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 111
... abandoned their attack , wasted the lands of the Remi , and then moved on to pitch their camp two miles north of Caesar's , from which their watch - fires could be seen ' extended for more than eight miles in breadth ' . At first ...
... abandoned their attack , wasted the lands of the Remi , and then moved on to pitch their camp two miles north of Caesar's , from which their watch - fires could be seen ' extended for more than eight miles in breadth ' . At first ...
Page 255
... abandoned because of the missiles discharged by his archers and slingers from the ships in the river . While both these assaults were making no headway , Caesar observed that the highest sector of the camp was not only weakly held , but ...
... abandoned because of the missiles discharged by his archers and slingers from the ships in the river . While both these assaults were making no headway , Caesar observed that the highest sector of the camp was not only weakly held , but ...
Page 320
... abandoned the Civil War for a campaign in Egypt , to be followed by another in Pontus , and thereby gave the fugitives a full year to recoup in.1 That this extraordinary strategical lapse was not what might be called an accidental ...
... abandoned the Civil War for a campaign in Egypt , to be followed by another in Pontus , and thereby gave the fugitives a full year to recoup in.1 That this extraordinary strategical lapse was not what might be called an accidental ...
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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