Julius Caesar and Roman Politics: 60-50 B.C
Situation in Rome
First Triumvirate
Caesar’s Personality
Caesar’s Rise to Power
Caesar and his Army
Source
Quote
Cicero
“We live in a state that is weak, wretched and unstable”
Plutarch
“[Crassus] acquired influence and reputation no less than Pompey had won from his great campaigns”
Plutarch
“The whole of Rome was split into three parties, those of Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus”
Cicero
“The Knights…have departed the senate”
Dio
“ Even though Pompey and Crassus were still at odds with each other…Caesar worked on them - and everyone else – so skilfully that he won their support”
Velleius
“In Caesar’s consulship the partnership of power was formed between himself, Pompey and Crassus; its results were to be ruinous for the city, the world and even, at different times, for each of themselves”
Dio
“He [Caesar] would not be able to achieve much without the assistance of both”
Appian
“In return for Pompey’s oath to assist him to the consulship, Caesar immediately reconciled him to Crassus and so these three very powerful men made common cause”
Florus
“Caesar was on his way up, thanks to his eloquence and dynamic personality”
Florus
“They readily agreed to make an assault on the constitution because each had similar desires for power, although Caesar was anxious to achieve status, Crassus to increase his, and Pompey to hold onto his”
Dio
“Caesar was prepared to bestow favours on the whole people, so as to bring them more firmly to his side”
Dio
“[Caesar]…referred directly to the people anything that he wanted”
Appian
“Caesar was adept at the art of dissimulation”
Dio
“By means of these [agrarian] laws Caesar attached the people to his side”
Suetonius
“From that time on, Caesar managed all the affairs of state by himself just as he pleased”
Appian
“The greater the honours conferred on [Caesar], the more envy he would face”
Cicero
“We have properly lost our grip on the Republic”...