during the roman civil war between the supporters of pompey and caesar, the remaining pompeians, including cato the younger, fled to utica after being defeated at the battle of thapsus in 46 bc. caesar pursued them to utica, meeting no resistance from the inhabitants. cato, who was the leader of the pompeians, ensured the escape of his fellow senators and anyone else who desired to leave, then committed suicide, unwilling to accept the clemency of caesar.