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 78
... light- armed troops , contingents , known as auxilia , were recruited from pro- vincials who had not received the franchise and from independent allies . They already had begun to appear in the First Punic War ; in the Second , Numidian ...
... light- armed troops , contingents , known as auxilia , were recruited from pro- vincials who had not received the franchise and from independent allies . They already had begun to appear in the First Punic War ; in the Second , Numidian ...
Page 171
... army to form square , and sent forward his son , Publius , with eight cohorts , 1,300 cavalry and 400 light - armed , to check them . A charge of Surenas ' mailed lancers scattered Publius ' light - armed ; then the lancers with- drew ...
... army to form square , and sent forward his son , Publius , with eight cohorts , 1,300 cavalry and 400 light - armed , to check them . A charge of Surenas ' mailed lancers scattered Publius ' light - armed ; then the lancers with- drew ...
Page 268
... light- armed Numidian foot , archers , mounted archers , and slingers . This motley gathering was no match against Caesar's 30 cohorts and 400 cavalry in a pitched battle ; but Labienus had no intention of fight- ing one . He was well ...
... light- armed Numidian foot , archers , mounted archers , and slingers . This motley gathering was no match against Caesar's 30 cohorts and 400 cavalry in a pitched battle ; but Labienus had no intention of fight- ing one . He was well ...
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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