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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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