Civil war provides a vigorous, direct, clear, thirdpersonal, impassioned account of caesar s campaigns during the civil war of 4948 bc, drawn from his three books of commentarii. This work offers an account of the troubled roman empire near the turn to the common era. Timeline of the life of gaius julius caesar life of the. The civil war is a tense and gripping depiction of his struggle with pompey over the leadership of republican rome a conflict that spanned the entire roman world, from gaul and spain to asia and africa. Published by wentworth press, united states 2019 isbn 10. Together, these five narratives present a comprehensive picture of military and political developments leading to the collapse of the. This is how julius caesar started a civil war we are the. Caesar s history of the civil war against pompey and the optimates describes the steps leading up to and during the fight for the mastery of the roman republic.
The civil war julius caesar oxford university press. The civil war is caesar s masterly account of the celebrated war between himself and his great rival pompey, from the crossing of the rubicon in january 49 b. The civil wars has been divided into the following sections. Julius caesar and pompey the great were two of the greatest generals rome had ever produced. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. He was a successful military leader who expanded the republic to include parts of what are now spain, france. When caesar was in gaul and organized the conquered territories, pompey and crassus tried to enlarge their power too. Aug 29, 2008 the civil war is caesar s masterly account of the celebrated war between himself and his great rival pompey, from the crossing of the rubicon in january 49 b. The internet classics archive the civil wars by julius. Iulius, 10244 bce, statesman and soldier, defied the dictator sulla. Written by the roman general, statesman and dictator, it was supposedly written right before his death in 44 bce. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the civil war.
Caesar is one of my favorite historical characters. This generously annotated edition places the war in context and enables the reader to grasp it. Pompey, either frightened at caesar s works or determined. This is how julius caesar started a civil war we are the mighty. The civil war book by julius caesar 9 available editions. The supplement of dionysius vossius to caesars first book of the civil war. After reading kate gillivers caesar s gallic wars in this same collection i. The civil war written by gaius julius caesar and three of his followers recounts the events of the civil war between the caesar and pompey the great, including the latters defeat and the subsequent moppingup of his partisans in egypt, pontus, north africa and spain. Together they had brought vast stretches of territory under roman dominion. Caesar does not dwell long on the causes of the civil war but rests that point upon saying that his rights and honor had been violated. Allen and greenoughs new latin grammar for schools and colleges, construction of cases. I think it needless to say any thing here, in opposition to those. Julius caesar was immensely popular with the people of rome.
Julius caesar antecedents and outcome of the civil war of. It began as a series of political and military confrontations, between julius caesar 10044 bc, his political supporters broadly known as populares, and his legions, against the optimates or boni, the politically conservative and socially. Meanwhile the cohesion of the triumvirate had been placed under strain. Caesar divides his army and spreads it to keep the remainder of the territory in check. The gallic war, books iiv, with selections from books vvii and from the civil war. During his conquest of gaul, caesar had been equally busy in preserving and improving his position at home. See how julius caesar defeated pompey and his other rivals to take control of the roman republic, eventually establishing himself as dictator for life. Between pompeys and caesar s camp there was only the river apsus, and the soldiers frequently conversed with each other. Caesar s death resulted in a long series of civil wars that ended in the death of the roman republic and the birth of the roman empire. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
Julius caesar assassinated national geographic society. The veneti, mentioned later in the book, are located on the southern coast. In the third and final book which he wrote about his campaigns in the civil war, caesar tells the story of his fight with pompey in 48 b. The campaign of ilerda and defeat of afranius and petreius. Aug 03, 2018 julius caesar wrote commentaries on the wars he fought in gaul between 58 and 52 b.
Even without the authority of suetonius, the diction itself would be sufficient to convince the most skeptical that caesar and no other was the. Between pompeys and caesar s camp there was only the river apsus, and. I think it needless to say any thing here, in opposition to those who pretend, that the following commentaries, concerning the civil war, were not penned by caesar himself. The internet classics archive the civil wars by julius caesar. Where caesar s own account leaves off in 48 bc, his lieutenants. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The title itself is latin for commentaries on the civil war. Iulius, 10244 bc, statesman and soldier, defied the dictator sulla. He sends titus labienus forward with the cavalry to keep the remi and the belgae loyal and to hold back any germans who might have been summoned by the belgae. Together, these five narratives present a comprehensive picture of military and political developments leading to the collapse of the roman republic and the advent of the roman empire. After the conclusion of the war, caesar was informed of these expressions by some persons who were present at the conversation. The landmark julius caesar is the definitive edition of the five works that chronicle the military campaigns of julius caesar. In 49 bc they turned against each other and plunged rome into civil war.
There is also an 8th book, written by aulus hirtius. He attempted, however, by other means to bring about a negotiation of peace. The invader soon received reinforcements the legions v, viii, xii, xvi, and two months after the start of the civil war, caesar was master of italy and had hunted down his enemies to the heel of italy, from where pompey and the majority of the senators fled eastward, to greece 17 march. He fought pompey, another roman general, and defeated him. A military leader of legendary genius, caesar was also a great writer, recording the events of his life with incomparable immediacy and power. The campaign promises to be a very difficult one, but caesar has several good reasons for pursuing it.
From antiquity to shakespeare to hbos rome, the figure of julius caesar continues to fascinate. Julius caesar antecedents and outcome of the civil war. Julius caesar was assassinated by about 40 roman senators on the ides of march march 15 44 bce. It shows the brilliance for which caesar s oratory, like his generalship, was known. Julius caesars war commentaries marquette university. Dec 14, 2020 the civil warintroduction historical background caesar the man and his aims the civil war and the continuations. Though the book is far from the most credible account of the war caesar is known for inflated battle statistics in his favor, whats undeniable is that a victory is a. Allen and greenoughs new latin grammar for schools and colleges, syntax of the verb. Julius caesar, commentaries on the civil war, caesars. Legion was pitched against legion in a vicious battle for political domination of the vast roman world.
The civil war is a tense and gripping depiction of his struggle with pompey over the leadership of republican rome a conflict that spanned the entire roman. Civil war provides a vigorous, direct, clear, thirdpersonal. Why did caesar write down his account of the gallic war. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Grant daniell, commentary on caesar s gallic war, ag bg 3. Written as a narrative, the book begins with the expiration of caesars term as.
Chapter 1 while these things were going forward in spain, caius trebonius, caesar s lieutenant, who had been left to conduct the assault of massilia, began to raise a mound, vineae, and turrets against the town, on two sides. Where caesar s own account leaves off in 48 bc, his lieutenants take up the history, describing the vital battles of munda, spain and thapsus, and. He used part of his growing wealth from gallic loot to hire political agents in rome. Where caesar s own account leaves off in 48 bc, his lieutenants take up the history, describing the vital battles of munda, spain and thapsus. Even without the authority of suetonius, the diction itself would be sufficient to convince the most skeptical. Civil war caesar, cynthia damon harvard university press.
Ive read his commentaries and the civil war, suetonius the twelve caesars, plutarchs lives and a score of contemporary books about his life. Julius caesar julius caesar antecedents and outcome of the civil war of 4945 bce. The supplement of dionysius vossius to caesar s first book of the civil war. At the same time a large quantity of projectiles hurled from smaller vessels some distance off unexpectedly caused many injuries to our men, unwary and preoccupied as they were. I will now say nothing concerning the absurd opinion of those who assert that the following commentaries on the civil war were not written by caesar himself. Improved text, excellent translation, superb historical and interpretive notes. Caesars civil war 4945 bc was one of the last politicomilitary conflicts in the roman republic before the establishment of the roman empire. Presents the story of caesar s contest with the pompeian party through nineteen months of the civil war. American civil war and help support our channel push down for more cool stuff.
Sep 07, 2017 cynthia damon has produced a fresh english edition of caesar s civil war that was decades or centuries. When caesar s works were nearly half finished, and after nine days were spent in them, the ships which had conveyed the first division of the army to dyrrachium being sent back by the consuls, returned to brundusium. Caesar was the dictator of the roman republic, and his assassins were roman senators, fellow politicians who helped shape roman policy and government. Julius caesar began a civil war in rome by defeating other members of the triumvirate to become the dictator with total power.
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