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The Civil War
(49-48 BCE)
Prelude to Civil War
During his conquest of Gaul, Caesar had seen to it that his part of the
Gallic loot was wisely spent in preserving and fortifying his position in
Rome. His Populist acts as Praetor and Consul had severely alienated the
middle group of senators and he needed to use Pompeius's connections with
this group to legitimate his actions. However, the events of 52 BC make it
clear that Cicero's efforts to estrange the two men had begun to bear
fruit. Pompeius's legislation during his consulship in 52 BC was
effectively targeted at Caesar -- A severe law against bribery at elections
made retrospective to 70 BC; a law enforcing a five-year interval between
tenure of magistracies in Rome and assumption of provincial commands, and
one prohibiting candidature in absentia.
The crucial issue was whether or not there should be an interval between
the date of Caesar's resignation of command in Gaul and the date on which
he could enter a proposed second Consulship. If such an interval existed,
Caesar would be a private citizen open to prosecution by his enemies and
conviction would ruin him politically and might even cost him his life.
This had been an issue at Lucca, in 56. Pompeius's reneging on the
agreements of this meeting was either the acts of a weak and inept
politician or calculated treachery to remove Caesar from power.
However, by 51 the question of having Caesar replaced was once again an
issue in the Senatebut he survived by having the dangerous proposals vetoed
by tribunes of the plebs who were firmly in his camp -- particularly Gaius
Scribonius Curio in 50 and Mark Antony in 49. Despite being consul,
Pompeius did little to prevent these attacks on Caesar and possibly even
encouraged them. Retiring to his villa in Tarentum, Pompeius allowed the
Optimates free reins in Rome.
It is highly unlikely that Caesar wished a civil war. In this respect, it
is interesting to note the strong warning he makes in his report to the
Senate for 52.
Indeed, for several days the soldiers had no grain at all and only managed
to keep themselves from starving by driving in the cattle from distant
villages. Yet one would not have heard a word from any of them that was
unworthy of the greatness of Rome and of the victories they had won
already. I used to go and speak to the men of each legion while they were
working. I would tell them that, if they found their privations unbearable,
I was quite ready to raise the siege; but one and all they would beg me not
to do so. They had now, they said, served under me for many years without
ever disgracing themselves or even failing to finish any task to which they
had set their hands; they would count it as a disgrace if they were to
abandon this siege they had begu |