In 49 BC the Roman Republic collapsed once more into bloody civil war. At the heart of this war lay the two greatest living Roman commanders, and former allies, Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar, each having built their own factions within the Roman oligarchy and refusing to compromise. The subsequent civil war would be fought for control of the Republic with each man determined to restore peace and stability to Rome, under their leadership. Yet despite this clash it was eighteen months before the two men met in Battle at Dyrrhachium in Albania. Gareth Sampson outlines the strategic background, describing the early campaigns of the civil war and the factions of Caesar and Pompey that fought for control of the vast resources of the Republic. The Battle of Dyrrhachium itself is analyzed to determine the strengths and weakness of both armies and their various commanders as well as the tactics used in the phases of the battle which culminated in victory for Pompey. Focus is also given to the aftermath of the battle that saw Caesar defeated and Pompey in the ascendancy. “An impressively well researched, written, and detailed account… unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, college, and university library Roman Military History collections.” Midwest Book Review “[A] welcome addition to the topic of the civil wars and to the ever-growing literature on the military history of the Roman Republic. The Battle of Dyrrhachium offers a good description of the military campaigns and battles of the Caesar’s Civil War, supported by an accessible and engaging style. I would recommend it particularly for general readers interested in the military history of Rome.” Journal of Military History “If you want a high-level examination of Pompey's and Caesar's strategies, this book will suit you.” The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society "As with all [Sampson's] books, it is written in a clear, informative and analytical style and will suit scholar and non-scholar alike. His research on ancient and modern sources is characteristically scrupulous offering a balanced assessment of primary and secondary evidence as well as his own reasoned observations... in this book, he has certainly raised the profile of the battle of Dyrrhachium." John Strisino, Res Militares Vol 23.1 After a successful career in corporate finance, Gareth C Sampson returned to the study of ancient Rome and gained his PhD from the University of Manchester, where he taught history for a number of years. He now lives in Plymouth with his wife and children. His previous books, The Defeat of Rome (2008), The Crisis of Rome (2010), The Collapse of Rome (2013), Rome Spreads Her Wings (2016) and Rome, Blood and Politics (2017) were also published by Pen & Sword.