Download Caesar`s dictatorship and death.pptx

4/8/12 Civil War Alea iacta est: “the die is cast” •  Pompey and conserva=ves in Senate muster army and go to Greece •  Caesar follows… 48 BC: Pharsalus •  Pompey loses; flees to Egypt; beheaded by Ptolemy •  Civil War con=nues: 48-­‐5 Caesar moves immediately with one single legion without wai=ng for spring –  Civil & foreign campaigns fought in Egypt, Asia, Spain & Africa –  Ptolemy, Cleopatra & Caesarion –  BaPle of Thapsus 46 BC (Cato) –  BaPle of Munda 45 BC (Pompey’s sons) –  Huge Triumphal parade in 45 BC Pompey has no =me to muster troops & abandons Rome to Caesar Cleopatra Clemen-a & Celeritas (Clemency & Speed) •  Caesar famed for his speed in his victories across the world: veni, vidi, vici •  Equally famous for his clemency. Not like Sulla –  Caesar offered to pardon any who supported him, even if they had previously fought against him –  A]er Pharsalus, Cicero and Brutus are pardoned –  But Cato the Younger refuses to let Caesar pardon him. Cato commits suicide a]er BaPle of Thapsus (46 BC) near U=ca in North Africa 1 4/8/12 Caesar’s Ac=ons as “Perpetual Dictator”: 45 BC Julian Calendar (365 days) Debt relief Oversight of grain dole New colonies Extends Roman status to several provinces (Gaul) Expands Senate to 900 members and enrolls provincial aristocrats •  Plans expedi=on against Parthians… •  Massive building projects • 
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–  New Forum of Julius Caesar and Temple of Venus Genetrix –  Rebuilt Senate House (burned a]er Clodius is killed) –  Basilica Julia in forum But Caesar begins to take his power too far? Aspira=ons toward divinity? •  Perpetual dictator without signs of abdica=on •  1st Roman to have portrait struck on coins while living •  Mark Antony elected priest for temple to Julius Caesar •  Accepts offerings to “deo invicto”: invincible god •  Gilded throne, purple robe, laurel wreath •  July •  Mark Antony offers laurel crown during public fes=val Julius Caesar’s new forum, Senate House, & Temple of Venus Genetrix Conspiracy forms against Caesar: Tyrant? King? •  Conspiracy of senators includes both old enemies and some staunch supporters •  Figure-­‐head = Brutus, descendant of Brutus (tyrant killer) •  on Ides of March (15th) 44 BC, group surrounds Caesar before senate mee=ng and while Antony detained •  60 conspirators, and Caesar stabbed 23 =mes (though only one fatal) •  Kai su teknon? Et tu Brute? 2 4/8/12 Uncanny Coincidence? V. Camuccini, 1798: "Death of Julius Caesar” •  Senate was mee=ng that day in part of Pompey’s theater complex! •  Caesar trapped, says Plutarch, like a wild beast, stabbed from all sides: “Either by chance or because he was pushed there by his murderers, he fell down against the pedestal on which the statue of Pompey stood, and the pedestal was drenched with his blood, so that one might have thought that Pompey himself was presiding over this act of vengeance against his enemy, who lay there at his feet struggling convulsively under so many wounds. He is said to have received 23 wounds. And many of his assailants were wounded by each other, as they all tried to plant all those blows in one body.” 3