Collapse of the Republic

Grachhi Brothers• Republic facing numerous problems:• Landless poor – concentrated wealth• Moral decline and loss of Roman values• Stressed political system

• Two Patricians aim to reverse the decline of Rome by addressing the needs of the poor• Land redistribution, cheap grains, public jobs

• Shifting nature of politics• Popular Politics – appeal to the masses• Break from political traditions• Political violence as a solution

Marius & Sulla• Marius recruits landless poor into the army• Soldiers paid by the General from booty• Shifting loyalties away from the State

• Serves as consul for six terms

• Sulla seizes power from Marius• Marches army on Rome• Reign of terror – killing of opponents• Overturn previous reforms and shifts power

back to the Senate• Retires from politics voluntarily • Senate faces rebellion from the people

Rise of Julius Caesar• Patrician from a political connections• Charismatic and personable public figure• Seeks help from others to gain political power

• Crassus – Riches used for Election Campaigning and Public Games• Pompey – Powerful and popular General

• First Triumvirate – work together to achieve goals (60BC)• Pompey – wants land for veterans• Crassus – wants wealth and riches• Caesar – wants consulship and glory

• Power continues by removing opponents

• Casear’s Campaigns in Gaul• Extends Rome to North Sea• Great wealth to Rome and Caesar

• Pays army, bribes politicians, free grain to poor• Pompey fears his success and power

The Push for Power• Crassus dies leaving Pompey sole Consul (50BC)• Attempts to remove Caesar by declaring him a public

enemy• Caesar crosses the Rubicon• Marches on Rome as a criminal

• Welcomed as a patriot• Pompey and Senate flee Rome

• Travel to Egypt (48BC)• Pompey is killed – offered to Caesar• Caesar meets Cleopatra and Egyptian lavishes

• Caesar is the undisputed commander in the Roman world (45BC)• Republic Constitution is not restored• Caesar is made dictator for 10yrs

Dictatorship of Caesar• Strong Centralized Government• Assumes many offices• Limits the power of the Senate

• Create a cohesive empire• Expansion of colonies• Uniform civic government• New coinage and tax system• Building projects• New standardized calendar

• Bread and Circuses• Free grain to the poor• Gladiatorial games for public entertainment

• Many become unhappy with Caesar’s megalomania• Title of “father of the country”• Sits in a gold chair in the Senate• Month of July – birthday a public holiday• Purple toga, crown of laurels, face on coins• Cleopatra & Caesarian

• Ides of March• Fear Caesar will declare himself king• Senators, led by Brutus & Cassius, plan an assassination• Caesar stabbed in the Senate

• Assassination split the Roman people• Was the Senate saving the Republic or itself?• How should Rome proceed?

Rome after Caesar• Competing interests after Caesar• Mark Antony – Caesar’s lieutenant and former Consul

• As loyal commander feels he should take over• Octavius – Caesar’s grand-nephew (18 yo)

• Is declared the adopted heir of Caesar by will• Marcus Lepidus – governor in Spain and former Consul

• Worries about civil war

• Second Triumvirate• MA, Oct, ML work together for stability

• Attack political enemies• Chase and Kill assassins• Split the empire: Oct – West, MA – East, ML – Africa

Triumph of Octavian• Lepidus attempts to control Sicily• His army defects to Octavian

• Mark Antony in Egypt• Meets Cleopatra – totally infatuated• Declares Caesarian full and rightful heir• Divorces Octavian’s sister to marry Cleopatra

• Civil War between Octavian and Mark Antony• Antony defeated at Actium (31BC)• Octavian sole ruler of Rome

• Surrenders power to the Senate• Senate votes him Princep – First among Equals• Total power for life – Emperor (Augustus)• Seen as a unifying symbol of Rome