Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier, And TyrantSince the Renaissance, Julius Caesar has been idolized as a superman. Classical sources, however, present a far less exalted being. As General Fuller writes, Caesar was "an unscrupulous demagogue whose one aim was power, and a general who could not only win brilliant victories but also commit dismal blunders. . . . It is reasonable to suspect that, at times, Caesar was not responsible for his actions, and toward the end of his life, not altogether sane." There is not doubt that Caesar was an extraordinary man." But Fuller points out that he was extraordinary for his reckless ambition, matchless daring, and ruthless tyranny, rather than for his skills as a military commander. Caesar continually had to extricate himself from results of mistakes of judgement. His unnecessary Alexandrian War, his close call at Thapsus, and his seemingly unpremeditated Gallic conquest are just a few of Fuller's many examples.And in telling Caesar's history, Fuller illuminates a century of Roman history as well. Aided by maps of Caesar's principal battles and diagrams of many of his weapons, Fuller brings to life Caesar's wars, his armies, his equipment, and his methods. Brilliant in design and impressive in scope, Julius Caesar clarifies how the military, political, and economic aspects of the Roman Republic worked together to produce a man whose name has come down to us as a synonym for absolute authority. |
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Page 127
... Gallic chiefs had decided within two days to attack all the camps simultaneously . Further , he informed them that a horde of Germans was on its way to overwhelm Aduatuca , and he urged and entreated them , if they valued their lives ...
... Gallic chiefs had decided within two days to attack all the camps simultaneously . Further , he informed them that a horde of Germans was on its way to overwhelm Aduatuca , and he urged and entreated them , if they valued their lives ...
Page 155
... Gallic leaders took counsel and questioned some men who were well acquainted with the locality . From them they learnt that the line of circumvallation had not yet been carried around the camp close to the Ose at the foot of Mt Réa ...
... Gallic leaders took counsel and questioned some men who were well acquainted with the locality . From them they learnt that the line of circumvallation had not yet been carried around the camp close to the Ose at the foot of Mt Réa ...
Page 199
... Gallic cavalry . We are told that no one was in ' fixed authority , each following his own devices ' . When , from his scouts , Afranius learnt of its approach , according to Caesar , he set out by night ' with all his cavalry and three ...
... Gallic cavalry . We are told that no one was in ' fixed authority , each following his own devices ' . When , from his scouts , Afranius learnt of its approach , according to Caesar , he set out by night ' with all his cavalry and three ...
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Common terms and phrases
Aedui Afranius Alesia Alexandria Antony Appian archers Ariovistus arms army arrived Arverni assembled attack battle battle of Pharsalus became Bellovaci Bituriges Brundisium Caesar camp campaign Cassius Cato cavalry centurions Cicero Cisalpine Gaul Civil Wars Clodius cohorts command consuls consulship contravallation Corfinium corn Crassus decided defeat Domitius Dyrrachium elected enemy enemy's entrenched favour fight flank fleet followed foragers force Gaius galleys Gallic garrison Gergovia Germans Gnaeus Helvetii hill Holmes honour horse horsemen Ibid Ilerda infantry Italy join king Labienus land learnt legionaries legions light-armed Marius miles Mithridates Nervii night Numidian occupied Petreius Pharsalus Plutarch Pompeians Pompey Pompey's praetors probably province Publius Quintus raised rampart rear recruited revolt Rhine river Roman Republic Rome Scipio Senate sent ships siege soldiers Spain Suetonius supply surrender tactics Thapsus told took town tribes tribunes troops Vercingetorix victory withdrew writes