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 60
... elected with Q. Lutatius Catulus as his colleague . Caesar was also elected as one of the curule aediles , and because , when the time came to present themselves for a praetorship , one of their duties was to super- intend the public ...
... elected with Q. Lutatius Catulus as his colleague . Caesar was also elected as one of the curule aediles , and because , when the time came to present themselves for a praetorship , one of their duties was to super- intend the public ...
Page 67
... elected , here was a heaven - sent opportunity to win him over as a counterpoise to Pompey ; but instead of granting his request , the Senate allowed Cato to talk the motion out.3 Caesar then forwent his triumph and appeared in person ...
... elected , here was a heaven - sent opportunity to win him over as a counterpoise to Pompey ; but instead of granting his request , the Senate allowed Cato to talk the motion out.3 Caesar then forwent his triumph and appeared in person ...
Page 98
... elected magistrates ; but in Caesar's day monarchies had mostly disappeared . Among the Aedui , who occupied the greater part of modern Burgundy , the chiefs of villages composed a Senate which yearly elected a magistrate , a kind of ...
... elected magistrates ; but in Caesar's day monarchies had mostly disappeared . Among the Aedui , who occupied the greater part of modern Burgundy , the chiefs of villages composed a Senate which yearly elected a magistrate , a kind of ...
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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