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Caesar's Civil War

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The Great Roman Civil War (49–45 BC), also known as Caesar's Civil War, was one of the last politico-military conflicts in the Roman Republic before the establishment of the Roman Empire. It began as a series of political and military confrontations, between Julius Caesar (100–44 BC), his political supporters (broadly known as Populares), and his legions, against the Optimates (or Boni), the politically conservative and socially traditionalist faction of the Roman Senate, who were supported by Pompey (106–48 BC) and his legions.[1]

After a five-year-long (49–45 BC) politico-military struggle, fought in Italy, Illyria, Greece, Egypt, Africa, and Hispania, Caesar defeated the last of the Optimates in the Battle of Munda and became Dictator perpetuo …show more content…

The First Triumvirate (so denominated by Cicero), comprising Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, ascended to power with Caesar's election as consul, in 59 BC. The First Triumvirate was unofficial, a political alliance the substance of which was Pompey's military might, Caesar's political influence, and Crassus' money. The alliance was further consolidated by Pompey's marriage to Julia, daughter of Caesar, in 59 BC. At the conclusion of Caesar's first consulship, the Senate (rather than granting him a provincial governorship) tasked him with watching over the Roman forests. This job, specially created by his Senate enemies, was meant to occupy him without giving him command of armies, or garnering him wealth and …show more content…

Knowing he hoped to become consul when his governorship expired, the Senate, politically fearful of him, ordered he resign command of his army. In December of 50 BC, Caesar wrote to the Senate agreeing to resign his military command if Pompey followed suit. Offended, the Senate demanded he immediately disband his army, or be declared an enemy of the people: an illegal political bill, for he was entitled to keep his army until his term expired.

A secondary reason for Caesar's immediate want for another consulship was delaying the inevitable senatorial prosecutions awaiting him upon retirement as governor of Illyricum and Gaul. These potential prosecutions were based upon alleged irregularities occurred in his consulship and war crimes committed in his Gallic campaigns. Moreover, Caesar loyalists, the tribunes Mark Antony and Quintus Cassius Longinus, vetoed the bill, and were quickly expelled from the Senate. They then joined Caesar, who had assembled his army, whom he asked for military support against the Senate; agreeing, his army called for

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Also, Pompey felt that Grassus most likely was working against him again by supporting not only Cato, but also Clodius. Furthermore, Cicero, felt safe again decided to attack the triumvirate and by using Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, who expected to be elected consul in 55 BC declared that he will press to terminate the Caesar command in Gaul. Facing rising enemies and serious danger for their existence the parties involved in the First Triumvirate decided to meet and renew the terms. That happened in April 56 BC, in Luca (modern Lucca, in Tuscany, Italy) right on the border with Cisalpine Gaul province, Caesar met with Grassus and Pompey, other senators were invited too, and strikingly many attend the meeting, Cicero was one of them too. The new contract was to receive unequivocal loyalty from Clodius and Cicero, and also that Grassus and Pompey will stand and be elected for consuls while Caesar will send solders in Rome to ensure that vote.

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No nobler cause, but none more dearer to a Roman noble who could not conceive life without a public career, or life wherein his digintas was degraded." Caesar had no difficulty exculpating himself. Only no one had believed in his concessions; they were suspect, tainted fruit. His enemies believed that his second consulship in 48 would give him the opportunity to order the state according to his will. He would make himself a tyrant.

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This demonstrates one of the reasons for the outbreak of the war. The Senate did not want to relinquish its power or authority to Caesar and so opposed his actions. Plutarch tells us that at a time, Pompey was willing to grant Caesar some of his demands but was actually denied the chance by Lentulus, the consul. This suggests that the optimates, if they wanted peace at all, wanted it on their own terms and not those of Caesar.

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The Senate decided this was an opportunity for Pompey to take charge although many Senators became concerned of what may result in giving one man so much power. They had such reason to fear this as in 70BC a joint consulship was elected by the Popular Assembly between Pompey and Marcus Licinius Crassus, an extremely wealthy Roman general and politician. Although Sulla had in place, laws to prevent Pompey reaching such office at such a young age (34), Pompey’s overwhelming popularity easily overcame these obstacles and held no reason to pass through normal stages of office. The joint consulship of Crassus and Pompey was one of the most crucial political developments in the fall of the Roman Republic. It allowed for laws to once again be changed including restoring the power of tribunes.

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To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat. The livelong day with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome.’”(Act 1 Scene 1) The people of Rome adored Pompey, they lined the streets just to see the great general, and Pompey has the support of the Senate, but Caesar doesn’t have the support of the Senate, even if he has won most of the peoples’ hearts.

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On January tenth forty-nine BC, Julius Caesar broke a Roman law by crossing the Rubicon River. People were not allowed to bring any part of their army into Italy, and once this act was done, they lose their right to rule their own province. Caesar did this knowing that he and any man who followed him was now subject to execution if he failed in his goals. When news came to Rome that Caesar was coming with his army, senators and their consuls fled Rome unaware that their army outnumbered the one coming. Once a four-year fight with the armies was over, Caesar became the Dictator of the new Roman Empire.

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Through his drive for success, Caesar took advantage of every opportunity to rise in Roman society, from starting his career as military tribune to becoming quaestor of Further Spain and later curator of Rome (Freeman 2008:45). His tenure as consul with Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus became known as “…the consulship of Julius and Caesar...” resulting from Caesar’s ambition to undertake all of Rome’s state affairs (Suetonius The Lives of Caesars XX.59). It was the result of Caesar’s ambition that led him to cross the Rubicon river, Rome’s northern boundary, to protect his political position in Rome. By not disbanding his army, Caesar was effectively disregarding the boundary regulation of the Rubicon and this implied civil war (Class Notes Part II 2017:131). This ambitious action can best be described by a quote from Caesar himself which states “if you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases, observe it.”

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This paper will show you how Julius Caesar became the man he was and the pros and cons of his leadership. Before Caesar’s monarchy, he was a successful leader of armies. His victories in the Gallic wars only heightened his want for power. By 51 B.C. Julius’ ability to run a military was incomparable, which alone jeopardized Pompey’s leading. Thus, in 50 B.C. Pompey ordered Caesar to disband his army, step down from his military command, and return to Rome.

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