Civil War 49-45BC

1. Revenge for 'chasing' tribunes out of Rome.

2. Cicero: tribunes were never in dangeer- Caesar staged this to provide an excuse.

3. Sacrosanctity of tribunes not really issue for Caesar.

4. Insufficient funds to carry out Caesar's grandiose schemes:

• had sent booty back to Rome
• Paying off Curio's debts
• 250 drachmas to each of Pompey's soldiers of borrowed legion
• Broke into treasury on taking Rome 49BC

5. Indignity of prospect of prosecution

6. No indication that Caesar conciously aimed for civil war- last resort- defence of his honour.

Caesar

• Led troops across Rubicon
• Commited treason
• Perhaps hoping for a quick political coup resulting of consulship in 48BC

Pompey

• Main aim ostensibly preventing Caesar becoming his equal
• Didn't want civil war
• Refused to accept Curio's compromises
• Attempting by refusal to force a peaceful back-down from Caesar whilst maintaining supremacy.

Senators

• Mainly eager to prevent conflict
• Small group of lonng-term enemies of Caesar not willing to compromise
• Wanted descruction of Caesar

• Pompey and Optimates unprepared.

• Ahenobarbus fails to intercept Caesar- surrendered with 3 legions- evacuation of Pompey and Allies from Italy.

• Pompey leaves for Greece with majority of senators.

• Caesar attempting to make personal contact with Pompey and Pompey refuses.

• Caesar didn't follow to Greece immediately- raided treasury

• Cicero didn't accompany Pompey- very distressed, urged to join Caesar but felt obliged to continue support for Pompey.

• Declined direct appeal to join Caesar at Rome

• Sailed to Greece late to join Pompey after three months.

• Caesar took decision to secure Spain before following Pompey to Greece- avoid 2-fronted war.

• Drove out Pompey's commanders (Afranius and Varro).

• Took control of grain supplies of Sardinia and Sicily.

• 48BC- elected consul and set out after Pompey.

• Initially attempted a blockade from Dyrrhachium then moved inland to Thessaly and Pompey followed stealthily.

• Pharsalus- 48BC

• Pompey flees to Egypt where he was murded when he got there.

• Caesar involved in 2 campaigns: had followed Pompey to Egypt to prevent him building new troops and renewing the war.

• Was swept up in dynastic problems of Ptolemy and Cleopatra and help Cleopatra gain control of Egypt.

• Summer 47BC- returned to Rome via Syria and Asia Minor- reorganised provincial administration, dealt with unruly Pharnaces.

• Returned to Rome in time to settle a mutiny of veterans following Pharsalus.

• End 47BC- Africa to crush remainder of Pompey's supporters.

• Scipio Metellus, Afranius, Labienus, Cato and Pompey's two sons leading resistance, supported by King Juba of Numidia.

• Two forces met at Thapsus- Caesar's troops out of hand- high blood shed.

• All bar Pompey's sons and Labienus dead (Cato=suicide)

• 4 triumphs in one month on return to Rome.

• Only brief spells spent in Rome, but enough for Caesar to enact reforms, building programmes, be appointed dictator at certain points and accept honours.

• Pompey's sons and Labienus in Spain.

• Culminated in 45BC with battle of Munda- only Sextus Pompey of the Pompeian forces escaped alive.

• Caesar's last war.

• Took the title Parens Patriae

• Proved himself, through fighting through over the majority of the Mediterranean, that he was the most successful general.

• Returned to Rome to great acclaim and honours.

                                                      DICTATOR

Meanwhile, following Pompey's death, Cicero reconcils with Caesar, but withdraws from public life spending most of his time writing.