Caesar Flashcards
(42 cards)
What offices did Caesar hold before the First Triumvirate?
Quaestor (69 BC), Aedile (65 BC), Praetor (62 BC), Consul (59 BC), Pontifex Maximus (63 BC), Governor of Spain (61 BC).
Who were the members of the First Triumvirate and how did Scullard describe it?
Caesar, Crassus, Pompey; Scullard called it the “ultimate origin of the Civil War of 49.”
Why was the First Triumvirate formed?
To overcome Senate opposition from the Optimates, as Caesar was a populist pushing popular reforms.
How was Caesar financially supported by Crassus?
Crassus funded Caesar’s election campaigns and games during his aedileship.
How did Caesar support Pompey before the Triumvirate?
He backed Pompey’s Lex Gabinia (67 BC) and Lex Manilia (66 BC) bills and married his daughter Julia to Pompey in 59 BC.
What did Crassus want from the alliance?
A tax rebate for the equites (business class) on Asian tax farming contracts.
What were Pompey’s key demands?
Land for his veterans and ratification of his eastern treaties, both previously blocked by the Optimates.
What did Caesar want in return?
Consulship and extended military command in Gaul.
What did each member contribute to the Triumvirate?
Crassus provided wealth; Pompey military prestige and veteran support; Caesar political skill and popular support.
Who was Caesar’s co-consul in 59 BC and what was their relationship?
Bibulus, who opposed Caesar and fled home after the land reform bill was passed.
How did Caesar pass the land reforms for Pompey’s veterans despite Senate opposition?
The Senate, led by Cato, rejected it, but Caesar took it to the concilium plebis (people’s assembly) where it passed.
What was Bibulus’ reaction to Caesar’s legislation?
He stayed inside his house for eight months, condemning the laws as illegal.
What was the Campanian Law?
Italy was divided into 20,000 land plots for veterans and fathers of large families, symbolising the growing importance of the military and urban poor.
What tax reform did Caesar achieve for Crassus?
A rebate of one-third for Asian tax farmers, as the contracts had become unprofitable.
What reforms did Caesar pass to limit provincial governors’ exploitation?
Required strict financial accounting and banned gifts, angering the Optimates.
What military command was Caesar granted after his consulship?
Command of Gaul for five years with three legions.
When did Caesar cross the Rubicon and why is this significant?
January 10, 49 BC; it marked the start of the civil war.
What happened when Caesar left for Gaul in 58 BC?
Pompey stayed in Rome to protect the Triumvirate’s interests, supported by Clodius.
How did Clodius affect Roman politics in 58 BC?
Exiled Cicero, sent Cato to annex Cyprus, introduced free corn dole, relegalised trade guilds, and created violent gangs to intimidate opponents.
What was Pompey’s situation during Clodius’ rise?
He faced attacks from Clodius’ gangs and withdrew from public life in 58 BC.
What was decided at the Luca conference in 56 BC?
The Triumvirate was renewed: Caesar extended command in Gaul for 5 years, Crassus in Syria for 5 years, Pompey in Spain for 5 years. Pompey and Crassus would share the consulship in 55 BC; Pompey could hold command over Spain in absentia.
What events led to the breakdown of the Triumvirate from 54 to 50 BC?
Julia (Pompey’s wife and Caesar’s daughter) died in 54; Crassus died at Carrhae in 53; Clodius was killed by Milo in 52; Pompey married into the Optimate family; Senate elected Pompey sole consul in 52.
What happened in 51 BC regarding Caesar’s military command?
Marcellus proposed Caesar give up imperium to face trial for his 59 BC laws; Curio vetoed this.
What was the result of Curio’s 50 BC proposal that both Caesar and Pompey give up imperium?
It passed 370 to 22 but was vetoed; Optimates refused to let Caesar remain free without disarming.
