Caesar and Civil War

Civil War

• Caesar crosses Rubicon to intimidate senate
  • Troops, all officer but one v. loyal
  • Soon launches all out assault once he sees welcome in Italy, lack of preparations among enemies
• Pompey withdraws to Greece
  • Wants to return like Sulla
• Caesar's veterans decisively superior
• Caesar conquers Pompey's forces in Spain in 49
  • Caesar famed for speed and good fortune
• Caeasr crosses to Greece in 48
  • Defeats Pompey at Pharsalus
  • Some Republicans go over to Caesar, others flee to Africa
  • Pompey flees to Egypt, is assassinated
• Caesar follows Pompey to Egypt, gets involved in civil war among Ptolemies, has long vacation with Cleopatra
• Caesar defeats remaining Republican forces in Africa (Thapsus, 46) and Spain (Munda, 45)

Dicatorship of Caesar

• Caesar pretended to fight for Republic at start of war, becomes god-like warlord by end
• Receives quasi-divine honors
• Half-heartedly acts like a king
• Increasingly dismissive of traditional constition
• Both old supporters and reconciled Republicans want old ways restored
• Caesar has no solution to give him a permanent constitutional position
  • Decides to campaign in East
  • Holds elections for sev. years in advance
• In Feb. 45 is declared "dictator for life"
  • Had been temporary dictator sev. times during war
  • Now clear he had no intention of ever restoring Republic
• Assassinated by large senatorial conspiracy
  • Plot led by Cassius and Brutus
  • Reconciled Republicans
• Conspirators thought the old constitution would spring back to life
  • Wrong