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The Rise of Caesar

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As Caesar led his troops across the Rubicon in early January 49 BC, it was clear to all that Rome was once again facing the nightmare of civil war on its own soil. In the final years of the Roman Republic, military men who had gained fame and fortune through imperial conquests would increasingly come to dominate Roman politics. In the 80s, Rome had experienced a bitter civil war fought between the forces of  Marius and Sulla  — two ambitious military leaders who had turned their troops into personal armies. Within the space of a generation, Rome would once again see fellow countrymen pitted against one another — with the forces of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great locked in a bitter conflict for control of the Roman world. When looking for omens of the Roman Republic’s impending collapse, warnings signs can be clearly seen in its last generation. Between 88 and 49 BC, Rome had experienced a brutal civil war, a spell of bloody proscriptions and cruel executions, a spate of mob violen
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Mob Rule in Ancient Rome

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As the chaos unfolded on Capitol Hill last week, it quickly became apparent that we were watching history in the making. An enraged mob, encouraged by the president, storming the home of American democracy and attempting to vent their political frustrations, left many aghast at the scenes unfolding on their television screens. As the dust settles on Capitol Hill, the search for historical precedent is already underway — with the riots marking the first time that the Capitol has been breached  since the War of 1812 . However, we can look even further into the past to see examples of violent mobs seizing control of political institutions. The Roman Republic was no stranger to violence and disorder, and the years before its collapse into civil war and autocracy offer a stark warning for modern day democracies. In the last years of the free republic, Rome saw an uptick in domestic conflict and civil strife — with violence often spilling out onto the streets. Just as last week saw riote
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Party Politics and the Death of Rome

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The Death of Marcus Porcius Cato has long served as one of the defining moments of Roman history. Having seen the republican forces defeated at Thapsus (in north Africa) by a Caesarian army in 46 BC, Cato found himself holed up in the port town of Utica, a short distance from the battlefield.  On the night  of his death, Cato calmly retired to his bedroom and began reading Plato’s “On the Soul” — before plunging a sword into his stomach. As his attendants burst into the room and tried to save him, Cato continued to injure himself — and finally succumbed to his wound. For many, Cato died as he had lived. Known for his deeply conservative views and traditional values, Cato embodied the Roman belief in personal responsibility and civic duty. At the height of a civil war that would engulf the Roman Republic, and faced with certain defeat, Cato chose to take his own life over living under the dictatorship of Caesar. In death, Cato would display the values that he had espoused as le
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The Catilinarian Conspiracy

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The world of Roman politics had never been short of intrigue, plots and shadowy business. Throughout its history, the Roman Republic would see dodgy dealings and behind the scene plotting as part and parcel of politics within the city. However, in 63 BC a plot was hatched by a group of conspirators that aimed at an act so heinous that it shock Rome to its foundations. Driven by ambition, greed and bitterness, a group of nobles sought to forcibly overthrow the state and undertake a coup against the Senate. Led by Lucius Sergius Catilina, the conspirators rejected Roman democracy and instead looked to utilise open violence and seize control of the Senate. The affair would become notorious not just for the level of violence and destruction that almost engulfed Rome, but also for the reputation that was made by the hero of the hour – none other than Marcus Tullius Cicero. Bad Reputation For Catiline, this would not be his first brush with controversy. Under the dictatorship o
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Rome’s Greatest Prize

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Once every year, the overcrowded streets of Rome would see its hustle and bustle brought to even greater heights. To the people of Rome, the increasing energy within the city could only mean one thing – election season had arrived.   Patrons would begin to call on their clients, gatherings would be held across the city, and potential candidates would bring out their specially whitened toga for the occasion. To the political elite of the Roman Republic, the election season offered them the chance to compete for the greatest prize of all within Roman society – the Consulship. Through victory at the polls, eternal glory could be won by the victor, with even the year itself deriving its name from the two Consuls elected. However, as we shall see, convincing the electorate was less a case of talent and political manoeuvring, and more down to upper class snobbery and prestige. The Executive Branch At a glance, the Consulship was similar to a modern day president or prim
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Politics and Power Brokers in Ancient Rome

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To anyone entering the arena of Roman politics, the need to forge and maintain political alliances was a key skill to master. Whether it was for a bitterly fought election over the Consulship, or the direction of a senatorial debate, the use of political alliances has remained a constant theme throughout Roman history. Within the sphere of Roman politics, various different factors could be used to bring individuals together under the banner of a political faction – such as family ties, financial commitments, personal friendships or simply just mutual interests.  For any young senator looking to advance through the cursus , it was vital that they were able to navigate through the centuries old traditions of faction building to ensure that they could gain the required political support. Whilst these traditions were often highly complex, an insight into the art of alliance building can be gleamed from a highly publicised event in the history of the late republic – the
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