Civil War; Rivalry between Octavian and Mark Antony
August 11th, 2008 by Pat
Mark Antony and Octavian were never firm allies after their rise to power following the death of Julius Caesar. A number of factors led to the civil war ending in 31BC. Events during and after the war which shaped Rome at the time included private conflict, Caesar’s contraversial will, the battle of Actium, and Cleopatra VII.
Julius Caesar: Reasons for 44BC Assassination
July 29th, 2008 by Pat
Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44BC for a number of progressive reasons. He was a man who had diverged from the course of a strictly legal early career, and who Suetonius tells us “ardently supported the leaders in the attempt to re-establish the authority of the tribunes of the commons.”
This meant he earned popularity with the people against the aristocracy (Senate) which would eventually destroy him. With the formation of an illegal and Senate-challenging triumvirate, an unprecedented dictater perpetuus (dictator for life), and civil war against the Senate he began to appear to emulate the position of that of a King or Emperor.
Seutonius outlines that “he allowed honours to be bestowed on him which were too great for a mortal man.”
He also, practised clemency upon enemies that would later assassinate him, and he unconstitutionally took power stemming from his thirsty ambition.
Role and Significance of Cicero
July 28th, 2008 by Pat
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43BC) is known as a famous Roman orator and philosopher. However, his political career was also prominent in Roman society, and as a solid supporter of the Roman Republic this earned him many enemies and alliances.
His prosecution of Verres, speeches against Cataline, consulship and other related deeds were performed in the interests of the Republic. He impacted heavily on Rome in his time and became an important personality in considering the Fall of the Roman Republic in 28BC.
Gnaeus Pompey; Military and Politcal Career
July 26th, 2008 by Pat
“His pursuit of glory always took an unlikely or unusual course” (Sallust)
Gnaeus Pompey (106-48BC) enjoyed a meteoric rise to political and military power. His command against pirates, Mithridates, Sertorius, and Spartacus were early and unprecedented considering his age and position. Considered a novus homo, one whom does not belong to the traditional wealthy class of the Senatorial elite, Pompey’s career entailed many conquests and conflicts - a career which opened more cracks in the Roman Republic.
The Legacy of Cornelius Sulla
July 26th, 2008 by Pat
”Sulla’s attempt to restore the Senate to the position of power it had held prior to the Gracchan tribunes was a failure and the next fifty years was marked by the attempts of powerful individuals and senatorial factions to gain predominance in the State…” (Pamela Bradley)
Cornelius Sulla (138-78BC) left behind a number of legal, military and political reforms and precedents as a dictator of Rome which impacted on the Fall of the Republic in the 78-28BC period.
Assessment of the Legacy of Julius Caesar
July 26th, 2008 by Pat
Julius Caesar expanded Rome’s borders with an extra 165,800 sq km of land acquired in Gaul. His legacy included many social, legal and political reforms; including building programs, calendar reform, vast military achievements, and perhaps most importantly after the ensuing civil war - the pax romana, “peaceful Rome.”His legacy was so well-appreciated and famous that the German title ‘kaiser’, Persian, “Shah” and Russian ‘tsar’ are derived from his long-standing name of great and unprecedented achievement. He left far more behind than a once-powerful name and a few lacklustre achievements.
This article assesses a few of his contributions to Roman and modern society.
Significance of the Mithridatic and Parthian Wars
July 24th, 2008 by Pat
The Mithridatic and Parthian Wars both posed threats to Rome; and were dealt with by sending outstanding generals to combat. Unfortunately, it resulted in the death of Marcus Crassus in 53BC and the unconstitutional awarding of special commands to Pompey at a young age in 66BC.
The results for Rome were lukewarm, with Parthia remaining an independent power despite damages and Mithridates removing himself and the kingdom of Pontas passing into ownership of Rome once more at the great expense of troops, time and effort.
Reasons for Breakdown of the First Triumvirate
July 23rd, 2008 by Pat
The first signs of friction between the three patricians of the First Triumvirate occured in 59 BC. While Caesar was heading the Gallic campaigns tensions broke out between two street gangs under Clodius and Milo, a Caesar and Pompey supporter respectively.
Other factors such as the rivalry of Crassus and Pompey, the death of Pompey’s wife and then eventually Crassus led to the breakdown of the First Triumvirate.
Reasons for the Civil War of 49BC
July 23rd, 2008 by Pat
Julius Caesar, upon victory and total oppression of Gaul, was recalled by the Senate to effectively end his proconsulship of the northern province.
Far from wishing to honour him with a triumph or consulship for 49BC, the optimate class in the Senate wanted him arrested for illegal legislation produced in his 59BC appointment to consul.
Matters quickly escalated in Rome to the point where Caesar decided to initiate a civil war against the Senate and ultimately set himself up as dictator.
Ancient and Modern Interpretations of Julius Caesar
July 22nd, 2008 by Pat
Many ancient and modern historians have studied Julius Caesar either extensively or as a part of his Roman society. Popular contemporary depictions are of a hero striving for the working class Roman, and his contribution to the military success of Rome at the time.
But many sources differ on his achievements, policies and reforms.As V.Stevens suggests “Today, there are those who admire him and those who despise him, but no historian can afford to ignore him.”
This article briefly examines a few of those sources and how they portray Caesar.
The Relationships of Julius Caesar
July 22nd, 2008 by Pat
Julius Caesar had a number of people in his life which influenced and was influenced by the successful general and politician. They were not synonymous and it is evident from sources such as Plutarch that some were in conflict and others in concurrence. This article explores several of his relationships with various people; in regards to women, marriages, and fellow politicians.
Significance of the Consulship of 70BC
July 7th, 2008 by Pat
In 70BC two political rivals, Pompey and Crassus, returned home from supressing a large-scale slave revolt led by Spartacus. Both demanded triumphs of the Senate and the right to be elected consul - but this presented a legal problem: generals could not stand for consulship inside the city with an army and yet nor could they enter without it (for a triumph).
Through their ultimately successful appeal to the populare faction of the Senate for consulship, they instigated a small number of reforms which undermined the Senate and impacted on the future of the Roman world.
Caesar, Gallic Wars 53BC-51BC
June 30th, 2008 by Pat
Caesar’s conquests in later Gaul were arguably his finest. Against the Gallic leader Vercingetorix, he assumed victory and brought Gaul into subjugation for 400 years.While he did so, affairs had to be arranged back in Rome so that his name and reputation remained strong despite the best efforts of the Senate.
“In less than 10 years in Gaul, Caesar successfully stormed over 800 cities, subdued 300 tribes, and fought hand-to-hand battles against three million warriors of whom he killed a million and took as many more prisoners.”
[Plutarch, Caesar 15]
Caesar’s Gallic Campaign 58-54 BC
June 25th, 2008 by Pat
Caesar believed a buffer zone between Rome and the Germanic Tribes would be of benefit to Rome. Natural resources, agriculture and space appealed to Rome as well as the industry of Gaul; metal working, weapon making and farming made the perfect pretence for expanding his military career.
What better chance than a Senate order for a command post in Gaul to improve his imperium and dignatas? Caesar was opportunistic; he marched into Gaul expecting hard-earned popularity and victory, and as many historians would agree, that’s what he ultimately achieved.
Reasons for the formation of the First Triumvirate of Rome
June 19th, 2008 by Pat
The First Triumvirate was a group of three men known as Caesar, Crassus and Pompey. It challenged the authority of the Senate through a unified block of power, popularity, and oratory.
The Triumvirate was formed because of the Senate’s obstruction of reforms and honours that the three parties wished to have passed. Military action was taken against it, unified with Rome’s three most powerful tiers and thus power was placed in the hands of only three people. The ambition of these Triumvirs further inflamed affairs of political power in dominating the weakened Senate and bringing down the Republic of Rome.
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