Civil War and Caesar’s Dictatorship Practice Questions

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering the Civil War and Julius Caesar’s dictatorship based on the lecture notes.

How many times was Caesar honored with public thanksgivings ($supplicationes$) during the $50s$?

$$3$$

Whom was Caesar fast eclipsing as Rome’s most successful general due to his wealth and victories in Gaul?

Pompey

In which year did Caesar want to be consul, adhering to Sulla’s $10$ year gap rule?

$$48$$

Which specific group did members of the Senate object to Caesar granting citizenship to?

Cisalpine Gauls

What reason did senators give for questioning Caesar's presence in Gaul by the late $50s$?

His own commentaries stated there were no enemy tribes left.

Which two individuals wanted to prosecute Caesar for attacks on German tribes they believed were outside his $imperium$?

Cato and Ahenobarbus

What role did Pompey hold in $52$ that brought him close to a dictatorship?

Sole consul

According to the lecture, who were the primary figures playing upon Pompey's vanity to push him toward civil war?

Cato and Ahenobarbus

What special legal permission did Caesar use the tribunes of $52$ to obtain regarding the consulship?

To stand for the consulship $in\,absentia$

In whose honor did Caesar put on games to solidify support in Rome?

Julia

Name one private funding initiative Caesar used to secure support from the Roman people.

A new corn dole

What did Pompey mandate in his law regarding the gap between holding a magistracy and a provincial command?

A $5$ year gap

Where was Cicero sent as a provincial governor against his will in $51$?

Cilicia

On what date did the consul M. Claudius Marcellus suggest the matter of Caesar's command should be decided?

$1^{st}$ March $50$

How did Pompey respond when asked what he would do if Caesar disobeyed the Senate?

'What if my son wants to beat me with a stick?'

When did Caesar’s original $5$ year command originally elapse?

$$54$$

Who was the young noble and tribune bought by Caesar at the start of $50$?

Q. Scribonius Curio

What was Curio’s counter-proposal on $1^{st}$ December $50$ to the suggestion that Caesar give up his command?

Both Caesar and Pompey should give up their commands.

How many senators voted against Curio’s proposal that both generals should step down?

$$22$$

How many senators voted in favor of the proposal for both Caesar and Pompey to give up command?

$$370$$

Who were the two new tribunes Caesar used to send letters to the Senate?

Mark Antony and Q. Cassius Longinus

What was Caesar's initial compromise proposal regarding his command and provinces?

Retire to Cisalpine Gaul with $2$ legions.

What was Caesar's scaled-down compromise proposal for his province and legions?

Illyricum with $1$ legion.

According to Appian, how were Caesar's letters to the Senate characterized?

Combative, threatening to march on Rome.

Who stated that Caesar must lay down his command or be declared a public enemy?

Q. Caecilius Metellus Scipio Nasica

Where did Antony, Q. Cassius, and Curio go after being threatened in Rome?

They fled to join Caesar.

Who announced himself as Caesar's successor in Gaul as the Senate Prepared for war?

Ahenobarbus

When was the $SCU$ ($Senatus\,Consultum\,Ultimum$) passed against Caesar?

$5^{th}$ January $49$

Where did Pompey hold $imperium$ at the time the $SCU$ was passed?

Spain

What did Caesar plead with his men to defend after news of the $SCU$ reached him?

His dignity

When did Caesar cross the Rubicon?

January of $49$

What was Caesar’s policy regarding the enemies he defeated in Italy?

He tended to pardon them.

Who were Caesar's political agents mentioned in his correspondence with Cicero?

Oppius and Balbus

According to Cicero, what was the primary interest of the country people during the conflict?

Their fields and farms.

Why did Caesar go to Spain to fight Afranius and Petreius instead of following Pompey immediately?

He did not have a navy.

Name Pompey's two lieutenants defeated by Caesar in Spain.

Afranius and Petreius

Where was Pompey finally defeated in the summer of $48$?

Pharsalus

To which country did Pompey flee after his defeat at Pharsalus?

Egypt

In which year did Caesar defeat Gnaeus Pompeius at Munda?

$$45$$

What measures did Caesar pass in $49$ to relieve economic pressures in Rome?

Cancelling some debt and outlawing the hoarding of cash.

What problem did Caesar face from his troops upon returning from Egypt in $47$?

A mutiny

Who was the lieutenant unable to quell the troop resentment in $47$?

Sallust

For what duration was Caesar elected dictator for his third term in $46$?

A $10$ year period

How many triumphs did Caesar celebrate in $46$?

$$4$$

Which four regions were celebrated in Caesar’s triumphs?

Gaul, Pontus, Egypt, and Africa.

Whose image caused consternation when displayed during the African triumph?

Cato

How many days of thanksgiving ($supplicationes$) was Caesar awarded in $46$?

$$40$$

By how much was army pay for regulars increased under Caesar?

Doubled to $900\,sestertius$ a year.

What is the term for replacement consuls appointed by Caesar?

Suffects

When was Caesar appointed dictator for life?

Between late January and mid February $44$

How did Caesar change the size of the Senate?

He oversaw a large increase in membership.

What did Caesar allow the sons of the proscribed to do?

Stand for office.

Why did Caesar increase the number of magistrates?

To deal with the increased number of provinces.

Which region was granted full citizen status as part of Caesar's reforms?

Cisalpine Gaul

Which professionals resident in Rome were granted citizenship by Caesar?

Doctors and teachers

In which automated territory and island were Latin rights granted?

Sicily and parts of Transalpine Gaul.

How many veterans and urban poor were resettled in colonies?

$$80,000$$

At what value were debt assessments made to alleviate the effects of inflation?

Pre-war values

What specific relief was granted to tenants in Rome?

Rent relief

In which three locations was tribute fixed or recalculated?

Transalpine Gaul, Asia, and Sicily.

How did Caesar change the number of recipients of the corn dole?

He reduced the number.

What requirement did Caesar place on farm owners regarding their herdsmen?

They were compelled to employ at least $1/3$ free herdsmen.

What did Caesar award to encourage population growth?

Prizes for large families.

How did Caesar reform the calendar?

He aligned it with the solar year.

What long-standing process did Caesar’s expansive citizenship policy promote?

The unification of Italy.

According to Plutarch, why did the Romans accept Caesar as dictator for life?

They regarded monarchy as a respite from the evils of civil wars.

What did Plutarch call the office of dictator for life because of its permanence and irresponsibility?

A tyranny

What specific social snub by Caesar caused significant political criticism?

He failed to rise to greet a senatorial delegation.

At which festival did Mark Antony try to give Caesar a diadem?

The Lupercalia festival

How did the plebs react when Caesar refused the diadem?

With applause

Which two foreign groups was Caesar planning to attack in $44$?

The Dacians and the Parthians.

Approximately how many people were involved in the plot to assassinate Caesar?

More than $60$

Who was the leader of the assassination plot and nephew of Cato?

M. Iunius Brutus

Who killed M. Iunius Brutus's father in $77$?

Pompey

Who was the other leading figure of the plot alongside Brutus?

C. Cassius Longinus

Why did the plotters feel they had to act before Caesar went east?

They would not get the chance to kill him for several more years.

What did the plotters wish to be free to obtain once Caesar was removed?

Overseas commands

What was Caesar's reaction to rumors of plots against his life?

He ignored them and refused a bodyguard.

Who warned Caesar that he would be in mortal danger on the Ides of March?

A soothsayer

Where was the Senate meeting held on the day Caesar was killed?

Pompey’s theatre

Which conspirator drew Mark Antony aside before the assassination began?

Brutus or Trebonius

Who presented Caesar with a petition as a distraction for the assassins?

L. Tillius Cimber

Who struck the first blow against Caesar?

C. Sevilius Casca

What were Caesar's dying words to Brutus according to Suetonius?

'You too, child'

What was the purpose of the $SCU$ passed in $49$?

Mobilising magistrates to defend the state.

Caesar's triumphs celebrated victories in Gaul, Pontus, Egypt, and where else?

Africa

Which former ally of Caesar became his successor in Gaul by Senate decree?

Ahenobarbus

Which Roman historian provides the account of the SCU and the abuse of the tribunes?

Caesar

In which year did the Battle of Pharsalus occur?

$$48$$

How did Caesar's veterans' handouts compare to regular pay?

Equivalent to a lifetime's pay.

What was the name of Pompey's father-in-law?

Q. Caecilius Metellus Scipio Nasica

Who was the governor of Spain whose mutinous troops Gnaeus Pompeius joined?

Q. Cassius

Caesar's reforms included creating new families of what social class?

Patrician

What was the primary reason the Egyptians murdered Pompey?

They thought he would try to annex their country.

What was the result of Caesar's clemency policy toward Italian communities?

Many went over to him willingly.

In what year did the Senate debate on Caesar first occur as per M. Marcellus?

$$50$$

What was the financial status of the regular army under Caesar?

Pay was doubled to $900\,sestertius$.

How many years of command was Caesar granted by Pompey and Crassus after his initial $5$?

$$5$$

Which historian mentions Cicero and Pompey were prepared to make concessions to avoid war?

Suetonius and Plutarch

Toward which tribes did Caesar show ferocity amounting to genocide during the $50s$?

Gallic tribes