The End of the Republic - Caesar's Political LifeOne age of terror ended with the resignation of Sulla in 79 B.C. He died a year later, but the Senate had already lost its power.
Beginning of the Triumvirate
Between the death of Sulla and the beginning of the first Triumvirate, Pompey (106-48 B.C.) and Crassus (112-53 B.C.) grew more and more hostile to each other, with factions and armies behind each. To avert civil war, Julius Caesar, whose reputation was growing because of his successes in Gaul, suggested their three-way partnership. Crassus, the capable financier, would receive Syria, Pompey, the renowned general, Spain, and Caesar, who would soon show himself to be a skilled politican and military leader, Gaul.
End of the Triumvirate
When in 53 B.C. a Parthian army attacked the army of Crassus, Crassus was killed. Meanwhile Caesar's power was growing. Laws were altered to suit his needs. Some senators, notably Cato and Cicero, were alarmed by the weakening legal fabric. Accusing Caesar of treason they ordered Caesar to return without his army to Rome.
Instead, Caesar took his army. Regardless of the legitimacy of the original treason charge, the moment he stepped across the Rubicon, Caesar had committed treason. Then he had no choice but to fight the Roman forces led by Pompey.
Caesar's former co-leader Pompey had the advantage, but still Caesar won at Pharsalus in 48 B.C. Pompey fled to Egypt where the Egyptians murdered him.
Caesar Rules Alone
Caesar spent a few years in Egypt and Asia before returning to Rome where he began a platform of reform. [From The Rise of Julius Caesar www.republic.k12.mo.us/highschool/teachers/tstephen/ 07/13/98]
- He granted citizenship to many colonials, thus widening his base of support.
- Granted pay to Proconsuls to remove corruption and gain allegiance from them.
- Established a network of spies.
- Instituted a policy of land reform designed to take power away from the wealthy.
- Reduced the powers of the Senate so as to make it an advisory council only.
At the same time, Caesar was appointed dictator for life and assumed the title of imperator, general (a title given a victorious general by his soldiers), and pater patriae, father of his country. Although Rome had long abhorred a monarchy, the title of rex was offered him. When autocratic Caesar rejected it, there were grave doubts about his sincerity. In an effort to save the Republic, many of the senators conspired to murder him.
On the Ides of March the senators stabbed Gaius Julius Caesar sixty times on the floor of the Senate chamber.
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