The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History - Karatunov.net

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The Roman A rmy
n ort hwe s t , wh i ch may even have been tru e , but mostly the campaigns contributed
to the glorious reputation of Gaius Julius Caesar. He almost met with
disaster, since, having failed to appreciate the action of the tides, he lost some of
his ships. The years from 54 until his command expired were troubled by rebellions
among the Gauls. Ambiorix, the leader of the Eburones, destroyed several
Roman co h orts in the wi n ter of 54 bc , and most of the next year was spen t
eliminating resistance in the northwest of Gaul. In 52 the epic struggle against
Vercingetorix began, with Gallic resistance running into the following year, even
after Vercingetorix had surrendered.
In that same year, the politicians at Rome began to agitate for Caesar’s recall,
and the foundations of the civil war with Pompey were laid. The political wrangling
was prolonged until 49 bc, with Caesar hanging on to his command with
great tenacity and preparing to win the consulship for 48 bc, so that he could
progress seamlessly from military command to political power as he had done
when he returned from Further Spain. In blocking him, the Senate leaned toward
Pompey, whose role was characteristically ambivalent until almost the last
moment. Pompey had arrived at considerable power while Caesar was absent.
In 52 bc, when rioting between rival political factions came to a head, he was
“sole consul,” which was a contradiction in terms because the very nature of the
consulship was collegiality, but it was a compromise instead of appointing him
Di ct a tor. As well as his anomalous con su l s h i p, Pom pey held a command in
Spain while still in Rome, exercising his functions as governor and commander
via his legates. This arrangement foreshadowed the provincial system under Aug
u s tus wh en govern ors of the Im perial provi n ces acted as lega tes for the
supreme commander, the emperor.
Pompey rapidly ended the violence in Rome and shored up his own position
by prolonging his command in Spain, still without leaving the city. Though civil
war was by no means inevi t a ble at this stage , Pom pey seem ed to be work i n g
against Caesar’s interests through his legislation. Caesar had been granted permission
to stand for the consular elections in absentia, but a new law of Pompey’s
consulship stated that candidates had to be present at Rome. Pompey inserted
a special clause exempting Caesar. Another law imposed a five-year gap
bet ween holding a magi s tracy in Rome and a prom a gi s tracy in a provi n ce . It
was designed to prevent candidates from running up huge debts that they knew
t h ey could settle by ex p l oi ting the provincials as soon as they re ach ed thei r
provinces. It was also meant to prevent magistrates from accumulating power
and continuous command of armies.
Caesar’s enemies started to agitate for his recall. It is much disputed exactly
when his command should terminate, but 1 March 50 bc seems to be the crucial
date. Caesar proposed to stand for the elections for the consulship of 49 bc
while still in command of his troops. His enemies tried to bring him home earlier
so that he would be vulnerable to anyone bringing a prosecution. Compro-