War and Conflict

The Sacking of Rome

Who said “Veni, Vidi, Vici,” and what does it mean?

The famous words were written by Roman statesman and general Julius Caesar (100–44 B.C.) as he announced the victory of his army in Asia Minor in early August 47 B.C. The extraordinarily concise message, which Caesar dispatched to Rome, means simply “I came, I saw, I conquered.” The general had defeated Pharnaces II (63–47 B.C.) in a fight for control of Pontus, an ancient kingdom in northeast Asia Minor. The brief but decisive battle took place near Zela, in present-day Turkey.

