SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE:THE FALL OF THE REPUBLIC

Opening Thought

“Veni, Vedi, Vici: I came, I saw, I conquered,”

-Julius Caesar

Roman Reformers

Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus (Brothers) Attempting to help the landless poor, they

took land from the rich and gave to the poor They were killed

Marius (General) Promised soldiers land in exchange for loyalty

to him and not the state Turned the legions into a professional army One of his lieutenants, Lucius Sulla, went

further…

The Dictatorship of Sulla

The Dictatorship of Sulla

81 BC: General Sulla lost his command in Asia Minor and marched on Rome Sulla institutes a reign of terror and seizes Rome itself

Sulla gave power to the Senate, eliminated popular assemblies, and then abdicates After causing complete mayhem, he just leaves and

goes home!

Sulla believed that he was creating a firm foundation for the republic Actually established precedent that destroyed the

republic

The First Triumvirate

Three Kings

Julius Caesar: Famous for his war against Vercingetorix and conquering Gaul

Marcus Crassus: The richest man in Rome Fought Spartacus Ordered the crucifixion of 6000 men along the

Appian Way

Pompey Magnus: Commander of Spain and conqueror of Jerusalem Lieutenant of Sulla Established Herodean Dynasty recorded in the Bible

Caesar: Tactician and Politician

Caesar: Tactician Considered one of the greatest military minds in

history along with Alexander the Great, Hannibal Barca, and Napoleon

Routinely defeated superior armies Used engineering and geography to win battles

Caesar: Politician Wrote his own biography and military records Once claimed he defeated 430,000 enemies with less

than 5000 soldiers and did not lose a single soldier Caesar’s accounts made him very popular with the

people

The Battle of Alesia

The Gallic War: September, 52 BC Vercingetorix has Caesar on the run through

guerrilla tactics Withdraws to Alesia Caesar’s army numbers 40,000 Vercingetorix’s army numbers 330,000

Stations 80,000 in Alesia 250,000 in relief forces outside the city

Caesar excels at siege warfare and cements his legacy as a great military commander

Civil War Caesar’s triumph in Gaul made him extremely popular

with the people Caused him to be feared by the Senate

Crassus dies in 53 The Senate backs Pompey and orders Caesar to give up his

command and threatened the tribunes who support him

Caesar refuses and marches on Rome His army crossed the Rubicon River, igniting civil war, and

creating the phrase Followed the precedent established by Sulla Claimed to be defending the tribunes: representatives of

the people

Caesar’s Victory

Caesar defeated Pompey at Pharsalus, in 48 BC Pompey flees to Egypt and is assassinated by agents of

Ptolemy and Cleopatra

Caesar returns to Rome and is hailed as “dictator” in 47 BC

Established Julian Calendar, based on the Egyptian Solar Calendar, which lasted 365 days Basis of our modern calendar Julian Calendar lasts until 1582, when it is replaced by

the current Gregorian calendar The month of July was named in his honor

The Darkest Day

The Ides of March

Several senators feared Caesar’s ambition including Marcus Brutus, a close friend of Caesar

March 15, 44 BC: Assassination Day Mark Antony, Caesar’s lieutenant, was warned of the plot

the night before but was unable to inform Caesar Caesar’s wife Calpurnia had a dream of the assassination

and warned him not to go to the Forum on Capitoline Hill A soothsayer warned Caesar to “beware the ides of March” Caesar was stabbed 23 times, only one wound was lethal

Julius Caesar died at 55 years of age The average U.S. President is inaugurated at 54