De Mors Caesaris

August Fathers,

Before a decision can be made concerning the nature of Caesar’s funeral, it is necessary to consider the man himself. His services to the Republic must be weighed, for we have the task of determining how this man will be viewed and judged throughout history.

Through his military strength he conquered the Gallic nations, and lead his legions to Britain and across the Rhine. He taught numerous peoples to revere the Roman toga, and spread the might and influence of the Republic to areas previously unknown. He treated his friends with generosity and affability, and was gracious in victory. Were we to judge Caesar only by the number of cities taken, of barbarian tribes defeated, few citizens would be his equal. But we must recognize that a citizen’s life encompasses not only military service, but also service in public office.

Caesar, because of the personal strengths that he had possessed, found himself in control of the Republic, and recently weighed with the office of Dictator. Though I need not remind this august body of the responsibilities of this office, discussion of the office will help us judge Caesar’s actions more clearly.

The Office of Dictator is filled when the Roman People are in need of protection from immediate and extraordinary dangers, dangers which threaten the well-being of this glorious Republic. But what recent extreme disaster did the Republic face that could only be met by a Dictator’s response? Must we still quiver in fear of the Carthaginian general, or does Mithridates still walk the shores of Greece? Did the Parthians present such a danger to the Roman people, a threat that lies beyond the Euphrates River, that we were cowering in the fear of our immediate destruction?

Yet this is exactly where Caesar had chosen to direct his attention. His plan was to march East out of Rome, when it was his obligation to protect it. Heavenly Gods, what disgrace would have befallen the Roman people if Cincinnatus could not be found in his fields! For what reason would my own name be praised as Savior of Rome had I turned my eyes to the conflagration in the East rather than to the embers smoldering in my own house! Could Caesar, ensconced in his camp across the sea, truly have protected us from new dangers? If Caesar had been mindful of the needs of the Republic when she made him Dictator, he would have ensured his continued presence in Italy to oversee the safety or the Roman people. Instead, he sought a refuge from political life in a military campaign, yearning to discover new glories and honors for himself, found along the route of a legion’s march.

Caesar had been reminded, in this very Senate, that as he accepted the powers offered him, he also had to be willing to shoulder the responsibilities of restoring the state to the glory that it had previously held. Despite this, we watched him grow weary underneath the continued strain of attempting to guide the state alone. It was to revive this flagging desire for life that he began his preparations for an Eastern campaign. Struggling to fulfill his obligations to the Republic, he sought solace in the life that he knew, in the call of the bugler and the streets of the soldier’s camp. During his preparations for a Parthian campaign he had already forsaken Rome in his mind, and had made plans to march outside the city itself, leaving Rome to watch, astonished, as the man she had picked to lead her walked away. Caesar had forgotten that a Dictator is chosen to fulfill a service to the people, to be utilized as the Republic requires. Caesar, in planning his Parthian campaign, was attempting to direct the resources of the state towards his own ends, regardless of the dangers presented to the Roman people. He was seeking powers beyond those given to a Dictator, forgetful that he remained beholden to the dictates of the very people who handed him that power. He was planning to return to the comfort of the legion’s march, abandoning Rome to whatever fortune might come.

What ought to be decided then, concerning the man’s funeral? Is a dictator who had chosen to abandon his obligations worthy of a public funeral, given by the very people he had chosen to leave behind? Does a victorious general, who spread Roman glory past the shores of Ocean itself, deserve a funeral akin to that given his son-in-law, hastily performed and quickly forgotten, with only a sea-battered rock to mark his grave? The accomplishments of Caesar’s military career demand remembrance. His leniency in Victory deserves honor. The life of such a glorious Roman citizen should be praised, but not at the expense of overshadowing the memory of those other great men, who through their courage and rectitude raised Rome to the pinnacle of glory that she enjoys today. Let Caesar’s shade join company with the shades of those Roman citizens who spread the magnificence of the Roman Republic. Let Caesar join the shades of these Roman heroes. These men each served the Republic through public offices during times of need, and returned to private life after their victory. They sought no distinction for themselves but that they serve the Republic with courage and honor, and be remembered with reverence after their death. Likewise, let Caesar’s public service be honored by a private funeral, attended by his family and friends. Let Caesar’s shade join company with the shades of his ancestors, worshipped by his family, bringing prosperity and protection upon the Roman Republic.