University of Waterloo

Classical Studies 252History 252

Ancient Roman History

Overhead Lecture Notes

Lecture # VII

Content for Test #3

Lecturer : D. E. A. Hutter

Important:

1. These notes are for D. E. A. Hutter’s section only.

2. These notes give only an outline of the lectures, and important names and terms. Students are expected to take detailed notes during the lectures.

3. Test #2 on Lectures 4-6.

4. Text Readings: Pages 187 – 212.

CLAS 252/HIST 252

LECTURE # 7

- TEST # 2 –

- THE COLLAPSING REPUBLIC-

-BREAK-

- THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE -

- THE CIVIL WAR -

THE COLLAPSING REPUBLIC

Rome expansion/imperialism run rampant

Roman Provinces in he Republic before Caesar:

227 BC Sicily, Sardinia-Corsica

197 BC 2 Spains

145 BC Macedonia, Africa

133 BC Asia

125 BC Gallia Narbonensis

102 BC Cilicia (reorganized in 64 BC)

80 BC Cisalpine Gaul

74 BC Bithynia, Cyrene

67 BC Crete

65 BC Pontus

64 BC Syria

58 BC Cyprus

Client States also created along frontiers, such as Pompey’s support of Hyracanus (High Priest of Pharisees) in Judea

-mutually beneficial

-buffer states

Conquests create need for Maius Imperium (Extraordinary Command)

-violate Republican traditions

-leads to the rise of Warlords, supported by (or opposed by) the Tribunes and the Senate

Pompey increases tribute to Rome from 200 million sesterces/year before Pompey to 340 million sesterces/year after his campaigns

67-60 BC Pompey hold unprecedented power and influence with his Proconsular Imperium

-not share power as in the past

-Pompeii the “First Man” in Rome

-great soldier, but weak politician

-Senate begins to oppose his reforms (bring him down lower)

62 BC return to Italy and disband his army

-not make self Dictator, or offered to him

Marcus Tullius Cicero

-Equestrian & brilliant orator

-70 BC prosecutes the evil Governor of Sicily, Verres, and wins

-opposed corruption everywhere

-63 BC made Consul (New Man)

-62 BC puts down Catiline Conspiracy

-executes ringleaders (Final Decree of the Senate is used, but legally weak)

-Catiline & lost 3,000 troops killed in battle

Gaius Julius Caesar (102-44 BC)

-very old patrician family

-trace lineage to son of Aeneas (Iulus), and therefore Aphrodite/Venus

-a Marian (aunt married Marius)

-young “up and comer”

-makes name as a soldier and lawyer

-charismatic and a natural leader

-exiled by Sulla for not divorcing Cinna’s daughter, Cornelia (married in 84 BC)

-lady’s man

-great self-promoter!!!

81 BC military service in Asia

77 BC unsuccessful prosecutions of Dolabella and c. Antonius (but showed his oratorical skills)

76 BC retire to study in Rhodes

75-74 BC defeat pirates who kidnapped him

73 BC return to Rome and elected pontifex (minor priesthood)

70 BC support Pompey in redtoring Tribunician rights

69 BC sent to Spain as Quaestor

-1^st step on Cursus Honorum

66 BC he and Cicero spoke in favor of the

Manilian law (gave Pompey command of all Roman forces in the east against Mithridates)

65 BC made Aedile with the aid of Crassus’ $

-went into huge debt to Crassus

-won support of “the Mob”

-great popularity

-Senate worried about him

Marcus Licinius Crassus

-pro-Sullan

-made a fortune in the proscriptions

-“fire man” of Rome & realtor

-creditor to half of Senate

-richest man in Rome

-wanted power and a military command like Pompey

-Praetor

-71 BC defeated Spartacus, but Pompey steals to glory (became enemies)

-Optimates not want to give him much power

-became a Populares out of political need and allied with/bankrolled Julius Caesar

63 BC Julius Caesar bribes way to Pontifex Maximus

62 BC Caesar made Praetor of Spain

-still owed Crassus 75 million denarii

-Bona Dea scandal – refused to testify against Clodius (but divorced his second wife, Pompeia because “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion”)

61 BC made Proconsul of Further Spain

-makes a fortune and pays off debts

61 BC Pompey ignored in the Senate (expects to

be greeted like an Alexander the Great)

-Crassus rises and applauds Cicero for victory against Catiline Conspiracy (save Rome)

-Crassus speaks on own greatness

-Pompey upset with Crassus & Cicero and stomps out of Senate House

-becomes a private citizen

The First Triumvirate

60 BC Pompey asks for land for his veterans and acceptance of his arrangements in the East

-opposed by his opponents, including Crassus and Cato the Younger (honest & narrow-minded Republican)

-great insult to Pompey

-Cato then alienates Crassus and the Equestrians

-opposed a bill that would give rebates to publicani tax-collecting companies that bid too high

-Cato then alienates Julius Caesar

-Caesar wanted to stand for Consulship in absentia, and receive his triumph for service in Spain (illegal to do both)

-Cato opposes

-Caesar forgoes the triumph

-Cato fears that Caesar would win and get a province and army

-Cato convinces Senate to give consuls of 59 BC the mountain roads and forests of Italy as their province

Senate fears a victory by Caesar & Lucceius (running mate) for Consul

-bribes

-support Bibulus (Cato’s son-in-law)

1st Triumvirate (Committee of Three Men) formed by Crassus, Pompey, Caesar

-informal coalition to dominate Roman politics

-Caesar is mediator between Pompey and Crassus (dominant member)

-Caesar marries Julia to Pompey

Crassus wanted a reduction in payments and rebate for his Equestrian friends

-wealth is his asset

Pompey wanted land for his veterans and ratification of his peace settlements in the Middle East

-reputation and loyal veterans are his assets

Julius Caesar wanted a province and command of an army

-popularity with the people and Marius’ followers are his assets

Cato opposed this coalition

Cicero invited to join but refused

59 BC Caesar and Bibulus elected Consuls

-Caesar begins to push through legislation with threats of violence and without regard to religious propriety (Julian Laws)

-gave Crassus & Pompey what they wanted -Caesar given provinces of Gaul and Illyricum, and 3 legions, for 5 years

-Senate could only be recalled by a Magistrate (too afraid to do so, so not Final Decree made)

-Consulship of “Julius and Caesar”

Caesar has the Tribune Clodius (see Bona Dea scandal), pass legislation that runs Cicero out of Rome and makes Cato governor of Cyprus

-no able opponents left in Rome

Caesar in Gaul (59-56 BC)

-conquers all of France and most of Belgium

-divide and conquer

-builds a strong, loyal army

-Caesar’s “Commentaries”

-popularity grows

Pompey and Crassus snipe at each other in Rome

-Pompey has Cicero recalled (to gain the support of the Senate and nobility)

-Clodius and Milo (Pompey’s Tribune) start mob violence

-Pompey attends senate with entourage

56 BC Caesar meets Pompey and Crassus at Luca

-renew triumvirate for 5 more years

-Pompey & Crassus Consuls of 55 BC

-Pompey made Governor of 2 Spains and Cyrenaica for 5 years with 6 legions

-Crassus made Governor of Syria for 5 years and permission to attack Parthia

-renew Caesar’s Proconsulship for 5 more years

-curb Milo & Clodius

-silence Cicero

Caesar in Gaul, Germany and Britain (56-52 BC)

-pacify Brittany

-55 BC drive German tribes back across the Rhine

-55/54 BC two invasions of Britain

-54 BC Gallic revolts

-52 BC revolt of Vercingetorix & seige of Alesia

The Civil War

55 BC Pompey stays near Rome, raises troops, and sends some to Spain

-watch events in Rome

-holds proconsular power as governor

-“legates with propraetorian power”

-// later Imperial practices

54 BC Julia, wife of Pompey & daughter of Caesar dies

54 BC Crassus marches to Syria & invades Parthia

53 BC Crassus and his son killed and beheaded at Carrhae (displayed at court during a performance of the Bacchae)

-lose 30/40,000 troops

Pompey draws closer to Senators

-marries Cornelia, daughter of Metellus Scipio (very aristocratic, debauched & rich!)

-denies Caesar the hand of his only daughter

52 BC Final victory of Caesar over Vercingetorix at Alesia

-hands of many survivors cut off as a warning

Political violence & bribery in Rome results in no Consuls being elected for 53 and 52 BC

-Clodius & Milo’s gangs run rampant

-Clodius murdered by Milo’s boys

-mob burns his body in the Senate

-anarchy rules Rome

Pompey appointed sole Consul by the Senate (unprecedented) and restores order

-raises troops and passes laws

-Milo charged and exiled

-makes Metellus Scipio (his father-in-law) co-Consul

-renews his own governorship of Spain for 5 years (never was there)

-tries to annul the Law of the 10 Tribunes that would allow Caesar to run for the consulship in absentia

-seen as clumsy political tactics

Caesar & Pompey must keep their magistracies (political offices) or risk being prosecuted

-veteran soldiers & supporters futures tied to them as well

51 BC Pompey passes several laws to defeat Caesar

-all Italians take up arms under oath to him

-Senate give him a third 5 year proconsulship

-all consuls must have a 5 year break between terms (except Pompey!)

-gave Gaul to Caesar’s enemy Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus

-recall Caesar as a private citizen

50 BC Curio, Tribune and friend/debtor of Caesar, blocks attempts to recall Caesar

-attempts a compromise

-both Caesar & Pompey lay down their commands and surrender their armies to the Senate

-passed 370 for vs 22 against, but vetoed by the Consul Marcellus (Pompey’s friend)

-Caesar agrees, but declared a public enemy by the Senate (on the advice of Marcellus)

-ordered to lay down his arms and return to Rome to face charges

-Pompey ordered to take up arms against Caesar

49 BC January 10 Tribune Marcus Antonius and Curio flee to Caesar

Caesar quickly crosses the Rubicon River (divides Cisalpina Gaul and Italy) with 1 legion

-"Alea iacta est" ("the die is cast") (the war is on)

Caesar’s advantages

-tough, veteran, loyal army

-wealth

-popularity

-two of Pompey’s legions served under Caesar in Gaul

-Italy only starting to mobilize (untrained)

-2 more legions coming from Gaul

-man of action and dash

-Caesar leads alone vs Pompey &the Senate

Pompey’s advantages

-veterans in Spain and the East

-control of the seas

-control North African & Sicilian grain supply

-owed favours by Eastern monarchs

-in Italy

-supported by the Senate & State treasury

Caesar sweeps down east coast

-most surrender or join him

-Pompey does little and flees to Greece

-reorganizes the government & stops bloodshed

-defeats all Pompeian troops in Spain in 40 days

-enrolls some Pompeian troops and sends rest home

-Senate grants him a temporary Dictatorship

-retakes Sicily

48 BC Pompey defeated at The Battle of Pharsalus in Thessaly (Greece)

-Pompey flees to Egypt

-beheaded by the order of the 13 year old co-ruler Ptolemy XIII (pickled in brine)

-Caesar arrives in Egypt 3 days later

-horrified and has murderers executed

Ptolemy XIII & Cleopatra VII at war

-Cleopatra & Caesar meet

-Cleopatra last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt

The Alexandrian War (48-47 BC)

-Cleopatra on the throne with Ptolemy XIV (age 122)

-married ?

-Caesar already married to Calpurnia

-Caesarean

47 BC Pharnaces of Pontus invades Roman East

-Caesar defeats him at the Battle of Zela in Asia Minor

-Veni, Vedi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered”)

Caesar returns to Rome to restore order

46 BC Republican/Pompeian army, under Metellus Scipio (and Cato) defeated at the Battle of Thapsus in North Africa

-“A Scipio will never lose a battle in Africa” (Roman proverb)

-Caesar has a Scipio defeat a Scipio!

Cato commits suicide by “falling on his sword”

-prevents the shame of Caesar pardoning him

-Stoic martyr

-symbol of Republican freedom

Caesar returns to Rome in Triumph

-granted at 10 year long dictatorship (unprecedented step & dangerous)

-Caesar is the “Last Republican Warlord”