Caesar's Civil War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Great Roman Civil War (49–45 BC), also known as Caesar's Civil War, was one of the last politico-military conflicts in the Roman Republic before the establishment of the Roman Empire.
It began as a series of political and military confrontations, between Julius Caesar (100–44 BC), his political supporters (broadly known as Populares), and his legions, against the Optimates (or Boni), the politically conservative and socially traditionalist faction of the Roman Senate, who were supported by Pompey (106–48 BC) and his legions.
Prior to the war, Caesar had served for eight years in the Gallic Wars.
He and Pompey had, along with Marcus Licinius Crassus, established the First Triumvirate, through which they shared power over Rome.
Caesar soon emerged as a champion of the common people, and advocated a variety of reforms.
The Senate, fearful of Caesar, demanded that he relinquish command of his army.
Caesar refused, and instead marched his army on Rome, which no Roman general was permitted to do.
Pompey fled Rome and organized an army in the south of Italy to meet Caesar.
The war was a four-year-long politico-military struggle, fought in Italy, Illyria, Greece, Egypt, Africa, and Hispania.
Pompey defeated Caesar in 48 BC at the Battle of Dyrrhachium, but was himself defeated much more decisively at the Battle of Pharsalus.
The Optimates under Marcus Junius Brutus and Cicero surrendered after the battle, while others, including those under Cato the Younger and Metellus Scipio fought on.
Pompey fled to Egypt and was killed upon arrival.
Scipio was defeated in 46 BC at the Battle of Thapsus in North Africa.
He and Cato committed suicide shortly after the battle.
The following year, Caesar defeated the last of the Optimates in the Battle of Munda and became Dictator perpetuo (Dictator in perpetuity or Dictator for life) of Rome.
The changes to Roman government concomitant to the war mostly eliminated the political traditions of the Roman Republic (509–27 BC) and led to the Roman Empire (27 BC–AD 476).
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pre-war politico–military situation
Caesar's Civil War resulted from the long political subversion of the Roman Government's institutions, begun with the career of Tiberius Gracchus, continuing with the Marian reforms of the legions, the bloody dictatorship of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and completed by the First Triumvirate over Rome.
The First Triumvirate (so denominated by Cicero), comprising Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, ascended to power with Caesar's election as consul, in 59 BC.
The First Triumvirate was unofficial, a political alliance the substance of which was Pompey's military might, Caesar's political influence, and Crassus' money.
The alliance was further consolidated by Pompey's marriage to Julia, daughter of Caesar, in 59 BC.
At the conclusion of Caesar's first consulship, the Senate (rather than granting him a provincial governorship) tasked him with watching over the Roman forests.
This job, specially created by his Senate enemies, was meant to occupy him without giving him command of armies, or garnering him wealth and fame.
Caesar, with the help of Pompey and Crassus, evaded the Senate's decrees by legislation passed through the popular assemblies.
By these acts, Caesar was promoted to Roman Governor of Illyricum and Cisalpine Gaul.
Transalpine Gaul (southern France) was added later.'
The various governorships gave Caesar command of an army of (initially) four legions.
The term of his proconsulship, and thus his immunity from prosecution, was set at five years, rather than the customary one year.
His term was later extended by another five years.
During this ten-year period, Caesar used his military forces to conquer Gaul and invade Britain, without explicit authorisation by the Senate.
In 52 BC, at the First Triumvirate's end, the Roman Senate supported Pompey as sole consul; meanwhile, Caesar had become a military hero and champion of the people.
Knowing he hoped to become consul when his governorship expired, the Senate, politically fearful of him, ordered he resign command of his army.
In December of 50 BC, Caesar wrote to the Senate agreeing to resign his military command if Pompey followed suit.
Offended, the Senate demanded he immediately disband his army, or be declared an enemy of the people: an illegal political bill, for he was entitled to keep his army until his term expired.
A secondary reason for Caesar's immediate desire for another consulship was to delay the inevitable senatorial prosecutions awaiting him upon retirement as governor of Illyricum and Gaul.
These potential prosecutions were based upon alleged irregularities that occurred in his consulship and war crimes committed in his Gallic campaigns.
Moreover, Caesar loyalists, the tribunes Mark Antony and Quintus Cassius Longinus, vetoed the bill, and were quickly expelled from the Senate.
They then joined Caesar, who had assembled his army, whom he asked for military support against the Senate; agreeing, his army called for action.
In 50 BC, at his Proconsular term's expiry, the Pompey-led Senate ordered Caesar's return to Rome and the disbanding of his army, and forbade his standing for election in absentia for a second consulship; because of that, Caesar thought he would be prosecuted and rendered politically marginal if he entered Rome without consular immunity or his army; to wit, Pompey accused him of insubordination and treason.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pre-war politico–military situation
Caesar's Civil War resulted from the long political subversion of the Roman Government's institutions, begun with the career of Tiberius Gracchus, continuing with the Marian reforms of the legions, the bloody dictatorship of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and completed by the First Triumvirate over Rome.
The First Triumvirate (so denominated by Cicero), comprising Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey, ascended to power with Caesar's election as consul, in 59 BC.
The First Triumvirate was unofficial, a political alliance the substance of which was Pompey's military might, Caesar's political influence, and Crassus' money.
The alliance was further consolidated by Pompey's marriage to Julia, daughter of Caesar, in 59 BC.
At the conclusion of Caesar's first consulship, the Senate (rather than granting him a provincial governorship) tasked him with watching over the Roman forests.
This job, specially created by his Senate enemies, was meant to occupy him without giving him command of armies, or garnering him wealth and fame.
Caesar, with the help of Pompey and Crassus, evaded the Senate's decrees by legislation passed through the popular assemblies.
By these acts, Caesar was promoted to Roman Governor of Illyricum and Cisalpine Gaul.
Transalpine Gaul (southern France) was added later.'
The various governorships gave Caesar command of an army of (initially) four legions.
The term of his proconsulship, and thus his immunity from prosecution, was set at five years, rather than the customary one year.
His term was later extended by another five years.
During this ten-year period, Caesar used his military forces to conquer Gaul and invade Britain, without explicit authorisation by the Senate.
In 52 BC, at the First Triumvirate's end, the Roman Senate supported Pompey as sole consul; meanwhile, Caesar had become a military hero and champion of the people.
Knowing he hoped to become consul when his governorship expired, the Senate, politically fearful of him, ordered he resign command of his army.
In December of 50 BC, Caesar wrote to the Senate agreeing to resign his military command if Pompey followed suit.
Offended, the Senate demanded he immediately disband his army, or be declared an enemy of the people: an illegal political bill, for he was entitled to keep his army until his term expired.
A secondary reason for Caesar's immediate desire for another consulship was to delay the inevitable senatorial prosecutions awaiting him upon retirement as governor of Illyricum and Gaul.
These potential prosecutions were based upon alleged irregularities that occurred in his consulship and war crimes committed in his Gallic campaigns.
Moreover, Caesar loyalists, the tribunes Mark Antony and Quintus Cassius Longinus, vetoed the bill, and were quickly expelled from the Senate.
They then joined Caesar, who had assembled his army, whom he asked for military support against the Senate; agreeing, his army called for action.
In 50 BC, at his Proconsular term's expiry, the Pompey-led Senate ordered Caesar's return to Rome and the disbanding of his army, and forbade his standing for election in absentia for a second consulship; because of that, Caesar thought he would be prosecuted and rendered politically marginal if he entered Rome without consular immunity or his army; to wit, Pompey accused him of insubordination and treason.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Crossing the Rubicon
On January 10, 49 BC, commanding the Legio XIII Gemina, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, the boundary between the province of Cisalpine Gaul to the north and Italy proper to the south.
As crossing the Rubicon with an army was prohibited, lest a returning general attempt a coup d'etat, this triggered the ensuing civil war between Caesar and Pompey.
The general population, who regarded Caesar as a hero, approved of his actions.
The historical records differ about which decisive comment Caesar made on crossing the Rubicon: one report is Alea iacta est (usually translated as "The die is cast").
Caesar's own account of the Civil War makes no mention of the river crossing and instead simply states that he marched to Rimini, a town South of the Rubicon, with his army.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Crossing the Rubicon
On January 10, 49 BC, commanding the Legio XIII Gemina, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, the boundary between the province of Cisalpine Gaul to the north and Italy proper to the south.
As crossing the Rubicon with an army was prohibited, lest a returning general attempt a coup d'etat, this triggered the ensuing civil war between Caesar and Pompey.
The general population, who regarded Caesar as a hero, approved of his actions.
The historical records differ about which decisive comment Caesar made on crossing the Rubicon: one report is Alea iacta est (usually translated as "The die is cast").
Caesar's own account of the Civil War makes no mention of the river crossing and instead simply states that he marched to Rimini, a town South of the Rubicon, with his army.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Legio XIII Gemina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Legio tertia decima Geminia, in English the 13th Twin Legion, also known as Legio tertia decima Gemina, was a legion of the Imperial Roman army.
It was one of Julius Caesar's key units in Gaul and in the civil war, and was the legion with which he famously crossed the Rubicon on January 10, 49 BC.
The legion appears to have still been in existence in the 5th century AD.
Its symbol was the lion.
History
Under the late Republic
Legio XIII was levied by Julius Caesar in 57 BC, before marching against the Belgae, in one of his early interventions in intra-Gallic conflicts.
During the Gallic Wars (58–51 BC), Legio XIII was present at the Battle against the Nervians, the Siege of Gergovia, and while not specifically mentioned in the sources, it is reasonable to assume that Legio XIII was also present for the Battle of Alesia.
After the end of the Gallic wars, the Roman Senate refused Caesar his second consulship, ordered him to give up his commands, and demanded he return to Rome to face prosecution.
Forced to choose either the end of his political career or civil war, Caesar brought Legio XIII across the Rubicon river and into Italy.
The legion remained faithful to Caesar during the resulting civil war between Caesar and the conservative Optimates faction of the senate, whose legions were commanded by Pompey.
Legio XIII was active throughout the entire war, fighting at Dyrrhachium (48 BC) and Pharsalus (48 BC).
After the decisive victory over Pompey at Pharsalus, the legion was to be disbanded, and the legionaries "pensioned off" with the traditional land grants; however, the legion was recalled for the Battle of Thapsus (46 BC) and the final Battle of Munda (45 BC).
After Munda, Caesar disbanded the legion, retired his veterans, and gave them farmland in their native Italy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_XIII_Gemina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Legio tertia decima Geminia, in English the 13th Twin Legion, also known as Legio tertia decima Gemina, was a legion of the Imperial Roman army.
It was one of Julius Caesar's key units in Gaul and in the civil war, and was the legion with which he famously crossed the Rubicon on January 10, 49 BC.
The legion appears to have still been in existence in the 5th century AD.
Its symbol was the lion.
History
Under the late Republic
Legio XIII was levied by Julius Caesar in 57 BC, before marching against the Belgae, in one of his early interventions in intra-Gallic conflicts.
During the Gallic Wars (58–51 BC), Legio XIII was present at the Battle against the Nervians, the Siege of Gergovia, and while not specifically mentioned in the sources, it is reasonable to assume that Legio XIII was also present for the Battle of Alesia.
After the end of the Gallic wars, the Roman Senate refused Caesar his second consulship, ordered him to give up his commands, and demanded he return to Rome to face prosecution.
Forced to choose either the end of his political career or civil war, Caesar brought Legio XIII across the Rubicon river and into Italy.
The legion remained faithful to Caesar during the resulting civil war between Caesar and the conservative Optimates faction of the senate, whose legions were commanded by Pompey.
Legio XIII was active throughout the entire war, fighting at Dyrrhachium (48 BC) and Pharsalus (48 BC).
After the decisive victory over Pompey at Pharsalus, the legion was to be disbanded, and the legionaries "pensioned off" with the traditional land grants; however, the legion was recalled for the Battle of Thapsus (46 BC) and the final Battle of Munda (45 BC).
After Munda, Caesar disbanded the legion, retired his veterans, and gave them farmland in their native Italy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_XIII_Gemina
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
March on Rome and the early Hispanian campaign
Caesar's march on Rome was a triumphal procession.
The Senate, not knowing that Caesar possessed only a single legion, feared the worst and supported Pompey.
Pompey declared that Rome could not be defended; he escaped to Capua with those politicians who supported him, the aristocratic Optimates and the regnant consuls.
Cicero later characterised Pompey's "outward sign of weakness" as allowing Caesar's consolidation of power.
Despite having retreated into central Italy, Pompey and the Senatorial forces were composed of at least two legions: some 11,500 soldiers and some hastily levied Italian troops commanded by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus.
As Caesar progressed southwards, Pompey retreated towards Brundisium, initially ordering Domitius (engaged in raising troops in Etruria) to stop Caesar's movement on Rome from the direction of the Adriatic seaboard.
Belatedly, Pompey requested Domitius to retreat south also, and rendezvous with Pompey's forces.
Domitius ignored Pompey's request, and, after being isolated and trapped near Corfinium, was forced to surrender his army of thirty-one cohorts (about three legions).
With deliberate clemency Caesar released Domitius and the other senators with him and even returned 6,000,000 sesterces which Domitius had had to pay his troops.
The thirty-one cohorts, however, were made to swear a new oath of allegiance to Caesar and they were eventually sent to Sicily under the command of Asinius Pollio.
Pompey escaped to Brundisium, there awaiting sea transport for his legions, to Epirus, in the Republic's eastern Greek provinces, expecting his influence to yield money and armies for a maritime blockade of Italy proper.
Meanwhile, the aristocrats — including Metellus Scipio and Cato the Younger — joined Pompey there, whilst leaving a rear guard at Capua.
Caesar pursued Pompey to Brundisium, expecting restoration of their alliance of ten years prior; throughout the Great Roman Civil War's early stages, Caesar frequently proposed to Pompey that they, both generals, sheathe their swords.
Pompey refused, legalistically arguing that Caesar was his subordinate and thus was obligated to cease campaigning and dismiss his armies before any negotiation.
As the Senate's chosen commander, and with the backing of at least one of the current consuls, Pompey commanded legitimacy, whereas Caesar's military crossing of the Rubicon rendered him a de jure enemy of the Senate and People of Rome.
Caesar then tried to trap Pompey in Brundisium by blocking up the harbour mouth with earth moles from either side, joined across the deepest part by a string of rafts, each nine metres square, covered with a causeway of earth and protected with screens and towers. Pompey countered by constructing towers for heavy artillery on a number of merchant ships and used these to destroy the rafts as they were floated in position.
Eventually, in March 49 BC, Pompey escaped, fleeing by sea to Epirus, leaving Caesar in complete command of Italy.
Taking advantage of Pompey's absence from the Italian mainland, Caesar effected an astonishingly fast 27-day, north-bound forced march to destroy, in the Battle of Ilerda, Hispania's politically leader-less Pompeian army, commanded by the legates Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius, afterwards pacifying Roman Hispania; during the campaign, the Caesarian forces — six legions, 3,000 cavalry (Gallic campaign veterans), and Caesar's 900-horse personal bodyguard — suffered only 70 men killed in action, while the Pompeian casualties numbered 200 men killed and 600 wounded.
Returning to Rome in December of 49 BC, Caesar was appointed Dictator, with Mark Antony as his Master of the Horse.
Caesar kept his dictatorship for eleven days, tenure sufficient to win him a second term as consul with Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus as his colleague.
Afterwards, Caesar renewed his pursuit of Pompey in Greece.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
March on Rome and the early Hispanian campaign
Caesar's march on Rome was a triumphal procession.
The Senate, not knowing that Caesar possessed only a single legion, feared the worst and supported Pompey.
Pompey declared that Rome could not be defended; he escaped to Capua with those politicians who supported him, the aristocratic Optimates and the regnant consuls.
Cicero later characterised Pompey's "outward sign of weakness" as allowing Caesar's consolidation of power.
Despite having retreated into central Italy, Pompey and the Senatorial forces were composed of at least two legions: some 11,500 soldiers and some hastily levied Italian troops commanded by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus.
As Caesar progressed southwards, Pompey retreated towards Brundisium, initially ordering Domitius (engaged in raising troops in Etruria) to stop Caesar's movement on Rome from the direction of the Adriatic seaboard.
Belatedly, Pompey requested Domitius to retreat south also, and rendezvous with Pompey's forces.
Domitius ignored Pompey's request, and, after being isolated and trapped near Corfinium, was forced to surrender his army of thirty-one cohorts (about three legions).
With deliberate clemency Caesar released Domitius and the other senators with him and even returned 6,000,000 sesterces which Domitius had had to pay his troops.
The thirty-one cohorts, however, were made to swear a new oath of allegiance to Caesar and they were eventually sent to Sicily under the command of Asinius Pollio.
Pompey escaped to Brundisium, there awaiting sea transport for his legions, to Epirus, in the Republic's eastern Greek provinces, expecting his influence to yield money and armies for a maritime blockade of Italy proper.
Meanwhile, the aristocrats — including Metellus Scipio and Cato the Younger — joined Pompey there, whilst leaving a rear guard at Capua.
Caesar pursued Pompey to Brundisium, expecting restoration of their alliance of ten years prior; throughout the Great Roman Civil War's early stages, Caesar frequently proposed to Pompey that they, both generals, sheathe their swords.
Pompey refused, legalistically arguing that Caesar was his subordinate and thus was obligated to cease campaigning and dismiss his armies before any negotiation.
As the Senate's chosen commander, and with the backing of at least one of the current consuls, Pompey commanded legitimacy, whereas Caesar's military crossing of the Rubicon rendered him a de jure enemy of the Senate and People of Rome.
Caesar then tried to trap Pompey in Brundisium by blocking up the harbour mouth with earth moles from either side, joined across the deepest part by a string of rafts, each nine metres square, covered with a causeway of earth and protected with screens and towers. Pompey countered by constructing towers for heavy artillery on a number of merchant ships and used these to destroy the rafts as they were floated in position.
Eventually, in March 49 BC, Pompey escaped, fleeing by sea to Epirus, leaving Caesar in complete command of Italy.
Taking advantage of Pompey's absence from the Italian mainland, Caesar effected an astonishingly fast 27-day, north-bound forced march to destroy, in the Battle of Ilerda, Hispania's politically leader-less Pompeian army, commanded by the legates Lucius Afranius and Marcus Petreius, afterwards pacifying Roman Hispania; during the campaign, the Caesarian forces — six legions, 3,000 cavalry (Gallic campaign veterans), and Caesar's 900-horse personal bodyguard — suffered only 70 men killed in action, while the Pompeian casualties numbered 200 men killed and 600 wounded.
Returning to Rome in December of 49 BC, Caesar was appointed Dictator, with Mark Antony as his Master of the Horse.
Caesar kept his dictatorship for eleven days, tenure sufficient to win him a second term as consul with Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus as his colleague.
Afterwards, Caesar renewed his pursuit of Pompey in Greece.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Greek, Illyrian and African campaigns
From Brundisium, Caesar crossed the Strait of Otranto with seven legions to the Gulf of Valona (not Palaesta in Epirus [modern Palase/Dhermi, Albania], as reported by Lucan), prompting Pompey to consider three courses of action: (i) to make an alliance with the King of Parthia, an erstwhile ally, far to the east; (ii) to invade Italy with his superior navy; and/or (iii) to force a decisive battle with Caesar.
A Parthian alliance was not feasible: a Roman general fighting Roman legions with foreign troops was craven; and the military risk of an Italian invasion was politically unsavoury, because the Italians (who thirty years earlier had rebelled against Rome) might rise against him.
Thus, on the advice of his councillors, Pompey decided to engineer a decisive battle.
As it turned out, Pompey would have been obliged to take the third option anyway, as Caesar had forced his hand by pursuing him to Illyria, so, on 10 July 48 BC, the two fought in the Battle of Dyrrhachium.
With a loss of 1,000 veteran legionaries Caesar was forced to retreat southwards.
Refusing to believe that his army had bested Caesar's legions, Pompey misinterpreted the retreat as a feint into a trap, and did not give chase to deliver the decisive coup de grâce, thus losing the initiative and his chance to quickly conclude the war.
Near Pharsalus, Caesar pitched a strategic bivouac.
Pompey attacked, but, despite his much larger army, he was conclusively defeated by Caesar's troops.
A major reason for Pompey's defeat was a miscommunication among front cavalry horsemen.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Greek, Illyrian and African campaigns
From Brundisium, Caesar crossed the Strait of Otranto with seven legions to the Gulf of Valona (not Palaesta in Epirus [modern Palase/Dhermi, Albania], as reported by Lucan), prompting Pompey to consider three courses of action: (i) to make an alliance with the King of Parthia, an erstwhile ally, far to the east; (ii) to invade Italy with his superior navy; and/or (iii) to force a decisive battle with Caesar.
A Parthian alliance was not feasible: a Roman general fighting Roman legions with foreign troops was craven; and the military risk of an Italian invasion was politically unsavoury, because the Italians (who thirty years earlier had rebelled against Rome) might rise against him.
Thus, on the advice of his councillors, Pompey decided to engineer a decisive battle.
As it turned out, Pompey would have been obliged to take the third option anyway, as Caesar had forced his hand by pursuing him to Illyria, so, on 10 July 48 BC, the two fought in the Battle of Dyrrhachium.
With a loss of 1,000 veteran legionaries Caesar was forced to retreat southwards.
Refusing to believe that his army had bested Caesar's legions, Pompey misinterpreted the retreat as a feint into a trap, and did not give chase to deliver the decisive coup de grâce, thus losing the initiative and his chance to quickly conclude the war.
Near Pharsalus, Caesar pitched a strategic bivouac.
Pompey attacked, but, despite his much larger army, he was conclusively defeated by Caesar's troops.
A major reason for Pompey's defeat was a miscommunication among front cavalry horsemen.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Egyptian dynastic struggle
Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was murdered by an officer of King Ptolemy XIII.
Caesar pursued the Pompeian army to Alexandria, where he camped and became involved with the Alexandrine Civil War between Ptolemy and his sister, wife, and co-regent, Cleopatra VII.
Perhaps as a result of Ptolemy's role in Pompey's murder, Caesar sided with Cleopatra; he is reported to have wept at the sight of Pompey's head, which was offered to him by Ptolemy's chamberlain Pothinus as a gift.
In any event, Caesar was besieged at Alexandria and after Mithridates relieved the city, Caesar defeated Ptolemy's army and installed Cleopatra as ruler, with whom he fathered his only known biological son, Ptolemy XV Caesar, better known as "Caesarion".
Caesar and Cleopatra never married, due to Roman law that prohibited a marriage with a non-Roman citizen.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Egyptian dynastic struggle
Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was murdered by an officer of King Ptolemy XIII.
Caesar pursued the Pompeian army to Alexandria, where he camped and became involved with the Alexandrine Civil War between Ptolemy and his sister, wife, and co-regent, Cleopatra VII.
Perhaps as a result of Ptolemy's role in Pompey's murder, Caesar sided with Cleopatra; he is reported to have wept at the sight of Pompey's head, which was offered to him by Ptolemy's chamberlain Pothinus as a gift.
In any event, Caesar was besieged at Alexandria and after Mithridates relieved the city, Caesar defeated Ptolemy's army and installed Cleopatra as ruler, with whom he fathered his only known biological son, Ptolemy XV Caesar, better known as "Caesarion".
Caesar and Cleopatra never married, due to Roman law that prohibited a marriage with a non-Roman citizen.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
War against Pharnaces
After spending the first months of 47 BC in Egypt, Caesar went to Syria, and then to Pontus to deal with Pharnaces II, a client king of Pompey's who had taken advantage of the civil war to attack the Roman-friendly Deiotarus and make himself the ruler of Colchis and lesser Armenia.
At Nicopolis Pharnaces had defeated what little Roman opposition the governor of Asia, Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus, could muster.
He had also taken the city of Amisus, which was a Roman ally, made all the boys eunuchs, and sold the inhabitants to slave traders.
After this show of strength, Pharnaces drew back to pacify his new conquests.
Nevertheless, the extremely rapid approach of Caesar in person forced Pharnaces to turn his attention back to the Romans.
At first, recognizing the threat, he made offers of submission, with the sole object of gaining time until Caesar's attention fell elsewhere, to no avail; Caesar quickly routed Pharnaces at the Battle of Zela (modern Zile in Turkey) with just a small detachment of cavalry.
Caesar's victory was so swift and complete that, in a letter to a friend in Rome, he famously said of the short war, "Veni, vidi, vici" ("I came, I saw, I conquered").
Indeed, for his Pontic triumph, that may well have been the label displayed above the spoils.
Pharnaces himself fled quickly back to the Bosporus, where he managed to assemble a small force of Scythian and Sarmatian troops, with which he was able to gain control of a few cities; however, a former governor of his, Asandar, attacked his forces and killed him.
The historian Appian states that Pharnaces died in battle; Cassius Dio says Pharnaces was captured and then killed.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
War against Pharnaces
After spending the first months of 47 BC in Egypt, Caesar went to Syria, and then to Pontus to deal with Pharnaces II, a client king of Pompey's who had taken advantage of the civil war to attack the Roman-friendly Deiotarus and make himself the ruler of Colchis and lesser Armenia.
At Nicopolis Pharnaces had defeated what little Roman opposition the governor of Asia, Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus, could muster.
He had also taken the city of Amisus, which was a Roman ally, made all the boys eunuchs, and sold the inhabitants to slave traders.
After this show of strength, Pharnaces drew back to pacify his new conquests.
Nevertheless, the extremely rapid approach of Caesar in person forced Pharnaces to turn his attention back to the Romans.
At first, recognizing the threat, he made offers of submission, with the sole object of gaining time until Caesar's attention fell elsewhere, to no avail; Caesar quickly routed Pharnaces at the Battle of Zela (modern Zile in Turkey) with just a small detachment of cavalry.
Caesar's victory was so swift and complete that, in a letter to a friend in Rome, he famously said of the short war, "Veni, vidi, vici" ("I came, I saw, I conquered").
Indeed, for his Pontic triumph, that may well have been the label displayed above the spoils.
Pharnaces himself fled quickly back to the Bosporus, where he managed to assemble a small force of Scythian and Sarmatian troops, with which he was able to gain control of a few cities; however, a former governor of his, Asandar, attacked his forces and killed him.
The historian Appian states that Pharnaces died in battle; Cassius Dio says Pharnaces was captured and then killed.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Later campaign in Africa and the war on Cato
While Caesar had been in Egypt installing Cleopatra as sole ruler, four of his veteran legions encamped outside Rome under the command of Mark Antony.
The legions were waiting for their discharges and the bonus pay Caesar had promised them before the battle of Pharsalus.
As Caesar lingered in Egypt, the situation quickly deteriorated.
Antony lost control of the troops and they began looting estates south of the capital.
Several delegations of diplomats were dispatched to try to quell the mutiny.
Nothing worked and the mutineers continued to call for their discharges and back pay.
After several months, Caesar finally arrived to address the legions in person.
Caesar knew he needed these legions to deal with Pompey's supporters in north Africa, who had mustered 14 legions of their own.
Caesar also knew that he did not have the funds to give the soldiers their back pay, much less the money needed to induce them to reenlist for the north African campaign.
When Caesar approached the speaker's dais, a hush fell over the mutinous soldiers.
Most were embarrassed by their role in the mutiny in Caesar's presence.
Caesar asked the troops what they wanted with his cold voice.
Ashamed to demand money, the men began to call out for their discharge.
Caesar bluntly addressed them as "citizens" instead of "soldiers," a tacit indication that they had already discharged themselves by virtue of their disloyalty.
He went on to tell them that they would all be discharged immediately.
He said he would pay them the money he owed them after he won the north African campaign with other legions.
The soldiers were shocked.
They had been through 15 years of war with Caesar and they had become fiercely loyal to him in the process.
It had never occurred to them that Caesar did not need them.
The soldiers' resistance collapsed.
They crowded the dais and begged to be taken to north Africa.
Caesar feigned indignation and then allowed himself to be won over.
When he announced that he would allow them to join the campaign, a huge cheer arose from the assembled troops.
Through this reverse psychology, Caesar reenlisted four enthusiastic veteran legions to invade north Africa without spending a single sesterce.
Caesar quickly gained a significant victory at Thapsus in 46 BC over the forces of Metellus Scipio, Cato the Younger and Juba (who all committed suicide).
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Later campaign in Africa and the war on Cato
While Caesar had been in Egypt installing Cleopatra as sole ruler, four of his veteran legions encamped outside Rome under the command of Mark Antony.
The legions were waiting for their discharges and the bonus pay Caesar had promised them before the battle of Pharsalus.
As Caesar lingered in Egypt, the situation quickly deteriorated.
Antony lost control of the troops and they began looting estates south of the capital.
Several delegations of diplomats were dispatched to try to quell the mutiny.
Nothing worked and the mutineers continued to call for their discharges and back pay.
After several months, Caesar finally arrived to address the legions in person.
Caesar knew he needed these legions to deal with Pompey's supporters in north Africa, who had mustered 14 legions of their own.
Caesar also knew that he did not have the funds to give the soldiers their back pay, much less the money needed to induce them to reenlist for the north African campaign.
When Caesar approached the speaker's dais, a hush fell over the mutinous soldiers.
Most were embarrassed by their role in the mutiny in Caesar's presence.
Caesar asked the troops what they wanted with his cold voice.
Ashamed to demand money, the men began to call out for their discharge.
Caesar bluntly addressed them as "citizens" instead of "soldiers," a tacit indication that they had already discharged themselves by virtue of their disloyalty.
He went on to tell them that they would all be discharged immediately.
He said he would pay them the money he owed them after he won the north African campaign with other legions.
The soldiers were shocked.
They had been through 15 years of war with Caesar and they had become fiercely loyal to him in the process.
It had never occurred to them that Caesar did not need them.
The soldiers' resistance collapsed.
They crowded the dais and begged to be taken to north Africa.
Caesar feigned indignation and then allowed himself to be won over.
When he announced that he would allow them to join the campaign, a huge cheer arose from the assembled troops.
Through this reverse psychology, Caesar reenlisted four enthusiastic veteran legions to invade north Africa without spending a single sesterce.
Caesar quickly gained a significant victory at Thapsus in 46 BC over the forces of Metellus Scipio, Cato the Younger and Juba (who all committed suicide).
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
Re: MUSINGS ON THE SCHEME OF THINGS
Caesar's Civil War, continued ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Second Hispanian campaign and the end of the war
Nevertheless, Luca's sons Gnaeus Pompeius and Sextus Pompeius, together with Titus Labienus (Caesar's former propraetorian legate (legatus propraetore) and second in command in the Gallic War) escaped to Hispania.
Caesar gave chase and defeated the last remnants of opposition in the Battle of Munda in March 45 BC.
During this time, Caesar was elected to his third and fourth terms as consul in 46 BC (with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus) and 45 BC (sine collega, without a colleague).
Chronology
49 BC
January 1: The Roman Senate receives a proposal from Julius Caesar that he and Pompey should lay down their commands simultaneously.
The Senate responds that Caesar must immediately surrender his command.
January 10: Julius Caesar leads his 13th Legion across the Rubicon, which separates his jurisdiction (Cisalpine Gaul) from that of the Senate (Italy), and thus initiates a civil war.
February: Pompey's flight to Epirus (in Western Greece) with most of the Senate
March 9: Caesar's advance against Pompeian forces in Hispania
April 19: Caesar's siege of Massilia against the Pompeian Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, later the siege was conducted by Caesarian Gaius Trebonius
June: Caesar's arrival in Hispania, where he was able to seize the Pyrenees passes defended by the Pompeian L. Afranius and M. Petreius.
July 30: Caesar surrounded Afranius and Petreius's army in Ilerda
August 2: Pompeians in Ilerda surrendered to Caesar
August 24: Caesar's general Gaius Scribonius Curio, is defeated in North Africa by the Pompeians under Attius Varus and King Juba I of Numidia (whom he defeated earlier in the Battle of Utica, in the Battle of the Bagradas River), and commits suicide.
September: Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, a Caesarian, defeated the combined Pompeian-Massilian naval forces in the naval Battle of Massilia, while the Caesarian fleet in the Adriatic was defeated near Curicta.
September 6: Massilia surrendered to Caesar, coming back from Hispania
October: Caesar appointed Dictator in Rome; presides over his own election as consul and resigns after eleven days
48 BC:
January 4: Caesar landed at Dyrrhachium (Durazzo)
March: Antony joined Caesar
July 10: Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat by Pompey in Macedonia, he retreats to Thessaly.
August 9: Battle of Pharsalus: Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and Pompey flees to Egypt.
September 28: Caesar learned that Pompey was assassinated.
Siege of Alexandria
October: Pharnaces, King of Bosporus defeated the Caesarian Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus in the Battle of Nicopolis (or Nikopol)
December: Battle in Alexandria, Egypt between the forces of Caesar and his ally Cleopatra VII of Egypt and those of rival King Ptolemy XIII of Egypt and Queen Arsinoe IV.
The latter two are defeated and flee the city; Cleopatra becomes queen of Egypt.
During the battle part of the Library of Alexandria catches fire and is burned down.
Caesar is named Dictator for one year.
47 BC
February: Caesar and his ally Cleopatra defeat the forces of the rival Egyptian Queen Arsinoe IV in the Battle of the Nile, Ptolemy was killed, Caesar then relieved his besieged forces in Alexandria
May: Caesar defeated Pharnaces II of Pontus, king of the Bosporus in the Battle of Zela.
(This is the war that Caesar tersely described veni, vidi, vici.)
Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt promotes her younger brother Ptolemy XIV of Egypt to co-ruler.
August: Caesar quelled a mutiny of his veterans in Rome.
October: Caesar's invasion of Africa, against Metellus Scipio and Labienus, Caesar's former lieutenant in Gaul
46 BC January 4: Caesar narrowly escapes defeat by his former second in command Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina; nearly 1/3 of Caesar's army is killed.
February 6: Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio and Juba in the Battle of Thapsus.
Cato commits suicide.
Afterwards, he is accorded the office of Dictator for the next ten years.
November: Caesar leaves for Farther Hispania to deal with a fresh outbreak of resistance.
Caesar, in his role as Pontifex Maximus, reforms the Roman calendar to create the Julian calendar.
The transitional year is extended to 445 days to synchronize the new calendar and the seasonal cycle.
The Julian Calendar would remain the standard in the western world for over 1600 years, until superseded by the Gregorian Calendar in 1582.
Caesar appoints his grandnephew Gaius Octavius his heir.
45 BC
January 1: Julian calendar goes into effect
March 17: In his last victory, Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the younger in the Battle of Munda.
Pompey the younger was executed, and Labienus died in battle, but Sextus Pompey escaped to take command of the remnants of the Pompeian fleet.
The veterans of Caesar's Legions Legio XIII Gemina and Legio X Equestris demobilized.
The veterans of the 10th legion would be settled in Narbo, while those of the 13th would be given somewhat better lands in Italia itself.
Caesar probably writes the Commentaries in this year
44 BC
Julius Caesar is named Dictator perpetuo ("dictator in perpetuity")
Julius Caesar plans an invasion of the Parthian Empire
Julius Caesar is assassinated on March 15, the Ides of March.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Civil War
Second Hispanian campaign and the end of the war
Nevertheless, Luca's sons Gnaeus Pompeius and Sextus Pompeius, together with Titus Labienus (Caesar's former propraetorian legate (legatus propraetore) and second in command in the Gallic War) escaped to Hispania.
Caesar gave chase and defeated the last remnants of opposition in the Battle of Munda in March 45 BC.
During this time, Caesar was elected to his third and fourth terms as consul in 46 BC (with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus) and 45 BC (sine collega, without a colleague).
Chronology
49 BC
January 1: The Roman Senate receives a proposal from Julius Caesar that he and Pompey should lay down their commands simultaneously.
The Senate responds that Caesar must immediately surrender his command.
January 10: Julius Caesar leads his 13th Legion across the Rubicon, which separates his jurisdiction (Cisalpine Gaul) from that of the Senate (Italy), and thus initiates a civil war.
February: Pompey's flight to Epirus (in Western Greece) with most of the Senate
March 9: Caesar's advance against Pompeian forces in Hispania
April 19: Caesar's siege of Massilia against the Pompeian Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, later the siege was conducted by Caesarian Gaius Trebonius
June: Caesar's arrival in Hispania, where he was able to seize the Pyrenees passes defended by the Pompeian L. Afranius and M. Petreius.
July 30: Caesar surrounded Afranius and Petreius's army in Ilerda
August 2: Pompeians in Ilerda surrendered to Caesar
August 24: Caesar's general Gaius Scribonius Curio, is defeated in North Africa by the Pompeians under Attius Varus and King Juba I of Numidia (whom he defeated earlier in the Battle of Utica, in the Battle of the Bagradas River), and commits suicide.
September: Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, a Caesarian, defeated the combined Pompeian-Massilian naval forces in the naval Battle of Massilia, while the Caesarian fleet in the Adriatic was defeated near Curicta.
September 6: Massilia surrendered to Caesar, coming back from Hispania
October: Caesar appointed Dictator in Rome; presides over his own election as consul and resigns after eleven days
48 BC:
January 4: Caesar landed at Dyrrhachium (Durazzo)
March: Antony joined Caesar
July 10: Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat by Pompey in Macedonia, he retreats to Thessaly.
August 9: Battle of Pharsalus: Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and Pompey flees to Egypt.
September 28: Caesar learned that Pompey was assassinated.
Siege of Alexandria
October: Pharnaces, King of Bosporus defeated the Caesarian Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus in the Battle of Nicopolis (or Nikopol)
December: Battle in Alexandria, Egypt between the forces of Caesar and his ally Cleopatra VII of Egypt and those of rival King Ptolemy XIII of Egypt and Queen Arsinoe IV.
The latter two are defeated and flee the city; Cleopatra becomes queen of Egypt.
During the battle part of the Library of Alexandria catches fire and is burned down.
Caesar is named Dictator for one year.
47 BC
February: Caesar and his ally Cleopatra defeat the forces of the rival Egyptian Queen Arsinoe IV in the Battle of the Nile, Ptolemy was killed, Caesar then relieved his besieged forces in Alexandria
May: Caesar defeated Pharnaces II of Pontus, king of the Bosporus in the Battle of Zela.
(This is the war that Caesar tersely described veni, vidi, vici.)
Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt promotes her younger brother Ptolemy XIV of Egypt to co-ruler.
August: Caesar quelled a mutiny of his veterans in Rome.
October: Caesar's invasion of Africa, against Metellus Scipio and Labienus, Caesar's former lieutenant in Gaul
46 BC January 4: Caesar narrowly escapes defeat by his former second in command Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina; nearly 1/3 of Caesar's army is killed.
February 6: Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio and Juba in the Battle of Thapsus.
Cato commits suicide.
Afterwards, he is accorded the office of Dictator for the next ten years.
November: Caesar leaves for Farther Hispania to deal with a fresh outbreak of resistance.
Caesar, in his role as Pontifex Maximus, reforms the Roman calendar to create the Julian calendar.
The transitional year is extended to 445 days to synchronize the new calendar and the seasonal cycle.
The Julian Calendar would remain the standard in the western world for over 1600 years, until superseded by the Gregorian Calendar in 1582.
Caesar appoints his grandnephew Gaius Octavius his heir.
45 BC
January 1: Julian calendar goes into effect
March 17: In his last victory, Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the younger in the Battle of Munda.
Pompey the younger was executed, and Labienus died in battle, but Sextus Pompey escaped to take command of the remnants of the Pompeian fleet.
The veterans of Caesar's Legions Legio XIII Gemina and Legio X Equestris demobilized.
The veterans of the 10th legion would be settled in Narbo, while those of the 13th would be given somewhat better lands in Italia itself.
Caesar probably writes the Commentaries in this year
44 BC
Julius Caesar is named Dictator perpetuo ("dictator in perpetuity")
Julius Caesar plans an invasion of the Parthian Empire
Julius Caesar is assassinated on March 15, the Ides of March.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War