Major Conflicts of the Late Roman Republic
Rome in the 690s AUC
The Catiline Conspiracy
During the consulship of M. Tullius Cicero the orator and Gaius Antonius, in the 691st year from the founding of the city, L. Sergius Catilina, a man of a very noble family but of depraved talent, conspired to destroy the country with certain indeed brave but reckless men. He was expelled from the city by Cicero. Associates of Catiline, having been seized, were thrown in prison. Catiline himself, having been defeated in battle, was killed by the other consul Antony.
Julius Caesar’s Ascendancy
Caesar’s Consulship and Conquests
In the 695th year of the city, C. Julius Caesar, who later once held supreme power, was made consul with L. Bibulus. In the 695th year of the city, C. Julius Caesar, who later once held supreme power, was made consul with L. Bibulus. He first conquered the Helvetians, who are now named the Sequani, then by conquering along heavy war went forward as far as the British Channel. However, he conquered almost all of Gaul in nine years, which is between the Alps, the Rhone river, the Rhine river, and the Ocean and is an open circuit 3200 miles. He soon made war upon the Britons, whose name was not even known to the Romans. After being victorious there, having received hostages, he made them tributary. Gaul, however, levied a yearly tax above 400 times. And the Germans launched the hugest attack across the Rhine river.
Civil War and Caesar’s Dictatorship
Conflict with Pompey and the Senate
Next, now, a civil war followed, accursed and lamentable, by which, in addition to the disaster which happened in battles, even the fortune of the Roman people was changed. Caesar, who was returning victorious from Gaul, began to demand a second consulship, so that it would be offered to him without any hesitation. It was opposed by consul Marcellus, by Bibulus, by Pompey, by Cato, and he was ordered to return to the city once he dismissed his army. Because of this injustice, he came against the country with an army from Ariminum, where he was holding soldiers whom he had assembled. The consuls, every senator, and all the nobility ran away with Pompey from the city and went over into Greece. Under the leadership of Pompey, the senate prepared for war against Caesar in Epirus, Macedonia, and Achaea.
Caesar’s Rule and Growing Opposition
Then Caesar returned to Rome after he had settled the civil wars throughout the entire world. He began to act rather arrogantly and against the practice of Roman freedom. Therefore, when he was bestowing honors from his own will, which previously were given by the people, and when he was not standing for the senate coming toward him, and when he was doing other king-like and almost tyrannical things, a conspiracy was made against him by sixty or more senators and business people. Notable men among the conspirators were two Brutii from that family of Brutus, who had been the first consul of Rome and had driven out the kings, and Gaius Cassius and Servilius Casca.
The Ides of March and Aftermath
The Assassination of Caesar
Caesar, therefore, when he had come to the senate building amongst other men on the day of the senate, he was stabbed with twenty-three wounds.
The Second Civil War and Octavian
In almost the 709th year of the city, after Caesar was killed, the civil war was renewed. The senate was favoring the assassins of Caesar. Antonius the consul, being of Caesar’s party, tried to oppress them. Therefore, with the state having been upset, Antonius, committing many crimes, was judged an enemy by the senate. Sent in pursuit of him were two consuls, Pansa and Hirtius, and Octavian, the young man 18 years old, Caesar’s nephew, whom by his will he left as heir and ordered to take his name. He is, who after was called Augustus and became emperor. The three leaders set out against Antonius and overcame him. It happened, however, that the consuls were both victorious and killed. Why three armies were subjected to one Augustus Caesar?