Juliane Smith
Professor Mira Green
HSTAM 302
16 July 2023
The First Triumvirate’s Effects on Traditional Rome In 60 BCE, three men, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Gaius Julius Caesar, came together to accumulate their resources to achieve their personal goals. This alliance is known as The First Triumvirate, but it is more correctly associated as a factio or an amicitia. The term factio was used by political opponents who viewed the trio as a tyrannical faction, while the trio themselves considered the alliance an amicitia, a friendship flourished by mutual aid with their clients, followers, wealth, and influence. Crassus, known for his wealth, with Pompey’s military and political leadership, and Caesar’s unexpected
…show more content…
Pompey’s renowned military experience is an example of this, with his grand military power and his large army from past wars that granted him power and authority far beyond the borders of the Roman Republic. When Julius Caesar was in the midst of getting proposals passed, he brought Pompey onto the speaker’s platform once and asked him if there would be his help if there would be a violent resistance, followed by Pompey’s words, “If anyone talks about swords, I can provide swords and shields as well.” His words and actions made it clear that Pompey had given himself to be used by Caesar with his military power. Furthermore, Caesar’s military conquests in Gaul brought him an army, considered to be the most important resource of power, as well as new systems required for the expanding empire that strayed from traditional practices. Pompey’s military experience and the power he received, as a result, is also seen in 55 BCE when he became consul with Crassus for the second time, which was unprecedented and strayed from the limited number of consulships one could have within ten years in traditional Roman practices. All in all, the military power that allowed figures like Caesar and Pompey to have control over much of Roman politics strayed away from traditional practices and set the stage for the
In the absence of war and crisis, Rome's leaders failed to develop the honor and leadership necessary to maintain the Republic. Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus joined forces to form a triple leadership called the First Triumvirate. The rulers of Rome states and colonies suspected that one man would soon emerge as the complete
Pompey was a popular general who had a devoted private army, and Caesar was a gem in the public’s eye. Pompey and Caesar's greed can be illustrated by Pompey joining “the senate in opposing Caesar” (179). Pompey joined the senate in making the decision to get rid of Caesar so that he could take total rule. When Pompey was asked to exile or execute him, Caesar ordered his armies to advance across a river that “marked the first act of the a civil war” (179) that at the end of which, was when “the republic received its final burial.” (179).
Also, Pompey felt that Grassus most likely was working against him again by supporting not only Cato, but also Clodius. Furthermore, Cicero, felt safe again decided to attack the triumvirate and by using Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, who expected to be elected consul in 55 BC declared that he will press to terminate the Caesar command in Gaul. Facing rising enemies and serious danger for their existence the parties involved in the First Triumvirate decided to meet and renew the terms. That happened in April 56 BC, in Luca (modern Lucca, in Tuscany, Italy) right on the border with Cisalpine Gaul province, Caesar met with Grassus and Pompey, other senators were invited too, and strikingly many attend the meeting, Cicero was one of them too. The new contract was to receive unequivocal loyalty from Clodius and Cicero, and also that Grassus and Pompey will stand and be elected for consuls while Caesar will send solders in Rome to ensure that vote.
His selfish, egotistical personality made the Romans concerned with the state of their empire. At this point, they turned against themselves. Not knowing whether Caesar would give up his army peacefully, the Senate declared martial law and turned the Republic to the hands of Pompey.
Caesar’s military accomplishments played a vital role in restoring Rome. The various endeavours Caesar undertook as a military commander during the 58 – 50 BC Gallic wars benefitted Rome immensely, as Caesar subdued Gaul, made leeway in previously uncharted Britain, (source 5) established loyalties and increased the state of finances. Plutarch, a Greek-born Roman historian, praises “Caesars achievements [which] surpass [that of the greatest generals]” (source 5). Despite a one century detachment from events and pro-imperial nature (unseen), Plutarch offers a fairly reliable viewpoint. It could be inferred Caesar would have been unable to strengthen and expand Rome without such military capabilities.
With an army that had great size and power it made it possible for him to conquer and expanded his empire. At control of one of the most power army and largest empire known to man at that time, Caesar could rule largely by fear and tactical control over aspects of life such as government, trade, politics, and society. In much of Greek and/or Roman culture and society during ancient times respect, popularity, and fame was judge by a man military experiences and
Pompey and Caesar two of the greatest rulers of the Roman Republic, they were two halves of the first triumvirate. Both of these men had various vices and a virtue that played an integral part in their military and political careers. So how did humanity, greed, and pride made them powerful and feared; yet victims at the same time. This contradiction of being powerful but yet a victim gives way to how Pompey's own pride and greed got him killed, versus Caesar who was ultimately defeated by his own humanity. Pompey was a great military leader and who held great influence.
In order for Rome to flourish as an Empire there had to be changes made regarding the style of ruling. Pompeius Magnus, Licinius Crassus and Julius Caesar, combined their knowledge to seize power in Rome. Pompey defeated enemies of the oligarchy, including a rebellion in Spain. Crassus was the wealthiest man in Rome by profiting from outlawing Roman citizens and putting prices on their dead or alive heads. He used his wealth to to influence the Senate throughout the urban population.
Caesar proclaimed himself dictator for life after defeating his adversary Pompey in a civil war, essentially ending the Republic’s period of democratic rule. His murder in 44 BCE did not bring the Republic back to its former splendor since Octavian, his successor, eventually proclaimed himself emperor and founded the Roman Empire. There were numerous approaches to lessen the harm brought on by the emergence of strong military leaders (Coats, R. M., & Pecquet, G. M. 2013). First, the Senate should have taken stronger action to stop these leaders from usurping power by using their armies. Over time, the Senate’s influence had significantly decreased, and it was now more of a ceremonial assembly than a reliable check on the executive branch.
Julius Caesar was a political and military leader whose reign marked the beginning of the Roman Empire and the end of the Roman Republic. Caesar did not always follow the law to get the power that he obtained. Caesar once stated, “If you must break the law, do it to seize power; in all other cases, observe it.” If Caesar saw a way to get power, he took the opportunity even if it meant breaching the law.
This paper will show you how Julius Caesar became the man he was and the pros and cons of his leadership. Before Caesar’s monarchy, he was a successful leader of armies. His victories in the Gallic wars only heightened his want for power. By 51 B.C. Julius’ ability to run a military was incomparable, which alone jeopardized Pompey’s leading. Thus, in 50 B.C. Pompey ordered Caesar to disband his army, step down from his military command, and return to Rome.
The composition and the governing structure of the Roman republic was not uniform throughout its existence, but some of the fundamental elements of its government came into being in the immediate aftermath of the monarchy’s collapse. Therefore, it is unsurprising that many of these institutions were created in reaction to the monarchy and its failures, and thus were shaped by this relationship. For example, the fundamental opposition to monarchy and the rule of kings that came with the experience of the Kingdom of Rome, remained quite strong in the Roman mindset throughout the existence of the Republic and into the beginnings of the Roman Empire, and its influence can be seen throughout Roman political discourse especially in the discussion
From this unrest arose the second triumvirate. This triumvirate was composed of Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian. The second triumvirate lasted for about one decade after the murder of Caesar.
The Senate decided this was an opportunity for Pompey to take charge although many Senators became concerned of what may result in giving one man so much power. They had such reason to fear this as in 70BC a joint consulship was elected by the Popular Assembly between Pompey and Marcus Licinius Crassus, an extremely wealthy Roman general and politician. Although Sulla had in place, laws to prevent Pompey reaching such office at such a young age (34), Pompey’s overwhelming popularity easily overcame these obstacles and held no reason to pass through normal stages of office. The joint consulship of Crassus and Pompey was one of the most crucial political developments in the fall of the Roman Republic. It allowed for laws to once again be changed including restoring the power of tribunes.
This alliance proved significant for Caesar as he received wealth and military might from Pompey and important political contacts through