We continue our story about the reign of Julius Caesar. In the second part you will learn about the conquest of the Gaelic tribes, the policy of clementia, a major uprising of the Gauls under the command of the young leader Vircingetorix. Get acquainted with the history of the origin of the winged Latin expression "Alea jacta est", as well as with the events that developed after the collapse of the Triumvirate, which led to the confrontation between Caesar and Pompey.
Conquest of Gaul
After the consulship, Caesar, as befits a proconsul, was given control of a province. But thanks to the influence of the triumvirate - not for one year, as was required by law, but for five years with the right to declare and wage war without the consent of the senate. Caesar had four legions under his command. Gaul became his province. At first, Caesar received only Cisalpine Gaul and Illyricum, and then the rest of Gaul, which still had to be conquered.
Through diplomacy and martial arts, Caesar gradually begins to conquer the Gallic tribes. By 56 BC. e. the territories between the Alps, the Rhine and the Pyrenees, through the efforts of Caesar, were completely annexed to Rome. This victory was given to Caesar quite easily. “As far as the Gauls are boldly and resolutely ready to start any wars, they are just as weak-willed and unstable in enduring failures and defeats,” Caesar wrote in Notes on the Gallic War.
Caesar was the first Roman to cross the Rhine, driving back the invading Germanic tribes. He made (again the first) two trips to Britain, subordinating to Rome part of the Celtic tribes living there and imposing tribute on them. The successful commander literally flooded Rome with gold and continued to actively influence political life with his help.
However, busy with the Gallic campaigns, Caesar did not forget to monitor the strength of the triumvirate. By 56 BC. e. Caesar's partners - Pompey and Crassus - were on the verge of a break. Caesar met with them in the city of Luca, where three politicians confirmed the previous agreements and distributed the provinces:Spain and Africa went to Pompey, Syria to Crassus. Caesar's powers in Gaul were extended for another five years.
Things didn't go as smoothly as we'd like in this province. Thanksgiving prayers and festivities that were held in honor of Caesar's victories could not humble the spirit of the Gauls and their desire for liberation from the heavy tutelage of Rome.
It was in Gaul that Caesar began to pursue the policy of clementia (Latin for “mercy”), on the principles of which he would base his policy in the future. He forgave those who repented and tried not to shed blood in vain, preferring to have those who owed him their lives, rather than dead Gauls.
However, nothing could stop the coming storm. In 52 BC. e. A general Gallic uprising broke out, led by the young leader Vircingetorix. Caesar was in a very difficult position. He had only 60 thousand people (10 legions), and the rebels had 250-300 thousand. The Gauls, having suffered a number of defeats in open battle, switched to partisan operations. Everything that Caesar had conquered was lost as a result of this uprising. But in 51 BC. e. under the city of Alesia, the Romans in three battles with great difficulty manage to defeat the rebels. Vircingetorix was captured, many of the chieftains were killed, the Gaulish militia fled, and the uprising waned. In 52-51 years. BC e. Caesar had to reconquer Gaul.
Alea jacta est
No sooner had the Gallic uprising subsided than Caesar was in trouble again, this time in Rome. In 53 BC. e. Crassus died on a campaign against the Parthians. Pompey, not seeing after this the point in respecting previous agreements with Caesar, began to strengthen his position and protect only his own interests.
The Roman Republic was on the brink of collapse. Either Pompey (legitimately - he had already been appointed sole consul by the Senate), or Caesar (illegally) could easily take advantage of her weakness. All attempts by Caesar to end the matter amicably and find a mutually acceptable solution were unequivocally rejected by the Senate and Pompey. Trampling Roman laws, they raised troops.
Caesar once again faced a choice:either obey the demands of the Senate and forever say goodbye to his ambitious plans, or, violating the laws, oppose Pompey's autocracy and, possibly, receive the glory of the enemy of the republic.
The future dictator himself understood all this very well, standing on January 10, 49 BC. e. with one legion in front of the small river Rubicon, which separated it from the original possessions of Rome. According to the Roman historian Appian, Caesar turned to his friends:“If I do not cross this river, my friends, then this will be the beginning of disasters for me, and if I cross, it will be the beginning of disasters for all people.” Having said this, he swiftly, as if by inspiration from above, crossed the Rubicon, adding:“Let the die be cast” (in Latin:“Alea jacta est”).
Caesar marched on Rome. The Senate and Pompey were shocked by this turn of events and the speed of Caesar's actions. All preparations for resistance were abandoned. Italy was thrown at the mercy of the "violator of the laws", and the invincible Pompey the Great with the Senate hastily left the country. Caesar was rapidly advancing towards Rome, taking one city after another and almost without shedding blood. In addition to the fact that reinforcements approached him from Gaul, all the Roman garrisons, originally subordinate to Pompey, poured into Caesar's army.
April 1, 49 BC e. Caesar entered Rome. All the good intentions of Caesar to settle the matter amicably collapsed because of the unwillingness of the remaining senators to mediate in negotiations with Pompey. The second civil war has begun.
Caesar makes some important reforms. It abolishes the still existing punitive laws of Sulla and Pompey and gives the inhabitants of a number of provinces the rights of Roman citizenship. To win over the plebs and horsemen, Caesar increased the distribution of bread and partially canceled debts.
After settling matters in Rome, Caesar hurried to Greece, where Pompey was. The first, unsuccessful for Caesar, battle took place at Dyrrachium. The consul's troops fled. Caesar himself, trying to stop the fleeing soldiers, was almost killed by a standard-bearer who waved a staff at him. The situation was so critical that, as Caesar himself said, "the war could be ended today with a complete victory if the enemy had a man who knows how to win at the head." Alas, Pompey was not such a man and failed to use his advantage. For which he had to pay in the battle of Pharsalus on August 9, 48 BC. e., when Caesar, with half the size of the army, utterly defeated the enemy troops. Pompey became so discouraged that he “looked like a man without reason” (Plutarch) and fled to Egypt. Caesar, after the victory, began to subjugate Greece and Asia Minor.
Caesar's victory was already so obvious that Cassius' entire Pompeian fleet surrendered without a fight to his two legions. Having established his order in Asia, Caesar finally noticed the absence of Pompey and hurried after him to Egypt. However, the treacherous Egyptians have already understood on whose side the power is, and presented Caesar with a bloody gift - the head of his enemy.
From Encyclopedia.
Rom. The reign of Julius Caesar. Part 1
Rom. The reign of Julius Caesar. Part 3