Caesar as Popularis and Dictator

Was Caesar a patrician or plebeian?

patrician

What was Caesar’s link to Marius?

his aunt Julia was married to him

year of Caesar’s quaestorship

69

year of Caesar’s aedileship

65

year of Caesar’s praetorship 

62

When was Caesar governor of Spain?

61-60

year of Caesar’s first consulship

59

When was Caesar governor of Gaul?

58-50

Who were the key populares in the late Republic?

the Gracchi

Marius

Catiline

Clodius

Caesar

Which magistrates could initiate legislation?

consuls, tribunes, very successful imperators

When was Caesar’s funeral speech for Julia?

69

What popularis reform did Caesar support in 70?

the restoration of tribunes’ powers

What defined Caesar’s aedileship?

his lavish spending on games

When was Caesar elected pontifex maximus?

63

How did Caesar secure the office of pontifex maximus?

bribery

Did Caesar support or oppose execution for the Catilinarian conspirators?

oppose

How long after his father’s death did Caesar put on funeral games in his honour?

10 years

What was the intention of Caesar’s displays in his early career?

increase his auctoritas

Who were the members of the First Triumvirate?

Pompey, Crassus, Caesar

What set the First triumvirate apart from other amicitiae in the late Republic?

its huge collective auctoritas

What were Caesar’s strengths in 60?

military experience

strong family

orator

status as pontifex maximus

previously held offices

What were Pompey’s strengths in 60?

military experience

loyal veteran troops

campaign wealth

many provinicial clients

ex-consul

What were Crassus’ strengths in 60?

immense wealth

strong links to publicani

status as mediator

ex-consul

What were Caesar’s needs in 60?

consulship of 59

new military command

money

push popularis agenda

What were Pompey’s needs in 60?

land for his veterans

ratification of the eastern territories

marriage alliance

What were Crassus’ needs in 60?

rebate for the publicani

new military command

What was an external reason for the formation of the First Triumvirate (ie unrelated to individual needs)?

hostility of the optimates in the Senate

What were Caesar’s reforms as consul in 59?

redistribution of land to urban poor and Pompey’s veterans

ratification of Pompey’s eastern settlements

cancellation of 1/3 of the publicani’s debts

publication of public business

protection of provincials from corruption 

Who were Caesar’s main opponents in his first consulship?

Cato and Bibulus

How did Caesar suppress Cato in 59?

he had him arrested

How did Caesar suppress Bibulus in 59?

his supporters attacked him in the Forum, humiliating him into retiring to the countryside

Who gave Caesar the Gallic command, and what office did he hold?

Vatinius, tribune

Which events strengthened the First Triumvirate?

joint consulship of Pompey and Crassus in 55

marriage alliance between Pompey and Julia

Caesar’s consulship in 59 

Caesar’s Gallic command

Pompey’s Spanish command 

Crassus’ Syrian command

Which events weakened the First Triumvirate?

Clodius threatening Pompey

death of Julia in childbirth

death of Crassus in Parthia 

death of Clodius 

When and where was the First Triumvirate renewed?

Luca in 56

Who did Pompey marry in 53? 

Cornelia, the daughter of the optimate metellus Scipio

How did Caesar maintain his auctoritas during the Gallic campaign?

dispatches to the Senate

private letters

annual commentaries on the war

amicitiae

slaving 

When did Caesar defeat Vercingetorix?

52

How many legions did Caesar begin the Gallic campaign with?

six

How many legions did Caesar cross the Rubicon with?

ten

How large was Caesar’s army at its peak?

twelve legions, 60000 men

What did Caesar want in 50?

triumph

consulship

land for his veterans

ratification of his conquests

avoid prosecution

maintain imperium

What was the political situation for Caesar in January 49?

He was politically isolated, but wanted the consulship. There was a threat of prosecution and his army needed rewards.

What were the Caesar-based reasons for the Civil War?

breakdown of the First Triumvirate

Caesar’s proritisation of his dignitas 

Caesar’s fierce ambitions 

Caesar’s popularis agenda 

What were the non-Caesar-based reasons for the Civil War?

rigidity of the optimates

tribunes of the plebs being threatened

patron-client relationship between generals and armies

When did Caesar cross the Rubicon?

January 49

Where did Pompey and the optimates initially retreat to?

Greece

What was the big battle of 48?

Battle of Pharsalus

Who won the Battle of Pharsalus?

Caesar

When and where did Pompey die?

48, Egypt 

Who did Caesar form an amicitia with during the Civil War?

Cleopatra 

When and where was Metellus Scipio defeated?

46, Africa 

When and where was the last battle of the civil war?

45, Spain 

When was Caesar made dictator perpetuo?

44

How many triumphs did Caesar celebrate in 46?

four

What were Caesar’s four triumphs for?

Gallic campaign

Egyptian civil war

defeat of Pontus 

defeat of the optimates in Africa 

Which of Caesar’s triumphs was dubiously justified?

the African triumph

What were Caesar’s three main building projects in the 40s?

Basilica Julia, Curia Julia, Julian Forum

How many people could Caesar’s colonies house?

80000

What were Caesar’s reforms in the 40s?

reduction of all outstanding debts by 25%

reduction of corn dole

appointment of new aediles to oversee the corn supply

improvement to the harbour at Ostia

introduction of Julian calendar

increasing the Senate to 900 members

Who did Caesar’s reforms benefit?

veterans

landless plebs

equestrians

provincials