Caesar, Sulla, Octavian Breakdown of the Republic

Socio-Economic
Pompey using bribery to achieve political office

Cicero to Atticus 1.16.12-13

Caesar
Caesar Member of the First Triumvirate 59 BCE

Plutarch, Life of Caesar 13

Caesar
Caesar Elected Pontifex Maximus 64 BCE

Plutarch, Life of Caesar 7

Caesar
Caesar conquers Gaul 52 BCE

Denarius of Caesar 48-47 BCE

Caesar
Caesar taming the masses

Suetonius, Deified Julius 38-39

Caesar
Caesar took the initiative in causing the civil war with Pompey

Suetonius, Deified Julius 30

Caesar
Caesar appointment dictator perpetuum

44 BCE

Caesar
'They chose this; they would have condemned me, Gaius Caesar, despite my victories, if I had not sought the army's help
Caesar started the war to avoid politically motivated prosecution for actions on his Gallic campaign.

Asinus Polio

Caesar
'For it was not, as most men supposed, the quarrel between Caesar and Pompey that brought on the civil wars, but rather the friendship, since they worked together for the overthrow of the aristocracy in the first place, and then, when this had been accomplished did they fall out with one another'

Plutarch, Life of Caesar 13

Caesar
Pompey causation of the war, by seeking resolution

Caesar, Civil War 4

Octavian
Establishment of precedent of being able to hold office on the Cursus Honorem early, by Pompey

Appian, The Civil Wars 3.88

Sulla
Sulla depicted to be saving Rome, with winged victories, through his decision to march on Rome with his army.

Denarius of Sulla 82 BCE

Sulla
'All bad precedents have originated in cases that are good, but when control of the government falls into the hands of bad or incompetent men...will be used against innocent men that do not deserve it'
Purely selfish motivations from Sulla - advancement of own position

Sallust, the Catiline Conspiracy 51.27

Sulla
Sulla marches on Rome for a second time, 82 BCE. Victory at the battle of the Colline Gate.

Plutarch, Life of Sulla 9

Socio-economic
Stress on money lenders - economic problems of the republic

Sallust, the Catiline Conspiracy 33

Socio-economic
Gangs and mob violence used to achieve political advancement

Cicero letter to Atticus 4.3.4-5 (57 BCE)

Socio-economic
Bribery of Catulus to attempt to prevent him for standing for election to the Pontifex Maximus

Plutarch, life of Caesar 7

Sulla
Establishing of Precident - Allegiance to the individual over the Republic

Plutarch, Life of Sulla 9

Socio-economic
Issues of citizenship - Third Servile War

Appian Civil Wars 1.117

Socio-economic
Degrading of Republican institutions through further bribery, used to gain electoral office

Cicero In verrem

Octavian
Suggested return of power to the senate and the people. Individuals before him had not finished the Republic?

Dio 50.7.1

Octavian
Suggested return of power to the senate and the people. The reason he did not do so was partly due to the safety of his own life.

Suetonius, Deified Augustus 28

Octavian
Responsible for the breakup of the Second Triumvirate. He removed Lepidus from office, breaking the agreement enshrined in the Lex titia.

Plutarch, life of Caesar 55

Octavian
Rumour that the Martian and Fourth Legions abandoned his cause and went over to the side of the Republic - He was fighting against the cause of the Republic (Brutus and Cassius). Their cause was crushed at the battle of Phillipi.

Appian Civil Wars 3.93

Octavian
Incited his army to anger against the Senate - opposition to Republican institutions

Appian Civil Wars 3.86