The legendary Roman general defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus was Pompey the Great. This confrontation took place in 48 BCE during the Roman Civil War. Pompey, once a formidable ally of Caesar, became his adversary after a power struggle ensued. The battle highlighted the military prowess of Caesar, leading to a decisive victory and cementing his control over Rome. Following his defeat, Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was ultimately assassinated. The battle not only impacted the trajectory of Roman politics but also set the stage for Caesar's rise to dictatorship and the eventual transformation of the Roman Republic.