Download Roman History - St John Brebeuf

2017-02-13
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Roman History: The Rise of the Republic, before the Empire
Gaius Julius Caesar (100 – 44 B.C.)
Family was aristocratic, but not rich
General and Statesman
• Had been elected consul (highest elected political office) in 59 B.C.
Conquered Gaul (France) – brought wealth, fame and military power
• Established an efficient provincial administration in Gaul
• And was Governor of Gaul from 58-49 B.C.
Powerful factions in the Senate feared his popularity – ordered him back to Rome
• His governorship was revoked in 51 B.C.
Why wouldn’t Caesar want to go back?
Mark Antony
General and politician
Supporter of Caesar
One of Caesar’s most important generals
Became Caesar’s co-consul in 44 B.C.
Big Trouble in Little Rome
Senate ordered Caesar to lay down his command
• He had also been told that he would face prosecution upon his return to Rome as a
private citizen
• This could mean either exile or death
 49 B.C. - Caesar ordered his troops (13 legions) to cross the Rubicon River without
disbanding
Was an act of war
• basically made it clear that he wanted to take over
“The die is cast.” – Julius Caesar
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Changes by Caesar
Tried to make rational and orderly what was traditional and chaotic
Created a new calendar
• The Roman Calendar was a lunar calendar
 Was complicated and changed yearly to keep in sync with equinoxes and solstices
• Julian Calendar was developed to standardize the calendar
 Solar calendar
 Introduced a Leap Year every 4 years
• basis for the one we use today
Transferred power from old Roman families (his political enemies)
Elected Dictator for 10 years (47 B.C.) and then Dictator for Life (44 B.C.)
• enemies accused him of aiming at monarchy
The Conspiracy
Brutus and Cassius led a conspiracy of 60 senators against Caesar
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March 15th, 44 B.C. (Ides of March)
Caesar entered the Senate without a bodyguard (as always)
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The conspirators encircle Caesar and began stabbing him.
Stabbed 23 times.
“Et tu, Brute?” – “And you, Brutus?”
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Aftermath 1
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Aftermath 1
Brutus and Cassius combine their legions, to fight against Octavian (Caesar’s adopted
son)
Octavian defeats them at Philippi
Brutus commits suicide
Aftermath 2
Civil War ensues
Power struggle b/w Mark Antony, Ledipus, and Octavian
Settled differences and divided the republic
• Antony took the east, Octavian the west, and Ledipus took Africa
Antony and Cleopatra
Cleopatra Queen of Egypt (Caesar’s former mistress) supports Antony (they had
fallen in love)
Cleopatra had a child by Caesar named Caesarion
Antony married the ruler of
Egypt
Divided control of the east
between themselves and
their children
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West vs. East
Octavian was increasingly seen as a restorer of Roman values (order, justice and
virtue)
• a champion of the West
Antony was painted as a man of the East, and a pawn of Cleopatra
public cooperation b/w the two men ended
Battle of Actium
Sept. 2, 31 B.C.
Naval battle b/w Octavian and Antony/Cleopatra
Octavian defeated Antony’s forces
Antony and
Cleopatra flee to Alexandria
Chased by
Octavian
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Goodbye to Mark and Cleo
Both Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide
Antony “falls on his sword” – an honorable death
Cleopatra clutches and asp (snake) to her chest – death by poison
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Caesar Augustus
Octavian becomes the first Emperor of Rome
Changes his name to Augustus (“highest one”)
Caesarion was put to death as was Antony’s eldest son
Augustus is the emperor when Jesus is born
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