Roman Historia

This is part two of the First Triumvirate series. To view part one, click here ! As Caesar ended his Consulship and departed for his new role as governor of Gaul, the three triumvirs - Pompey, Crassus and Caesar - appeared unstoppable. Between the wealth and contacts of Crassus, the heroic stature and military legacy of Pompey and the political daring of Caesar, those conservatives within the Senate that once opposed the trio now found themselves at their mercy. However, despite their initial successes, all was not well between the three. It would be the impact of the ensuing split within this political alliance - and the resulting factions that would rise from its ashes - that would eventually lead the Republic into a bloody civil war. Growing Tensions It was within Rome itself that the first signs of tension between the three leaders could be seen. By 57 BC, political clashes within the capital had become endemic. Mobs of supporters, led by opposing charismatic lea...

In the highly competitive and vicious world of Roman politics, the art of alliance building was a well established tradition. Whether it be the competing factions of Marius and Sulla or the tightly knit alliance of conservatives in the Senate (known as the Optimates) led by Cato, both clientelism and patronage were accepted as part and parcel of political strategy. Despite this, the alliance between Pompey, Crassus and Caesar that formed in 60 BC sent shockwaves across the Roman world – and would eventually bring the Republic to its knees. To understand what made this alliance just so powerful, we must first look to how it came about. Forming the Triumvirate By 60 BC, tensions were rising within the world of Roman politics. Pompey, having successfully waged a war in the East against Mithridates, was looking to consolidate his gains and have the veterans that served under him given land as a reward for their services. Whilst Pompey saw this as a fair and reasonable demand...

By March 44 BC, Julius Caesar had established himself as the undisputed master of Rome. After surviving the breakup of the Triumvirate and the ensuing civil war, which spanned across three different continents, Caesar had seen off all challengers and had cemented his position as dictator. Within Rome itself, concerned citizens looked on and pondered their own fate. Would Caesar eventually lay down his position and retire from public life, as Sulla had done as dictator a generation ago? Or would Caesar look to bring down the ailing Republic once and for all, and re-establish a monarchy in Rome.   As the Ides of March approached, the Roman people would not have to wait any longer for their answer.  The Background After defeating Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus (48 BC), Julius Caesar would spend the next few years bringing a bloody civil war to a close. Darting from Greece to Egypt, Rome to Spain, Caesar would stamp his authority on the state and destroy the remai...

By the first century BC, Rome had managed to establish itself as the uncontested master of the Mediterranean - controlling the sea from Spain (Hispania) to the Aegean and beyond. Although Roman military might had successfully fought its way through all challengers, Rome faced a very different proposition when it came to that of its latest challenge in the 60s BC - piracy. Piracy in the Roman World Piracy was nothing new to the Romans. Pirates had remained a constant threat in the Mediterranean throughout various points in history - disrupting trade, taking slaves and holding prominent prisoners for ransom. However, in the 2nd century BC, Roman conquest in the eastern Mediterranean had left a power vacuum that pirates were able to exploit and subsequently expand their operations. The conquest of Rhodes by Rome, a state that had previously acted as a counter to piracy in the region, had allowed piracy to pick up pace during this period. In particular, Cilicia (in modern day ...

The late Roman Republic has long been a source of fascination - whether for the great historical figures it produced (think Caesar or Cicero) or for the resulting empire that would emerge from its ruins. Although the generation of Caesar and Pompey became synonymous with the republics fall, we must look further into the past to see the start of its deterioration. The role of the Gracchi brothers provided the first spark of revolution that would continue  over the next century.  By the late 2nd century BC, Rome had established itself as the dominant force in the Mediterranean world - conquering Carthage, large parts of Spain (Hispania), Macedonia and Greece (among others). However, despite the vast wealth generated from these conquests, not all within Rome were content with society back home. The Gracchi Born c. 168 BC, Tiberius Gracchus made a name for himself through a spell of successful military service. He participated in the Siege of Carthage (146) and held the Quae...