Please skim through Plutarch's Life of Caesar. Pick out a section that particularly well shows Caesar's ability and his versatility or a section that shows particularly well why Caesar is such a controversial figure. Explain your choice.Some of you might find particularly interesting the accounts of Caesar's battles, something I don't talk about in class much. Note Sections 15-20, for instance, a summary of Caesar's campaign in Gaul.
Caesar was an excellent war general and won many significant battles during his time. I particularly like this line when the author talks about Caesars army. His soldiers showed such good will and zeal in his service that those who in their previous campaigns had been in no way superior to others were invincible and irresistible in confronting every danger to enhance Caesar's fame. Caesar's army adored him which meant Caesar's ability and versatility in fighting battles were more than excellent. It goes onto say what his men did for him to help Caesar gain his fame. One with his hand cut off still fighting for Caesar and another his eye stabbed out and and shot with hundreds of arrows still fought against Caesar's enemies. Caesar had to be doing something right since his army had such zeal and vigor in fighting for him. The whole part of section 16 is about how Caesar's men fought super hard for him and would do anything for him. Which looking at it now it seems like his men were worshipping him even before he died. Many men who are in ones army does not have as much love and zeal for their consul leader. These men were crazy for Caesar when they fought for him. Even at some points his soldiers would cry at Caesar's feet in fear of disappointing him. This Caesar was an incredible man who produced zeal and vigor in his own men. His ability to produce men like this in his army is very incredible. I myself would love to know how he accomplished this.
ReplyDeleteThe section that I highlighted was lines 11-13. Caesar was a man who wanted to gain power fast and furiously in the Roman government. As is the case with most individuals, he tried to prove himself on a consistent basis, or whenever he was able too. It talks about in line 11, his pratership and acquiring Spain as a province. This was a stepping stone for him, and one of his first opportunities at power in the Roman government. Caesar wanted his power and realized that he was going to have to gain his power initially outside of Rome, before having it inside of Rome. He mentions later in line 11 that, “Whereupon Caesar said to them in all seriousness, ‘I would rather be first here than second at Rome.’" He had further aspirations to be the second coming of Alexander the Great, and that was an area where he had to do a lot more articulation. Seeing this as a whole, and some of the experiences that he had faced or chose to face in order to gain his power, could signal his controversy over the Roman people. It only furthered the feud with Pompey, as Ceasar was able to see the successes that Pompey was able to have, and that was what Ceasar had fancied. Having successes in Spain, he wanted to continue moving forward and try to gain his consulship in Rome. He was going against a tall task, as Crassus and Pompey were established very nicely in Rome through their first councils. He wanted to get rid of the individuals, that seemed to be in his way or get rid of the people who didn’t support him. Think back to Sulla, when Sulla was known for getting rid of his political opponents. Although the actionness of it wasn’t as severe, it still stands to his character, and why people weren’t the most optimistic at times when discussing Ceasar, and his impact or his presence in Roman government. In line 13 this is mentioned, “So as soon as he entered the city he assumed a policy which deceived everyone except Cato”. Cato was one of the people originally that went against the law of opposition against Ceasar. This showcases one side or the other, or how some people supported Ceasar through his journey in the Roman government or people who were strongly against him. Picking a side, or the disagreements between the sides, is the reason why Ceasar was so controversial when discussing Roman politics.
ReplyDelete- Nile Hesson
Section 22, lines 6-7: "This action Caesar made a ground of complaint against the Sugambri, and besides, he coveted the fame of being the first man to cross the Rhine with an army. He therefore began to bridge the river, although it was very broad, and at this point in its course especially swollen, rough, and impetuous, and with the trunks and branches of trees which it bore down stream kept smiting and tearing away the supports of his bridge. But Caesar caught up these trunks and branches with bulwarks of great timbers planted across the stream, and having thus bridled and yoked the dashing current, he brought his bridge — sight beyond all credence — to completion in ten days."
ReplyDeleteThis section shows how well Caesar adapts to difficulties and how quickly he can come up with a solution. In the section stated above, it discusses how Caesar was able to build an entire bridge across the rough waters of the Rhine. Caesar wants to show the Germanic peoples that Rome will not be stopped by some water. His ability to get this entire bridge built within 10 days is quite impressive and it shows that he is able to adapt to unpredictable circumstances very well. I think this particular story is well known in Roman history, and it's pretty obvious why that is. Caesar is one of the most famous figures in the entirety of Roman history, and there are many accounts throughout his lifetime that prove it.
-Lauren Bland
I found the section about Julius Caesar taken captive by pirates to be particularly well at displaying his ability and versatility. Plutarch stated, "For eight and thirty days, as if the men were not his watchers, but his royal body-guard, he shared in their sports and exercises with great unconcern.” The whole time he was captive, Julius Caesar did not seem to care or be worried in the slightest. He even told the pirates to raise his ransom from twenty to fifty talents because he was such an important person. He slept and even asked them to be quiet with not a care in the world about danger. Julius Caesar may have been pretty pompous and prideful, but he was able to adjust to his situation by keeping calm, and it seemed like the pirates enjoyed his company, or at least found him to be entertaining. After the ransom was paid, Julius Caesar eventually crucified the pirates, which can be seen as a show of authority, especially because he told them that he would “hang them all”. At the time the pirates saw it as a joke, but Caesar had planned to do so anyways, which proves how he was no joking man. I find Julius Caesar’s ability and versatility to be shown in his ransom by pirates by how he was able to react to the situation so well. He understood he was potentially in danger, and instead of escalating the situation he brought the pirates' guard down by entertaining and joking with them. He even seemed to be on their side by raising his ransom. In the end, Julius Caesar’s escape from the pirates and dealing with them is just one example of his ability and versatility.
ReplyDeleteSection 58 Lines 4-5: "Caesar's many successes, however, did not divert his natural spirit of enterprise and ambition to the enjoyment of what he had laboriously achieved, but served as fuel and incentive for future achievements, and begat in him plans for greater deeds and a passion for fresh glory, as though he had used up what he already had. 5 What he felt was therefore nothing else than emulation of himself, as if he had been another man, and a sort of rivalry between what he had done and what he purposed to do."
ReplyDeleteI chose this line because regardless of the good that Caesar did for Rome to this point, it also shows how he continues to hurt Rome. Caesar's ambition did Rome well, by capturing them land and gave him political office to improve Rome, but it also gave Caesar a bit too big of a head. Rather than helping Rome settle and grow after a long civil war, which I believe he should have, he wasn't content and wanted more war and glory. This is a personality trait that gets many leaders into trouble, which it will for Caesar in just a couple more years.
His soldiers showed such good will and zeal in his service that those who in their previous campaigns had been in no way superior to others were invincible and irresistible in confronting every danger to enhance Caesar's fame. 2 Such a man, for instance, was Acilius, who, in the sea-fight at Massalia,28 boarded a hostile ship and had his right hand cut off with a sword, but clung with the other hand to his shield, and dashing it into the faces of p481 his foes, routed them all and got possession of the vessel. 3 Such a man, again, was Cassius Scaeva, who, in the battle at Dyrrhachium, had his eye struck out with an arrow, his shoulder transfixed with one javelin and his thigh with another, and received on his shield the blows of one hundred and thirty missiles. 4 In this plight, he called the enemy to him as though he would surrender".
ReplyDeleteThis section of the reading show Caesars ability to rule over a military and have it perform successfully for his service. The army under him is described as invincible and displaying of good will and zeal which is a great ability for one to have.
Caesar was a man who wanted to gain power fast and furiously in the Roman government.
ReplyDeleteAlong with this, he was from a very prominent family in Rome and was a revered general in the army. These things would help him get the recognition he deserved since his presence would be enough to strike fear into people, thus getting him the power he wanted. He was also active in politics. This mixed with his military background made him a prime subject to take power in Rome. Many people think he was controversial since he could have used his already existent power that he had from his days in the military and used that to gain even more power and take control over the Roman Empire.
Chosen section:
ReplyDelete"another in his reasonableness and mildness towards his captives; another still in the gifts and favours which he bestowed upon his soldiers; and all in the fact that he fought the most battles and killed the most enemies. For although it was not full ten years that he waged war in Gaul, he took by storm more than eight hundred cities, subdued three hundred nations, and fought pitched battles at different times with three million men, of whom he slew one million in hand to hand fighting and took as many more prisoners."
I chose this section because while not discussed much in class it truly shows the power and might of the great Julius Caesar. For it is not often that a powerful warlord/general is described with the words reasonable and mild especially when it comes to handling prisoners. Also most generals are not the ones at the front lines killing the most opponents but rather the people hiding out in the back or middle giving out commands. It shows us that he wasn't going to ask anything of his soldiers that he himself wouldn't do.