that moment, the Optimate cavalry commanded by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus attacked the retreating Populares inflicting high casualties.^[1][2]

References

1. Appian, The Civil Wars, 1, 87.
2. Plutarch, Pompei, 7, 6.