Essay plans POLR II

Caesar caused civil war/ didn't

- crossed rubicon in 49 Bc, offically declared war as he brought an army into Rome

Cato caused tensions to rise

- agitated the formation of the triumvirate

- his long lasting opposition to Caesar, public, such as debate over conspirators lives in 63 bc

- opposition to caesars reforms, including 2 land reform bills in 59 Bc when Caesar was made consul, prompted caesar to seek legislation through other means (denounciation of Clodius' patrician status)

Pompey caused civil war/ didn't

- joining the optimate after the death of Julia and Crassus, triumvirate breakdown, Pompey sought popularity from the optimate faction

- made sole consul in 51 Bc by Metellus, a position of power and authority

- when asked to donate a legion to fight the Parthians, Pompey revoked a legion he lent to Caesar, so Caesar had to send 2, angst

Republic caused civil war/ didn't

- system of government designed for a city state, offices weren't designed for large regions so governers easily became corrupt due to little monitering eg. Verres

- empire expansion, land conquest as an easy way to make money, posts abroad as fought over, causes tension, such as Marius and Sulla over Mithradates

Cicero as an optimate

- opposition to the triumvirate in 59 Bc in letter to Atticus 'we are held down on all sides'

- 63 Bc gave speeches against the Rullan land bill

- ascended politcally by following the cursus honourum (being a novus homo it was the only way)

- alligned himself with Pompey during the civil war alongside the other optimate, considers himself

Cicero as a popularis

- backing of Pompey in 66 fo the lex Gabinia and Lex Manillia, despite going against the cursus honourum

- amicitia with Pompey and Caesar, open public friendship and association

- treatment of the catalinarian conspirators as going against all roman law, killing citizens without trial

- his use of the Verres trial and his oratorical manner, showmanship, use of praetoritio and descriptive language as a device for attention

Augustus restored republic

- first settlement in 27 Bc, claims to restore all powers to the senate and to the republic

- emphasis in the Res Gestae about senate approval, such as with the Ara Pacis, clipeus virtutis and his title as Augustus

- coins minted in 27 Bc with Augustus sat on a bench holding a scroll, senatorial, consul 6th time

Augustus didn't restore republic

Augustus as the ideal roman man/ not

- religious leader, member of all priestley colleges, pontifex maximus, priest of the augurs, depicted on the Ara Pacis, his devotion to gods

- military service, depicted on the Prima Porta, many coins minted where he is wearing an oak wreath to show he saved Roman lives

- pater patriae status for his defense of rome

- exemplary family image, as a pater familias, promotion of Gaius and Lucius as Princeps iuventutis

- Both Julias had to be exiled underthe leges iuliae, so not a model family

- according to seutonius he only fought in 2 battles and Agrippa won Actium

- projected a successful and lasting impression of himself as the ideal roman man, however this is an exaggerated idealised version of his true self and life

Caesar helped Augustus/not

- his will, instructions left to give 75 denarii to every citizen to win popularity

- taking Octavian on campaigns as a young boy, his army become familiar and more readily swear alligence to him

- when Caesar became deified in 44 Bc, Augustus later claims divi filius status, claims to be legitimised as a leader by the Gods

- claims heritage from Venus and Aeneas through his link to caesar

- just been murdered as a 'tyrant' (K. Tempest), so not a popular public figure

- concerns of Octavian as Caesar's heir, image of an empire goes against republican values