4/8/12 Alea iacta est: Civil War “the die is cast” • Pompey and conservaves in Senate muster army and go to Greece Caesar moves • Caesar follows… 48 BC: Pharsalus immediately with • Pompey loses; flees to Egypt; one single legion Beheaded By Ptolemy without wai=ng for • Civil War con=nues: 48-5 spring – Civil & foreign campaigns fought in Egypt, Asia, Spain & Africa Pompey has no – Ptolemy, Cleopatra & Caesarion me to muster – Bale of Thapsus 46 BC (Cato) troops & abandons – Bale of Munda 45 BC (Pompey’s sons) Rome to Caesar – Huge Triumphal parade in 45 BC Cleopatra Clemen-a & Celeritas (Clemency & Speed) • Caesar famed for his speed in his victories across the world: veni, vidi, vici • Equally famous for his clemency. Not like Sulla – Caesar offered to pardon any who supported him, even if they had previously fought against him – A]er Pharsalus, Cicero and Brutus are pardoned – But Cato the Younger refuses to let Caesar pardon him. Cato commits suicide aer Bale of Thapsus (46 BC) near U=ca in North Africa 1 4/8/12 Caesar’s Ac=ons as “Perpetual Dictator”: 45 BC • Julian Calendar (365 days) • DeBt relief • Oversight of grain dole • New colonies • Extends Roman status to several provinces (Gaul) • Expands Senate to 900 memBers and enrolls provincial aristocrats • Plans expedi=on against Parthians… Julius Caesar’s new forum, • Massive Building projects Senate House, & Temple of – New Forum of Julius Caesar and Temple of Venus Venus Genetrix Genetrix – ReBuilt Senate House (Burned aer Clodius is killed) – Basilica Julia in forum But Caesar Begins to take his power too far? Conspiracy forms against Caesar: Tyrant? king? Aspiraons toward divinity? • Conspiracy of senators includes Both old enemies • Perpetual dictator without signs of abdicaon and some staunch supporters • 1st Roman to have portrait struck on coins while living • Figure-head = Brutus, descendant of Brutus • Mark Antony elected priest for temple to Julius Caesar (tyrant killer) • Accepts offerings to “ deo invicto”: invincible god • on Ides of March (15th) 44 BC, group surrounds • Gilded throne, purple roBe, laurel wreath Caesar Before senate mee=ng and while Antony • July detained • Mark Antony offers laurel crown during puBlic fes=val • 60 conspirators, and Caesar stabBed 23 =mes (though only one fatal) • Kai su teknon? Et tu Brute? 2 4/8/12 Uncanny Coincidence? V. Camuccini, 1798: "Death of Julius Caesar” • Senate was mee=ng that day in part of Pompey’s theater complex! • Caesar trapped, says Plutarch, like a wild Beast, stabBed from all sides: “Either By chance or Because he was pushed there By his murderers, he fell down against the pedestal on which the statue of Pompey stood, and the pedestal was drenched with his Blood, so that one might have thought that Pompey himself was presiding over this act of vengeance against his enemy, who lay there at his feet struggling convulsively under so many wounds. He is said to have received 23 wounds. And many of his assailants were wounded By each other, as they all tried to plant all those Blows in one body.” 3 .