How Pompey the Great used a rapid infantry charge to crush the Iberian army
In the spring of 65 BC, Roman general Pompey the Great faced King Artoces of Iberia near the Pelorus river. Despite Artoces' attempts at diplomatic deception, Pompey caught him off guard, employing tactical maneuvers that neutralized the Iberian archers and secured a decisive Roman victory in the heart of Iberia.
The conflict began after Pompey defeated King Oroeses of the Albani. Fearing a Roman invasion, King Artoces of Iberia initially offered friendship to the Romans while secretly preparing for war. Pompey, alerted by his intelligence service, marched into Iberia in the spring of 65 BC. He secured a strategic advantage early by capturing the fortress of Harmozike, which provided a vital pass into the region. Pompey then pursued the retreating Artoces into the centre of Iberia, eventually forcing a confrontation near the Pelorus river.
Artoces relied heavily on his archers, but Pompey countered this by utilizing tactics similar to those used by the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon. By ordering a rapid infantry charge, Pompey brought his legionaries into close-quarters combat before the Iberian archers could inflict significant damage. Roman legionaries were highly skilled in close-quarters fighting, and the engagement concluded quickly. According to the Greek historian Plutarch, the battle resulted in approximately 9,000 Iberian casualties, with over 10,000 soldiers taken captive by the Roman forces.
Although Artoces managed to escape because the flooded Pelorus river hindered the Roman pursuit, his military defeat left him with few options. He attempted to secure a truce by sending gold to Pompey, but the Roman general demanded the king's children as hostages. When Artoces hesitated, Pompey advanced further into the kingdom, forcing the king to submit. Artoces surrendered his children and signed a peace treaty, establishing the Kingdom of Iberia as an ally of the Roman Republic. Following this success, Pompey continued his campaign, marching north-west toward Colchis.
Source: Battle of the Pelorus
