Reacting to the Past, Spring 2008

When considering Caesar's acta

2008-03-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

I hear much mention currently about papers left behind by Gaius Julius Caesar after his death, and I hear people discussing whether or not we should follow the courses of action referred to in these papers. My personal feelings towards Caesar aside, I think it is necessary to examine the nature of these documents before any discussion of what to do with them, and this kind of examination has been lacking among the discussions on what must be done.
First, let us examine the nature of these papers. These are unofficial documents that have been “found among Caesar’s belongings,” as is said by M. Antonius. This is a point worth repeating: although Caesar enacted a great body of legislation during his tenure as dictator, these are not official resolutions of his nor were they ratified by the senate. There is not a precedent in our legal tradition for fulfilling actions referred to in documents such as these. It is not a legally binding will (though the legality and sanctity of even such a document as that has been trampled into the mud with the recent invalidation of Gaius Julius Octavianus’ will). Although the senate, while he was alive, had given him unlimited governmental authority in each area these papers discuss, these papers nevertheless leave two glaring questions in my mind: Does that authority extend beyond death? Are these papers legitimate even if it does?
Even those senators who see Caesar as a tyrant have not made any motions to rescind the entirety of his legislation as invalid because of that opinion. Such a move would be extremely foolish and would destroy any and all progress we have made over the last few years. It would throw all of our political appointments, legislative initiatives, and foreign/domestic policies into chaos. We can say that we “were coerced,” but we always had the option of speaking out against him, whatever the consequences may have been. We have therefore lost all rights to objections on those grounds. Therefore, we cannot write off these documents as invalid just because they “were written by a tryrant.”
That does not, however, mean that we cannot still write off these documents, just that it must be argued differently. Like it or not, the senate cannot deny that it gave all of Caesar’s power to him legally. We can, however, object to the legality of these documents based on the idea that the legal authority given to Caesar by this senate body ended at the same time as his life. Never before has this body enacted legislation brought forward posthumously by any of its members, whatever their position in life may have been at their time of death. Why should we do so now, even if these papers are officially sealed, formulaically written, legal proposals written by the most powerful man in the world at his death? What authority do his ashes now hold?
This brings me to my other point of dispute with these acta. Are these informal letters which oft-handedly mention some idea for future action, or are they officially sealed, formulaically written, legal proposals? If they can be reasonably objected to even if they are officially sealed, formulaically written, legal proposals, should we even consider them if they are not? Unofficial, informal letters would have had no legal bearing for Caesar even when he was alive, but were they even written by Caesar, or by M. Antonius or some other devotee of his who hoped to use some of their master’s ex-authority? Caesar often dictated much of his writing. Could his scribes not have written these in the same hand all his correspondences appear? If close examination shows that they come from an unknown hand, why should we press further? Even if they appear in the standard form, the absence of evidence for their falsification is not evidence for the absence of falsification. Therefore, we must proceed very carefully in these matters. We need not bring these documents before the senate for discussion, because they have no bearing on the senate’s course of action. No such documents ever have. But if they are brought before the senate, their history and authorship should be examined closely before their content is even considered. Let us investigate the matter (in the usual manner) among his slaves and scribes to see if any incriminating evidence comes forth. If there is evidence for falsification, then we need pursue the matter no further. If not, we still do not need to. Even if they are from the hand (or mouth) of Caesar, they hold no legal bearing for us now.
Caesar is dead. Let us consider alive what he did while he was alive and dead what appears after his death. There is no question that we must continue with our magistrates as they have been appointed. To do otherwise would be foolish and would invite chaos upon us all. Let us not, however, continue to live and direct our lives and our state under the words and ideas of a dead man, however great he may have been. I have seen all too well in the case of my brother how this can lead someone. Caesar was a great man, and he drew men of all natures towards him, captivating them with his charm and the force of his conviction. I held Caesar in the highest regard for his character and actions (not just for his assistance in funding the construction of the Basilica Paula) during his life, and I will continue to hold him in such regard in death; therefore, let me be the first to say, “Let Caesar rest. He was a god among men, and he drew us all towards him, his ideas, and his plans. Let them rest with him. His time is over. Let us remember him, but let us move on without him. We are capable enough.”
Whether we love or hate him, we can get too caught up with men such as Caesar. Even our strongest and wisest can become consumed with it, letting it fester in their minds like a disease. We need look no further than my recently departed brother for an example. Therefore, let no more of our men waste their lives following or fighting his cause. Let us pursue our own. Caesar is just one man in a long line of mankind. There have been other men like him, and there will be more like him, and cowards and sycophants will bend similarly to their wishes, following their every word. Let us not be such. We have our own destinies to achieve.

The Way Forward

2008-03-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

Noble Senators, we come here today to discuss the acta of the late Julius Caesar. This issue has many sides, and indeed, we ought to ask ourselves several questions before we proceed:
1) Can Caesar’s acta be interpreted independent of the illegitimacy of his rule?
2) What are the costs associated with enforcing the acta?
3) What are the costs of ignoring the acta?
4) What course of action will both ensure stability and hold true to the principles of the republic?

As regards our first question, I answer that we must recognize that not all laws passed by a tyrant are tyrannical in nature. Indeed, as we see in Plato’s Gorgias, the tyrant does what he sees fit, not what he wants. If his actions are directed by right reason, then they do have the force of just law. For as we know law must be in accordance with right reason for it to obtain any binding force. Therefore, I think that it is plaint that we may hold some of Caesar’s acta to be legitimate. However, we ought to make a distinction here. Recognizing the legitimacy of a law and recognizing the legitimacy of the sovereign who enacted it are two separate things. By recognizing the legitimacy of some of Caesar’s acta, we are not offering an acceptance of the legitimacy of Caesar’s rule.

However, as we have seen from recent historic example, not all of Caesars appointments were wise. I hardly think any among us would steadfastly maintain that appointing Dolabella or the young Octavian was in the best interest of the Republic. For this reason, I believe it is clear that the cost of having a blanket endorsement of the acta by the Senate would be very high indeed. It would be rash, conscript fathers, to not give the advice and consent of the Senate to confirm each of these appointments individually. We must ensure that we do not install into power men who seek private gain over the good of the Republic. By examining each of the acta on its own merit, we shall be able to ensure the safety of the Republic, both now and in the future.

But you may say “Panaetius, do we not risk alienating those who were expecting political office if we choose to deny it them?” Yes, conscript fathers, we run that risk, but would we rather have those men with the positions of power and influence? I think not, good Senators. Indeed many noble men appointed by Caesar are good, true Romans, and they are deserving of their appointments. Doubtless the Senate will be happy to maintain these assignments. Nevertheless, there are many of Caesar’s acta that are inimical to the interests of the Republic, and to enforce these blindly would be to hand our beloved country over to slavers. Therefore I say to you, oh conscript fathers, that the cost of alienating a few undeserving aristocrats is worth it, if only to avoid a far more terrible fate.

This being said, I find that the most prudent course of action currently lies in taking each of the acta in turn and approving or disapproving of them as the Senate sees fit. I feel that by this measure, we shall be able to avoid plunging our country into chaos, and also avoid handing our beloved Republic over to criminals.

Caesar's Acta

2008-03-28T05:40:00.001-07:00

We, the conscript fathers of the Senate and the leaders of Rome, have to confront a serious issue: the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar, for whatever intentions good or bad, has left us in a state of bureaucratic paralysis from which we've barely recovered from. Caesar's specter continues to haunt us after his death: the specter of his leadership and procedure in the Senate. Regardless of how you felt about the man, we must all acknowledge that while he was alive, he maintained a tight control over appointments and process. Before he died, Caesar enacted a huge amount of legislation, unrivaled by any Roman in recent history, and appointed a large number of government magistrates for the following years. And now, we must confront how we are to address Caesar's Acta after his death, at a time when the Senate is lacking for leadership and its magistrates quarreling violently with each other.

Many of those magistrates still occupy the positions Caesar appointed to them—others have resigned or met a variety of unfortunate fates. Some would blame Caesar for this: it is tempting, I can assure you, to cast the blame on the ghost of a man I so vehemently opposed. But our mistakes are not Caesar's fault, and as we have followed the man's judgment even after declaring him a tyrant, I see no point to broadly reject his Acta at this point, nor do I believe it feasible in this time of crisis. Instead, I agree with my good friend Marcus Tullius, in that of Caesar's legislation that is already in effect, individual Acta must be reviewed and considered carefully before they are rejected. We have already seen some Senators, Caesar's most vehement critics and enemies, try and reject Acta across the board, only to realize a sobering truth: to the man, they owe their positions and authority to Caesar's judgment. In the end, you cannot have it both ways: indeed, Caesar has never effectively been declared a tyrant outside the Senate's own mind, simply because we cannot effectively bar his legislation's effects. What kind of Senate has no magistrates, no civil officials to run elections, indeed no Senators? Having previously served as a military commander, as many of my fellow Senators have done with distinction, does not translate automatically into a consulship or praetorship: it was the decision of a Dictator that resulted in those appointments, which are the cornerstone of Caesar's Acta.

It is a very bitter truth, and I am as frustrated as the rest of you. I myself did not owe to Gaius Julius Caesar my most crucial appointment, my year as Consul (in 50 BC). Indeed, during my Consulship, I called for him to return from Gaul, ending his governorship two years early, as all of you will remember. However, I still understand that afterwards, I served at Caesar's discretion—when he marched on Rome, Caesar knew that I'd attempted to force him to step down from command and bitterly opposed him back in Rome. I chose not to take up arms against him, unlike my brother and my nephew, and was pardoned thusly, and allowed to remain in the Senate. At any time, Caesar could have stripped me of any political power I might have had, and chose not to. While I do not regret my opposition to him, and believe it was absolutely necessary and just, I do not delude myself into thinking that I had some sort of absolute inviolable right to serve in the Senate just because of my time Consul, as though I were appointed by the Gods themselves. Politics is a dangerous game, my fellow Senators, made only more unpredictable by military might and the daggers of assassins. We need whatever stability we can get, and if Caesar's Acta can keep Rome from descending into chaos, we are in position to reject them.

Do Not Act Rashly; Act Sensibly

2008-03-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

Senators,
Many of you label the late Julius Caesar; some of you call him a great, honored, and legitimate leader of Rome, and others, a tyrant. No matter your stance, you must admit that he was at least in some ways trying to rebuild and restore Rome after the civil war. No matter what his goals might have been (merely taking the dictatorship to really give him a chance to restore the Republic or to take advantage of the situation for complete personal gain and sole rule) he never wished Rome any harm.
Though I think it is too late to consider the acta in their entirety, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to at least look at some of them as ideas for future action in Rome. I know for one, that Caesar wanted to make Egypt a friend and ally of Rome. Though Caesar and I had an intimate relationship and this could have been his way to protect me, I think it has been made clear that such an action would be most beneficial to both Egypt and Rome. An act of selfish intentions for one may be the virtuous act of another with right ambition.
I think if the Senate cares enough about the restoration and glory of the Republic, you should all at least know what Caesar had planned. If you are wise men, you will be able to discern which of his acta were in place purely for self-gain and which will best serve the goals of the Republic.
On the topic of political appointments, it would be silly to retract every position filled under the living Caesar as it would probably send the running of the state into total chaos. Even if you wanted to hold another election, there would be no one there to run it. Since the time of his murder, the Senate has continued to recognize Caesar’s “consul designates” with out any hisses from either side. There is another example of those details of the acta which fall more on the side of helping the Republic (or at least in the eyes of the Senate).
I say don’t destroy the acta just yet. At least give them a glance even for the sake of making some good-for-the-Republic decisions more quickly.

A Poet's Thoughts on the Acta

2008-03-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

Senators, we finally have gotten to an issue that should have been addressed weeks ago. However, the malevolent yearning for personal power has prevented us thus far from dealing with the most important issues at hand. Now that Dolabella, Octavius and Lepidus have met a deserving demise, and Antony awaits his, we can finally broach the subject of Julius Caesar’s acta.

I agree with Aulus Hirtius in that I, too, am very torn about what to do about Caesar’s acta. However, my hesitance and indecision arise not out of respect for the dead man, but out of fear of consequences. I think that all of us can agree that complete abolition of the acta would wreak havoc on our Republic and cause absolute chaos. Many of us owe our positions to Caesar, and would be out of power if the acta were destroyed. Mass elections would have to be held to fill these numerous positions, and in our present state of uproar with Antony roving about, such a period of transition would leave the Republic vulnerable to attack.

Though abolishing the acta would put us in a most dangerous position, validating them would also have negative consequences. It makes me shudder to think that a dead man, one known for his overindulgent vices and his obsession with power, should continue to control the workings of our noble Republic. How foolish will we look to the people and the provinces, assassinating our tyrant in vain? For in vain it will be, if we confirm all of his future plans for our state.

At this point, we have operated somewhat according to the acta by allowing many of Caesar’s political appointments. However, we have also witnessed the errors inherent in his plan for Rome. Caesar selected Dolabella to become consul in his stead when he departed for the Parthian Campaign later this year. In an attempt to avoid unnecessary squabbling and untimely elections, we confirmed this designation. We soon learned that Caesar was not the best judge of character. I for one, was not surprised, when I heard the rumors that Dolabella was allowing Antony to bribe him. And I was even less surprised when the Senate learned that Dolabella had betrayed the Republic and joined the reckless rogues Octavius and Lepidus in pursuit of power. For how could a man who destroyed the Republic beyond recognition and indulged himself in contemptible luxury of all kinds be able to recognize decency in others? Lepidus and Octavius themselves, both heirs to Caesar’s legacy, also demonstrated their depravities when they violated the Constitution and left Rome and amassed troops to undermine the power of this Senate and become the next tyrants.

However, due to our good luck, and the fact that some upstanding and honorable citizens do still exist in Romulus’ cesspool, some of Caesar’s designates have risen above his deplorable example. Brutus, Caesar’s protégé and consul designate for 41, though Caesar’s continued tyranny would have assured him unending power and wealth, decided that the Republic was more important than the life of one man and liberated us from a tyrant. Aulus Hirtius, Caesar’s consul designate for 43, has revealed his true loyalty to the Republic by forgoing his consulship for next year in order to serve us nobly in our present time of need.

It is evident that Caesar’s acta have thus far been neither wholly negative nor wholly successful. We cannot destroy them, causing chaos and denying some of the honorable Senators’ their appointments, but we cannot publicly and completely confirm them, submitting still to the tyrannical yoke of the dead Caesar and ignoring his acta’s recent failures. I propose that we continue on the same path we have begun and finish out 44 with Caesar’s appointments still standing. However at the end of the year, as wise Piso has suggested, we should hold elections as normal and let the Romans decide their leaders for themselves. Regarding Caesar’s plans for Rome, as much as I detest the name of that vile cinaedus, none of us can deny that some of his intentions were surprisingly wise and much-needed. Thus, I believe these plans should be brought before the Senate for discussion, and that we proceed accordingly—judging which proposals should be carried out and which should be tossed aside.

Acting Against the Acta

2008-03-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

Senators, let us not pretend that there is any good in these papers of Caesar. By this point, there is little doubt in my mind that when Caesar was scribbling these papers he was touched in the head. Look at the vile monsters he dared suggest were capable of holding any position: Dolabella, that traitorous and spineless consul, Lepidus, that slippery and arrogant warmonger- his own Magister Equitum, Octavian, that upstart brat with delusions of grandeur- his heir, and finally cowardly Marc Antony, whom he left the acta with in the first place. Why have we been following this guidance? Why have we put our ears to the ground, listening to hear if a shade of a tyrant would give his approval? This is not republicanism! Every deed we follow in Caesar’s name is a deed not carried out in the name of the Senate and the People of Rome!

Some might criticize my harshness here, citing that Aulus Hirtius is certainly no Antony or Dolabella and that not every choice Caesar made was a bad one. Well, to be fair to poor departed Caesar’s memory, he had to get something right eventually. But whether one good idea outweighs four horrible appointments should not be a question! Even I doffed my insignia as praetor because it was granted to me by a tyrant, and only resumed the position at the behest of my fellow senators who wisely pointed out that to loose a praetor at such a turbulent time would be an egregious error. I do not mean to sound as though I am asking Hirtius to step down- far from it! I laud the Senate in recommending his name for election, just as I laud their recommendation of Lucius Julius Caesar. I do not praise the will of Caesar, but the will of the Senate! This august body has finally begun making its own decisions. May it continue to follow in this glorious way!

Apparently the acta also include some financial matters which have not yet been resolved as well as public works. Tell me, Senators, was Caesar the only man who proposed public works or accrued debt? Surely every man in this room has some idea as to what to do in regards to these issues, why in the name of Jupiter must we consult Caesar’s acta in order to make a decision? I have no doubt that many Senators may consult the acta for guidance, and with that I have no complaint. It is the duty of the Senate to consider many means to reach an end and advice the magistrates accordingly. It is not, however, the duty of the Senate to further glorify a tyrant by acting only as he would direct. He should have been thrown into the Tiber- then we could have called him a tyrant formally from the beginning and disregarded simpering Dolabella and put in his place a more worthy candidate for the consulship; we could have dealt more readily with brazen Lepidus and his overgrown hubris; we could have denied Octavian the right to his adoptive father’s funds and kept him under our control; and we could have kept Antony in check. Instead we were awed by his lingering specter and bent over backwards according to the will of a dead man. No more, Senators! I say this Senate needs to start thinking for itself!

2008-03-27T20:58:00.001-07:00

On the Acta
My fellow senators, we have been through many a trying issue lately. First with Lepidus, Dolabella, and young Caesar marching on Rome, and now with Marcus Antonius trying to convince me to lead troops against Rome before he was exposed as an enemy to the Republic and fled the city. Despite their horrible actions do not let the deeds of these men cloud your judgment about what needs to be done with Caesar’s acta. It is regrettable that these men decided to claim they were acting in Caesar’s interests when Caesar’s first love and duty was always to the Republic and the Roman people, while those men were obviously only out to strengthen their own power. Perhaps at first they meant well, but power had corrupted them beyond sense when they decided to march on Rome. Any man who truly believed as Caesar did would have never started events that could have torn Rome asunder.
The facts are that many Senators hold the positions they do now because they were appointed by Caesar. If we deny the entirety of the acta then all of his appointments will be called into question which would simply cause more chaos. Even Brutus was given his position by Caesar, which was arguably a mistake, but that is now in the past. In fact some senators would not be alive or in Rome if it was not for Caesar’s clemency. Denying Caesar’s acta because you did not agree with all of his actions in the field, or the actions of his minions such as Marcus Antonius is no reason to declare his actions null and void. One of his actions was to give Aulus Hirtius as consul designate, as we have seen by his fair actions since we ratified him as consul this was not a bad choice. Some of his other intentions for Rome were the building of public works that would benefit the people that he cared for so much.
Should we not restore temples, build and repair aqueducts and roads across the city and improve life for the people? Most importantly we now have the money to being these projects with the property confiscated from the traitors. If see no more fitting revenge than to use their property to build up the Republic which they would have seen torn down. If the fact that Octavianus intended his property to be distributed amongst the people of Rome is found out then the people will not react well. If we preemptively use the money for the people they are less likely to be angry with the senate. I do not suggest this out of fear, but wish only to present the facts as they have occurred in the past. After so recently making moves to protect and unify the city I do not wish to see the people angry with this wise body.
It is undeniable that there are now holes in the acta with the death of Brutus and Hirtius relinquishing his appointment for next year. Still there are many valid points in the acta. We are finally making progress as a senate in unifying our actions and moving back to the Republic that Caesar held so dear and those of us who would truly honor his memory wish to return to.

Regarding Caesar's Acta

2008-03-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

Conscript fathers, the issue at hand seems quite simple to me. The question has been phrased in terms of supporting or denying the late, great Gaius Julius Caesar, but to me, this choice of words merely contributes to the problem. To set out the question itself as a battle between two sides does little more than create even more strife and disharmony than possibly necessary. I propose, gentlemen, that we disregard the fact that Caesar has chosen these men and simple judge each issue based on merit. Why must we approve or disapprove of the entire body of work as a whole, deciding such a vast number of decisions in one fell swoop? As painful and time-consuming as it may be, I think that the best possible solution is to judge each and every candidate based on merit, not on allegiance with or against Caesar.
While I’m well aware that Caesar appointed several outstanding Senators to future positions, many of whom deserve such opportunities and would more than likely serve the Republic respectably, a handful of Caesar’s benefactors have obviously turned out to be a painful and detrimental danger to our society. These men, so closely associated with Caesar during his life, obviously never should have been in charge of the Senate or given any power or responsibility whatsoever. The same may not necessarily be said for every single one of Caesar’s other appointments or mandates. While I’m all for caution and even a fair amount of skepticism regarding Caesar’s political leaders, we cannot allow the horrendous events of the last several weeks to force us into any rash, unnecessarily paranoid decisions on who should lead our Republic in the future. We cannot allow a handful of poor leaders – Lepidus, Octavianus, Dollabella, Antony – to spoil the chances for the handful of great leaders that may be on our horizon, regardless of whether or not Caesar approved of them or not.
Take, for instance, one of our current interim consuls, Aulus Hirtius, who has spent the last several weeks meticulously and painstakingly attempting everything he could to maintain a moderate stance and to direct the course of action of the Senate towards a livable compromise, even as so many here in the Senate made sure everyone knew they disapproved of his common sense and level-headedness. Now, this individual was appointed by Caesar and has since won over your approval to serve as temporary co-leader; in the interest of moderation, he has even opted to step down for the next election. My point is this, Senators, that Caesar appointed good politicians and crooked ones. We can’t assume anything, especially not that just being approved of by Caesar makes you a corrupt political, a repulsive traitor, or a threat to our future.
So, gentlemen, I repeat my proposal: for each individual, let us take into account, not their allegiances or relations to Gaius Julius Caesar, but instead their merit, their past actions, their loyalty to the Republic, their military glory, their words here in the Senate. For each specific foreign policy and each particular legislative initiative, let us consider not the source or the author, but instead the advantages and disadvantages of each measure within our current state of affairs. Caesar’s entire acta is unnecessary and dangerous to take up all at once; we must go on carefully, cautiously bearing mind the steps we have taken to get to where we are and where we would like for the Republic to be. Keep in mind, sirs, that after all that we have been through in the last several weeks – indeed for the last few generations – we still have several years of recovery ahead of us; marches on Rome and internal strife have not buried us entirely, and so we have reason to keep going, reason to be sure that Rome as we know it will live on, under the protection of our own appointees and our own legislative measures. We control our future now, gentlemen. Let’s not screw it up.

Compromise for the sake of the Republic

2008-03-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Fellow senators, I come before you a senator burdened. It is no secret that I have nothing but the deepest loathing for Caesar's tyranny. Were this the only fact weighing on my decision concerning the acta, my answer would be simple: burn the words of the filthy tyrant. However, as you all know, I do have great respect for Caesar and his victories as a military commander throughout his career. Unfortunately, he ceased to have my respect when he crossed the Rubicon. So, dear senators, I think you can see my dilemma.

To enact Caesar's acta in their entirety is out of the question, nay impossible. They call for already two appointments that cannot be filled. This would also effectively send the message to the people that we, the senate, condone Caesar's behavior in its entirety, which is not true of all of us. So thus blanket enacting the acta is not an option.

As of late, we have become a unified senate (with the exception of the fleeing coward and perhaps those who were close to that pathetic excuse for a triumvirate) and I do not wish to see that end. There are those among us who, for whatever reason, fully supported Caesar in all his actions. There are many senators wiser than I, yet they too disagree on this subject. Wise Hirtius, whom I clearly support and respect, as was shown by my recent actions, is still a faithful supporter of Caesar. Also wise beyond his fellows, my dear friend Cicero, who shares my distaste for Caesar's actions as dictator. Who, I ask you, is right? Even better, who can determine who is correct?

Regardless of this matter, we must also face the fact that we have been abiding by the acta in choosing Dolabella and now Aulus Hirtius as consuls. I will not lie to you senators, it was the knowledge that Hirtius was consul designate that led to initial consideration of him. That being said, his position of consul designate was by no means the deciding factor. I have not forgotten Caesar's support of Dolabella as consul suffectus, of Lepidus as Magister Equitum, and of Octavius as his heir and future Magister Equitum. Counting Hirtius's worthy actions, this makes Caesar's record 1-3. He's chosen one good man out of four. Fortunately for him, his military record was better. But this cannot be ignored. Surely had Caesar been alive, he would not have continued to support these men if he were in our positions. Caesar is dead and therefore can no longer give an accurate judgment of character.

For these reasons, I feel that we must compromise for the sake of the Republic. Let the acta be read out of respect for Caesar the general and his supporters. However, let them serve only as a suggestion. This gives Caesar no more power than that of an ordinary senator yet does not disgrace his name either. The acta should not become official legislation unless the senate feels the need to enact one specific aspect at a time. Under no circumstances should we have one blanket vote to enact all the acta. If we wish to move onto public works, we can consult the acta. Those who support Caesar's recommendation can vote in favor of what he stated in the acta. Those who disagree can propose something else. Caesar has been wrong too many times already in the judgment of men. I fear that he might be wrong in other areas as well. Despite the legacy he tried to leave, Caesar was only a man. He can not be afforded in death the same power he forcefully took in life. He should be allowed no more than a recommendation. Even this is perhaps far too generous. Is noble Brutus allowed to make a recommendation? No, he is not. But I feel that we should not create rifts in our recovering Republic. This is all my conscience will allow me to concede.

Caesar's acta; honorably put to rest

2008-03-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

Fellow senators, it has come to our notice that we must decide once and for all what to do with Caesar's acta. Many of us in this senate loved Caesar and indeed, many of us owe him our careers and our lives. Caesar was a great man who saw the potential in people and was able to place them in the best possible position for the betterment of Rome itself. He had the keen ability to see past personal opinion into a man's very being.

Many people would argue that because of his great wisdom we should continue to follow the wishes of Caesar. They might say that those of us in power in the senate are in fact there mainly due to the foresight of Caesar. Should we not continue down the line that he has set us on? I do not believe so. I believe that now that great Caesar is no longer among us we should once again return to the true republic that we are and should have positions filled as they have been in the past through vote as opposed to appointment.

Much has changed since the death of Caesar. We have seen treachery, war, and trying times. Who is to say that even Caesar would not find it necessary to take these things into account when deciding the future of Rome. Perhaps he would choose differently due to these tumultuous times. We cannot say for certain and that adds to why I believe that we should not follow Caesar's acta. Things in Rome have changed and the people have changed as well. We should give them the chance to choose their new leaders as they see fit. Also, how can the consul who is serving now then serve again after he has sworn it shall not be so? Let the people make their own choices and trust in them to choose wisely.

I understand that abolishing the acta may cause problems for certain citizens and certain senators. However, I believe that as Romans they will be able to see beyond their own personal agendas and be able to picture the better action for the whole of the state. We have accomplished much in the past few days, least of which a mild truce amongst the senate and a unity almost unheard of in its senators. Any problems that arise from the abolition of the acta can be dealt with as long as we continue to put aside our differences and focus on the matters at hand. Let us end these petty men and their dishonorable actions against Rome in the name of great Caesar. Let us put a stop to their political schemings all while hiding behind the legacy of a man who would be shamed to his core for being associated with men of such disgrace. Any senators who have issue with a decision not to follow the acta should consider if they are outraged out of deviotion to Caesar and a trust in his decisions, or if they have more personal reasons behind their thoughts.

Caesar helped to shape the Rome in which we live. As I have said and as we all know, many of us are in positions of power and esteem in thanks to him. He trusted us with his most beloved country, trusted in us to make wise and just decisions for the people of Rome. Would he not also now trust in us to make the best decision for the future of Rome? I believe that Caesar himself would want us to follow our own wisdom and honor in this matter and not let our judgement be clouded by blind devotion, political pride, or dishonorable intentions.

We should not be completly blind to the wise wishes of Caesar and yet we should leave the present to the living while respectfully honoring the past and the dead.

Acta Caesaris

2008-03-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

Distinguished senators, at last we bring to the Senate floor the issue of the belated Caesar’s acta. I respected Caesar as an honorable character and trusted him with the hand of my daughter in marriage. I am deeply regretful that he is no longer with us; however, the Republic must unite to conquer the many plagues that have arisen by those who wished to further their own personal agenda and career.

I am aware of the former speculation that the marriage of Caesar to Calpurnia helped lead to my being elected consul in 58. While I am sure that all of you find this accusation blasphemous, I capped my political career as censor and now I am of senior rank in the Senate. The acta therefore cannot benefit me personally. Most unfortunately, several cherished friends of Caesar have recently used the acta to justify their own self-interest. They foolishly marched on Rome in an effort to advance the legacy of Caesar. Senators, I am sure you are all in agreement that dead men cannot effectively control the future of our beloved Rome. Caesar may have written an agenda for the years to come, but would likely alter plans in the event of changes in the characters of selected men.

Thus far, the Senate has obliged the acta by allowing Dolabella to become consul rather than submitting to re-elections. Obviously this was not a wise choice. Some of you may point out that I recommended the noble Aulus Hirtius since he is consul designate for 43. I was not simply following the acta, Senators, but rather recommending a moderate and epicure who, like me, wants reconciliation. I believe that similar men are the best remedy for the Republic. His willingness to sacrifice his consulship in 43 for the immediate concerns of the Republic displays a true Roman and alludes to the potential dispositions of other chosen men of Caesar.

The acta has several holes which cannot be carried out. The consul designate for 43 has already filled the position. Marcus Junius Brutus is consul designate for 41, but has recently been assassinated. Remember that Caesar ruled as a consul himself, only allowing a replacement if he was away from Rome, such as in the case of Dolabella. The Senate must keep its tradition of having two consuls.

I know many Caesarians will argue that Rome may fall into disarray with the abolition of the acta. I myself would hate to see further chaos, social unrest, and potential economic ruin. Therefore, I propose that the acta be maintained for the remainder of 44 so that the Senate can effectively control the situation with Marcus Antonius without the distraction of other internal affairs. After 44, elections for two consuls and the remaining magistrate positions should be reinstated. Any particular problems concerning economic and social problems should be brought before and voted on in the Senate. Let us continue the glory of Rome in the Senate, and privately support the memory of Caesar.

I leave you, conscript fathers, with words of advice to my fellow colleague and senior Senator Marcus Tullius Cicero, who recently surprised us all with the adoption of the bastard child of Cleopatra and, supposedly, Caesar: with all respect to the memory of my son-in-law, perhaps it would be wise to teach Marcus Ptolemy to avoid flaunting the obvious adultery in which Caesar so often engaged.

Much Ado About the Acta

2008-03-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

The senate has had to face many hard choices since the death of the tyrant Gaius Julius Caesar. With the exception of Brutus’ death and the delay of action against Lepidus, the senate has made great advances in getting Rome back to her republican roots. Gaius Julius Caesar’s death was a blessing. The event helped the power hungry see that personal power is temporary, but the republican ideals which this city was founded on are perpetual.

If Caesar was assassinated as the leader of a barbarian tribe, he would be forgotten and his body probably desecrated. Rome is not a city of barbarians and Caesar’s final requests cannot be ignored. Caesar’s acta must at least be considered if for no other reason than because the extreme power he held before his death. A tyrant’s will is a will nonetheless; and as a civil society we should consider whether to allow these requests to be burned, honored in full, or considered in part.
If we honor Caesar’s will in full, Caesar’s authority will be confirmed even after death, which will negate all of our accomplishments since his death. Ambition is a vice that can easily consume the minds of the weak. Ambition can corrupt any person, no matter how little their political clout may seem to be. If the senate allows Caesar’s acta to be ratified in full, the people of Rome will have to live in fear of another tyrant rising to power. Often is it through the powerful that newcomers gain their own influence. Surely Caesar had this in mind while making some of his appointments. The other thing he had in mind was to appoint people into offices who he knew would never oppose his whims and radical policies. Since Caesar’s life was not entirely free from corruption, what guarantee do we have that he did not intend to harm the republic even after his death with his will?

Caesar’s acta do contain orders concerning the financial matters of the people as well as of the city, though, which cannot be ignored. Debts need to be settled and the city needs to have a firm grasp on its own financial situation; but a dead man has no concern in these matters. A dead man, even one whose influence exceeded all others during his life, necessarily forfeits this influence upon death. Consider for a moment, how Rome would be viewed by the outside world if the senate allowed it to be ruled by not just by a dead man, but a dead tyrant! How preposterous it is to even consider ratifying the acta in full when the senate has clearly been in favor of returning to republican, not monarchical ideals.

Supporters of Caesar, and there are many among the senate, will argue that Caesar’s will is mostly responsible for all of our positions in the senate. This is partially true, but we must always remember that he is the one that brought the republic to the brink of destruction. Caesar did not devote his entire life to destroying the republic, so we will not spend the rest of ours denying that he did the state some degree of good in the beginning. For this reason his acta must be considered in discreet parts. Parts concerning military appointments must be discussed in the senate first, for obvious reasons. Parts concerning financial matters must be second, since financial chaos can destroy a city as easily as a tyrant. There is no logic in admitting or denying the will as a whole. As Caesar’s life attests, perhaps not all parts of the acta are misguided. It is up to the senate to decide which parts of the acta are folly and which parts may actually benefit the republic.

Caesar's Acta

2008-03-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

The acta of Caesar should not be read in this senate or in any other part of the Roman Empire. Caesar is now gone and he has been so for quite some time, so we must move on without his help. If we are to truly take control and run Rome as it should be run, we must take responsibility for ourselves. We must not rely on Caesar to keep running things from his grave. We are supposedly wise men (some men wiser than others), so we must use our own wisdom to run this government. The acta is the will of Caesar, and although I was a friend of Caesar, I believe that his time has gone and that we must get on with life without Caesar. I am a man of action, so I do not believe that we should stand by idly without putting effort into running things. This means that even if we must get down into the dirt with the plebs to make sure that our actions are just and right, then that is what we must do. We must take it upon our own shoulders now and pave our own path to the future, for if we rely on others to do our work for us, we will accomplish nothing. By using the acta of Caesar to decide our appointments to office and the running of our foreign policy, we are handcuffing ourselves to the past. I believe that the past has many uses, it is useful to learn from past mistakes, to learn strategy and wisdom from the past helps us to make the future, however I do not believe that we should allow the past to run the present. We must take present matters into our own hands and guide the present into the future that we desire. These matters may sometimes be a heavy burden, but we must prevail and carry on no matter how heavy the burden becomes. I once said that I would give my life for Rome, and I still stand by that assertion. I bear the burden of office gladly because I believe that my wisdom may help better Rome. I fear the day when I am no longer useful and am only a burden upon the Roman people, on that day I will step aside and hope that a better man will receive my position. However, until that day I will not back down from any of my responsibilities and I would hope all of you would feel the same. This is why I believe we must not read the acta of Caesar. I hope that my fellow senators take pride in their duty and are more than willing to stand up for what they believe in no matter who it means opposing. It is often hardest to oppose one’s friends, and that is the only difficulty for me in opposing Caesar’s acta. However, to oppose the will of one who has passed on is not the same as opposition in life. There is no way for Caesar to present his argument on why he has appointed these men or why he believes certain policies should be enacted now. If he were still alive today, perhaps he would not make the same choices. These were Caesar’s beliefs as of a month ago, and if we allow the acta to be enforced, we may be making choices that are post dated. Thus, I believe that the senate should help shape the future and decide all of the matters that now present themselves to us. We can keep moving toward a better tomorrow if we all join together and try to make it so. Who could fault us if we give our best for the sake of Rome? However, if we think only of ourselves and what we have to gain from Caesar’s appointments, then I am sorry to call myself a senator. I have the courage to stand against the acta and all who support it. Now the question is, do you?

Who controls Caesar's Legacy?

2008-03-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

It has become a dire need, conscript fathers, for us to speak about Caesar’s legacy. The Senate must determine how history will remember Caesar, and how his actions shall be defended or denigrated. It is my hope that we can come to an Ultimate and Unanimous resolution to this question.

In the past month, Marcus Lepidus and Gaius Octavianus both attempted to use their connections with Caesar’s Legacy for personal gain. I worry that Marcus Antonius sought to do the same with Caesar’s Acta. If we do not provide the people guidance in this matter, fathers, then we will be allowing other legacy-hunters the use of Caesar’s name to stir dissension among our ranks. We must, as a united group, state firmly and finally how Caesar’s life shall be remembered by all true Romans.

(As I write this, word has been brought to me that Antony too, not having learned from the criminal, the brat and the traitor, claims Caesar’s legacy as his own. In this letter he has contradicted everything read on Wednesday, and shows just how deeply he venerates the Republic and its laws, by seeking to destroy them.)

The question of Caesar’s legacy takes on added weight for me personally, as I prepare to teach young Marcus Ptolemy about his father. What actions of Caesar’s shall he be taught to emulate, and which to avoid? For, as in every man’s life, some of Caesar’s actions can be judged right and appropriate, while other actions must be censored as destructive and harmful.

Lepidus, Octavianus, Dolabella and M. Antonius were heirs to Caesar’s legacy, as am I and the rest of the Senate who has remained loyal to the Republic. Consider whose actions have been judged traitorous to the State, and whose actions have helped preserve it. That both the legacy of saving, and that of threatening the Republic have come from one man indicate that contradictions existed within Caesar’s life. We, Conscript Fathers, must disparage those actions which we have prosecuted in others, and praise those actions which we extol when found in ourselves. Likewise we must prosecute those actions of Caesar’s which lead to the treason of Lepidus, Octavianus, Dolabella and Antonius, and yet commend those actions of his which lead to the expansion of Roman power and prestige.

How does civil war advance Roman might, when Roman seizes Roman property, and Roman slaughters Roman life? How can ANY MAN who chooses to march on Rome argue that he holds the Republic foremost in his heart? How can any true Roman seek the death of another Roman, simply for his own profit? Likewise, how can any True Roman allow an enemy of Rome to live, when the State will be more secure with that man’s death? Such were Caesar’s actions when he left Gaul, under the advice of Antony, and it is such a legacy that Antony follows now. We cannot praise the actions of a man who disparages the authority and power of the Senate, trusting rather in his own deceptions and lies.

We can only commend those actions of Caesar, or indeed of any Roman, that increase Rome’s majesty without loss of honor, property, or life of another Roman. No majesty is gained when a Roman suffers involuntary harm; Roman honor only increases when ALL Romans are able to profit from the actions taken. Unfortunately, recent men have sought profit for themselves at the expense of their fellow Roman. Under such conditions, it is necessary for the safety of the greatest number to be protected from the machinations of thieves and murderers. The Senate cannot approve any action that does not hold the Republic’s safety at it’s core.

This same guideline must govern our actions concerning Caesar’s Acta. If we fully deny the power of Caesar’s Acta, then we will also invalidate the right of many of our own members to hold the magistracies which allow them to guide the Republic toward safety and prosperity. Such an action invites chaos, as the senate must question by what right anyone may hold power. If, on the other hand, we recognize that Caesar’s Acta should be fully enacted, all our actions since the last Ides must be questioned. What if the Acta speak positively of M.Lepidus, C. Octavianus, or P. Dolabella? What if the Acta recommend that M. Antonius be invested with additional honors beyond those of the Consulship, whose powers he has manipulated to be advantageous to himself? The Republic has suffered too much during the time between the Acta’s dictation and the current day. Caesar could not have spoken thoughtfully of the situations which we have faced since his death. The Acta speak of a Republic that Caesar envisioned, not the one which exists.

The Senate must be allowed to judge the Acta not as a single set of suggestions, but as individual actum from a man with an incomplete understanding of Rome’s current political situation. We must be given the power to oversee which Actum will increase the glory of our State, which will incur harm, and which no longer have any bearing.

Rise Above, Honored Senators

2008-03-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

Honored senators, I must confess that I am torn on the subject of Caesar’s acta. I respected and admired the man, and, whatever things may have been said, I believe he was a wise and ultimately just leader. Therefore, as an ally of Caesar and as one of his former generals, I feel as though I must abide by his acta, since I believe that they were written with the best of intentions and with careful consideration. As a proud Caesarian, there could be no desire further from my heart than to dishonor his name and invalidate his works by denouncing the acta.

At the same time, my desire to honor a leader I admired so much places me in a difficult situation. Although I have given up my claim to the next year’s consulship in order to serve the Republic in its current string of crises as consul suffectus, it is undeniably true that I have benefited from Caesar’s acta even more now than I benefited from Caesar’s favor as one of his generals. This being true, I fear it may seem tremendously partisan and self-serving of me to remain in support of the acta, yet I am hopeful, conscript fathers, that you will see past this shallow interpretation in order to hear the truth of my words.

The state, while it has been set on its way towards recovery due to the courageous acts of its citizens and senators, remains in a state of instability and danger. At this time, Marcus Antonius still runs about the countryside attempting to gather aid for his final and, I think we would all agree nearly inevitable, assault on Rome. Thus we must sensibly retain, rather than foolishly and hastily discard, the available and, more importantly, stable governmental plan that has been left for us.

I dearly wish that I could state this unequivocally, but such is not the case. As it stands now, the staunchest and most powerful proponents of Gaius Julius Caesar have all betrayed the Republic. Indeed, all but one of these men is dead. Thus those men whom I would ordinarily hope would be the most viable advocates for the worth of the acta have done nothing more than besmirch the names of Caesar and all who associated with him. In this current climate of mistrust and betrayal, I cannot allow myself to believe for even a moment that I am free from all suspicion, despite the fact that I have always tried to stand only for what I believed to be right and beneficial to the state.

Further issues have arisen in the form of Brutus’ demise. Between the death of the consul designate for 41 and the fact that I have renounced my claim to the consulship for next year, a great many holes have begun to appear in the acta. What shall be done for next year? Will elections be held for only one consul? And it is unlikely that these problems will be the only ones to emerge. As we move further and further into the future, it is inevitable that more and more problems will become apparent.

And so you see, gentlemen, that I have found myself in a difficult situation. The acta are now incomplete with regard to their appointments, and yet I am loath to discard them completely due to the implications it will have for the memory of a man I respected. In addition, it is only Caesar’s appointments that have demonstrated the problems thus far; his provisions for foreign policy, internal affairs, and legislation remain unchanged and undamaged. While it may be impossible for us to simply pick and choose which aspects of the acta we wish to utilize, neither should we abandon the entire body of work because of a few surmountable problems related to only one aspect. Thus, I urge you to renounce what partisanship you might feel toward the acta and well and truly look at the provisions within it. Study them. Let your hearts and minds undertstand that the acta is less the legacy of Ceasar than it is the course which will lead Rome into its glorious future.

Address to the Legions

2008-03-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

Noble Legions,

Men! You all know the place our great general died. Word must have reached you of how Marcus Junius Brutus and his gang of senators bit into our commander so many times with their betrayal and daggers in the senate house. How they accepted his clemency and prosperity, then turned on him in frenzy. I, so woefully waylaid by the betrayer’s own cousin, Decimus Junius Brutus could not reach them in time. I felt the bitterness most severe of losing him so close, falling just short of arriving to his aid.

After his death the assassins regrouped with their allies to celebrate their vile victory. I feared even for my own life at the time, but soon found them seemingly sated with one man, for the time being. Betrayed though I was, though you were, though all of Rome was from the murder of Caesar; I thought it best to wait and eventually bring the senate to bear against his killers rather than strike prematurely and fail. I foolishly fought by the rules of the city rather than the field, with litigations and legislation in stead of spears and swords. I sought carefully to maintain order and dignity in that city. I remained at least to ensure Caesar’s funeral games. I waited there to bring the country slowly back to the course of Caesar’s act and spirit. I waited in fain, the day never came that I could further his administration and will.

Though the people remained loyal to Caesar in the streets the senator’s malevolence spread in the senate. This began with their refusal to persecute M.J. Brutus. The enfeebled senators cravenly craved only to escape a bloody fate, caring nothing for Rome nor virtue. They chose to hide their vengeance in shame. I wrestled still with the doddering old men, but with time their fatigue disease spread among the senate and through conniving wickedness the republicans furthered their insidious corruption of the state. With such an epidemic of insolence little progress dragged on.

They blocked my movements, threw up filibusters and stretched issues before the floor. Many of you felt the effects of this as well - the lands owed to you for your service still wait unclaimed and undesignated. You waited to rot in idleness while old men sharpened their tongues and whispered slant lies to further their desires. When finally you received commanders again some of you received a man who merely waited for the time to stretch away, others a mere boy, both failed against me when I marshaled the senate’s armies. Though the situation grew ever darker, my allies still remained, and I protected the city for them and right. Even after I defended the city, the city betrayed me. The corruption in the senate reached a new height in my own betrayal, by none other than my own brother. The venom dripping from the liars’ fangs dripped down into his ear and he lied and betrayed me for his own advancement.

It was I finally saw that the senate is diseased beyond healing. Like a limb beyond it must be severed lest it infect all of Rome. There are a few senators who still remain loyal to the strength of Rome, embodied in her lands, her glory, her armies! They who helped me escape an unjust imprisonment, they who finally retaliated against M.J. Brutus, they who refuse to accept those deceivers and manipulators who have seized the senate. These men are worthy of running Rome, but our enemies have stolen the magistrate’s authority. All these worthy men are allies against those who win authority through womanish tricks. The thieves of power now accuse me of manly pleasures, manly actions, manly ways. They know that I partake in the same joys of a soldier’s life, the men I have fought beside in so many campaigns. I have fought with from Hispania to Macedonia, from Egypt to Gaul, all across the empire for Caesar, for glory, for my due.

Now Caesar is dead at the hand of those men he offered friendship, those men I tried to govern. I his closest general and you his veterans and troops lack the man who drove us across the land in brilliant victory. So close to securing a country, he was struck by deception in his own city. I will not make the same error as Caesar, I survived my dealings with those vipers and their betrayal through the foolishness of my assailants and the strength of my allies. I have grown wise those men’s their treachery. I now offer to take up your contract where Caesar left off. Fight for me and we can reclaim Rome. There is much land in the hands of fools and cowards - follow me and we can take back our city, take back our land, take back our country!

Like composer, like acta. LET THEM BURN!

2008-03-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

In light of this recent recovery of our former tyrant’s acta, my suggestion for action in the senate is simple: burn it all, and burn it well.

In the past several weeks, this most noble republic has demonstrated that there is no room for tyranny. Julius Caesar attempted and failed; Marcus Antonious attempted and failed; Marcus Lepidus, Gaius Julius Caesar, and Publius Cornelius Dolabella attempted collectively to overcome the Republic and also failed; To withstand such attempts and still produce a functioning and (somewhat) unified senate is an enormous accomplishment. These things having been brought forward, I do not understand why there is even any consideration for approving Caesar’s acta. To approve of and distribute the acta accordingly would declare the Republic’s loyalty to a tyrant’s deeds, even when he is dead! Noble senators, must I remind you that there was a reason that that imperial ox was put down?

To the Caesarian party, I understand your loyalty to Caesar. I too was subject to Caesar’s charms and gifts while under his military command. However, I snapped out of the spell he placed on us and saw him for the true tyrannical, egotistical maniac he really was! Some of you fear that abolition of the acta would lead to chaos throughout the empire. My response to that is with what this great empire has witnessed here in the past few weeks (liberation of Rome, take-over by Marcus Antonious, march on Rome by a wretched and self-proclaimed triumvirate, and the assassination of Rome’s liberator himself), I think it to be in the best interest of the people that we condemn the acta to the same fate as its composer. Even if by pure insanity we support the tyrant’s obsolete requests, the floodgates will open for future tyrants who can easily claim power or advancement of their personal agendas, just by pointing to Caesar’s documents. For once, Caesarians I ask you to put aside your personal agendas for the safety and well-being of the Republic, just as noble Brutus once did.

Furthermore, in no way does my disapproval of Caesar’s acta advance my personal ambitions in this senate. The reason I am so adamantly against advocating the acta is because I firmly believed and still do believe that he was a tyrannical criminal, who had the utmost disregard for the Republic and what it stands for. It would be extremely hypocritical of the senate to accept Caesar’s acta because it would declare our loyalty to a dead tyrant’s requests. Logically, if his acta are taken into effect, then Caesar’s tyrannical system is still in effect. To accept would erase any success this senate has had in the past several weeks, and would send us back to square one: what to do about Caesar. He was a criminal, a tyrant, and an oppressor; therefore his last requests should be viewed as tyrannical; it is that simple, conscript fathers.

Also, with the recent and sudden (and extremely unexpected!) assassination of Brutus himself, accepting Caesar’s acta would be a spit on most noble Brutus’ grave. He was commended for his self-less act of putting an end to Caesar’s tyranical romp, and then cursed by Postumus’ knife. If the acta were to be accepted, wise senators, then it would appear to the people of our esteemed empire that Caesar was murdered for no reason. This, I assure you, cannot be the case. So let us put an end to Caesar’s tyrannical ways once and for all. Let the acta burn to death under the same fate as its composer!

Letter from Marcus Antonius to the Senate

2008-03-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

Marcus Antonius to the senate and people of Rome,

Greetings from, well, wouldn’t you like to know where! I am sure that by now you have all learned of my flight from an unjust and unconstitutional imprisonment. Those of you who have conspired against me will have received this news with grimaces on your bloated senatorial faces, but those of you who still support me and stand firm on the side of the right will have rejoiced on hearing of my escape. I am writing this letter to explain and justify my action. I hope all of you will listen attentively, as this letter contains information of the utmost significance.

I need not recall to your minds my distinguished ancestry, which stems ultimately from the god Herakles, nor my distinguished service in the past on behalf of our noble republic. I need not recount all of my valiant military exploits in Palestine, Egypt, Gaul, Spain, Greece, and Italy herself, mater nostra. What I want most to remind you of is my recent conduct in the senate. I was entrusted with the acta of Caesar by his wife, Calpurnia, yet I have refrained from using them to prevent more unnecessary conflict in the senate, even though I would just be enacting the will of Caesar. More to the point, who was it who deposed the cowardly Lepidus from his position as magister equitum? Marcus Antonius. Who was it who then accepted a colleague you all appointed in the consulship in order to restore the republic to its former dignity? Marcus Antonius. Who was it who opposed the traitorous Lepidus, Octavian, and Dolabella in their impious march on Rome? Marcus Antonius. What fault, then, chickpea gallery, what fault can you find with these actions? What charge can you level against me when you observe without bias my conduct in the senate over the past weeks? Are my actions the sort of actions that should be rewarded with an unjust imprisonment? No, these are the actions of a patriotic Roman, someone who puts the interests of the republic before his own, someone who upholds the duty of his position and with every action supports the senate.

“But,” you may respond, “when the tribunes opposed you in the senate they read letters that surely incriminate you, don’t they?” Yes, those two tribunes, the illustrious Lucius Caesetius Flavus and the trustworthy Lucius Antonius, traitor to his own kin. I refer to them now only as the Gracchi brothers, since their actions will ultimately be as much or more detrimental to our state than those of Tiberius and Gracchus. Yes, the Gracchi did read letters in the senate that supposedly came from my own hand, with my own seal. But do you trust these men? What a shameful lot of timorous morons you are if you do! Did you not notice that they usurped the floor not only from, the consul, but also from the praetor, who by all rights should have taken over when I stepped down? Those two pieces of tribunician scum took control of the senate? Gentlemen, am I the last Roman, or does anyone else see the ignominy of this course of action? And you would trust these wretches? You would trust Lucius Antonius, a man who betrayed his own brother?!?! Dwell on this for a moment, gentlemen. How reliable is Lucius Antonius, or Gaius as I now refer to him? What more shameful action is there than the betrayal of one’s nearest relative? I would rank Lucius’ crime above that of Brutus, who only killed his benefactor. Lucius betrayed his own brother, and yet you all let this illegitimate (how else can account for his action?) lowlife take charge of the senate? And as for Lucius Caesetius, or Tiberius as I call him, confess to yourselves how much you love that prickly bastard.

“But they read letters.” Yes, they read letters. And I am sure that the outstanding character of these two true Romans guarantees the authenticity of those letters. Did it ever occur to any of you that, since I trusted my brother with a brother’s trust, that is, wholeheartedly, I suspected nothing when he borrowed my seal and even on occasion let him sign letters in my name? How do you think Tiberius and Gaius came by those letters, then? I happen to know, because I too have a letter, this one delivered to me by a trustworthy senator. It is a letter, one of the many that I have in my possession, from the traitor Gaius to his brother in deception:

(To Lucius Caesetius Flavus )

Hey, I’ve finished thinking about your proposition and I think you’re right. If you can assure me at least praetorship then I’ll support you against marcus. I’d also go for a tribune with consular powers if you still think that is easier to do. We need to keep my situation a secret for as long as possible. I can pass you information, but I don’t have any evidence against him yet. If it comes down to it we can always just make up as much as we need.

Marie
(Lucius Antonius)

Who can doubt that this comes from the hand of Lucius Antonius? The letter has his seal. It is written in his appalling, tribunician Latin. This letter, then, reveals what is actually going on right now: we are witnessing a conspiracy on the part of the tribunes to overthrow a great man, and god only knows their motivations. Both seem eager for higher office. Perhaps they are just trying to shore up their own positions for a future agenda. Don’t be surprised if they soon propose a land bill that is popular with the people.

But if you respond, “How do we know that this letter is authentic?” I shall put the same question back to you, “How do you know that the letters they read in the senate were authentic?” You, and the tribunes, have no other corroborating evidence. The only thing you have to compare with those letters is my behavior in the senate, and, as I set forth above, my recent behavior in the senate has been impeccable. If you go by my deeds, then you must admit the folly of your decision to imprison me without trial. If you rely so entirely on letters produced by the Gracchi, then you really are fools.

The chickpea party and, in particular, Mr. Chickpea himself have not shown such impeccable behavior in the senate of late. He allies himself not only with a traitor of his own brother and murderers, but has even stooped to adopt a little barbarian. Perhaps he has grown similar in mind to his Greek lackey. Let me remind you of this simple fact: on the recommendation of Cicero I was imprisoned without trial. Now, we all know on the basis of his track record that Mr. Chickpea is no stranger to proceeding against Roman citizens without trial, but who would have thought that he would repeat this same tactic after being exiled for a similar action 20 years ago? Has he not learned his lesson? I vow here in this letter that he will – that pacing windbag will learn to keep his mouth shut. And what of the noble Brutus? His escape from a trial for his act of parricide only emboldens him. I remind you all that four men have marched on Rome in recent days, and Brutus was the first. He called down Decimus’ legions on the city without senatorial approval or knowledge, and it was only my quick thinking that preserved our noble city from a tyranny of the chickpeas. And what about their military appointments? They have Catullus, the poet-general, out in the field, a man who has less military experience than the little finger I lost to a Gallic swordsman and less courage than my daughter.

And look at you senators who formally pledged your loyalty to Caesar: you bow to this petty faction that clings womanishly to tradition and vainly believes it can stop what is coming. It cannot. And if you have any self-respect left you will leave your seats in the senate and come join me in the camp. I will make things right.

Thus, it is with a clean conscience that I flee the city and go to my legions. I have been wrongly imprisoned, falsely maligned, strikingly unappreciated, and drastically underestimated. But I will make these things right.

Marcus Antonius

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus' Will: Now Public in the Forum

2008-03-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

A copy of the will of my late brother-in-law, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, was left with my wife, Octavia, to be posted publicly in the event of his death.

The will stipulated that he did not appoint an heir. Instead, his monetary assets were to be assessed and distributed to the Roman Citizenry. He also pronounced Marcus Agrippa as the executor of his will.

Of course, the will Senate has already ruled that the will is not legitimate, that no such action will be taken, and that all of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus' property is to be ceased in the name of the Senate.

Swifter Action is Needed: Charges against Mark Antony dropped

2008-03-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

Due to recent events surrounding Marcus Antonius, namely his escape from prison, I have decided to drop the charges brought against him. I feel that because he will not be able to hear his verdict himself, the trial would only serve to take up time in which he can gain support outside of Rome. As is evidenced by his actions in the Senate yesterday and his fleeing custody, he believes he cannot defend himself and is labeling himself guilty. It is my recommendation that we as the Senate use measures more swift and decisive than trial against Marcus Antonius. Delaying in this matter will only lead to him attempting to exact revenge or use his ties with Caesar to gain support for himself in a bid for power. We have all seen what this can lead to and should prevent it at all costs. Marcus Antonius has clearly shown that he does not wish to cooperate with the Senate and as such should not be allowed to explain his actions or defend himself. Our delaying in action will only lead to another crisis. Let us learn from the past and act swiftly to prevent Marcus Antonius from gaining supporters. I plead with you fellow senators do not let Marcus Antonius become a new Lepidus, Octavianus, or Dolabella.

Paper topic #5

2008-03-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

Julius Caesar left behind many papers, memoranda, etc., recording how he intended to deal with political appointments, internal issues, legislative initiatives, foreign policy matters, etc. These papers, along with Caesar’s various enactments while alive, are referred to as his acta.

Many Caesarians want approval of the acta out of self-interest, and believe that abolition of the acta would lead to chaos all over the empire. Indeed, the abolition of government appointments, financial arrangements, etc., could lead to social unrest and economic ruin, especially for those in debt. Approving the acta as a whole, on the other hand, is problematic, as a consul or other official could use the acta to justify and advance his own personal agenda in the future.

Republicans might feel that if the acta are still in effect, then the Caesarian system is still in effect. Some will argue that the acta logically should be rescinded since Caesar was a tyrant. By accepting the acta, the Senate in particular is binding itself to accept Caesar’s appointments to elective office. So Caesar, in spite of his death, will effectively control the direction future government is to take. Many Republicans may be outraged at Caesarians enjoying Pompeians’ property.

Should the Senate confirm Caesar’s acta?

Two pages, double-spaced, due in hard copy to Matt Wineski in class on FRIDAY, MARCH 28. Please e-mail to the Gamemaster at tkdix@uga.edu and post to the blog before class. You may post a longer version to the blog.

A Letter from Marcus Antonius

2008-03-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Senators,

Should the senate decide, in light of Marcus Antonius' recent escape, not to conduct his trial tomorrow, I would request from our two noble consuls that I be allowed to read this letter he has left with me aloud in the senate, as it holds information of the utmost importance for the senate and Roman people as a whole. I am sure that one and all will wish to hear what he has to say.

Marcus Cornelius

Escape

2008-03-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

Senators,

By now you have undoubtedly discovered my escape from prison. I have been driven to this course by the overwhelming conspiracy against me. I will not wait passively to become the scapegoat needed for my enemies to elevate and reward their cronies. Despite my absence you may persecute my name and thus I have left a letter with my defense attorney Marcus Cornelius Cossus to help clear my name of these slanderous charges.

Marcus Antonius

The Charges against Marcus Antonius

2008-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

Marcus Antonius is charged with:

Quaestio de maiestate, “diminishing the majesty of the Roman people”

Specifically through

Bribery
Conspiring to ambush Senators
Conspiring to do harm to a Tribune of the Plebs
Conspiring to assassinate a consul

Guards

2008-03-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

Senators, in reaction to the overwhelming votes in the Senate meeting today, I have placed guards in front of Marcus Antonius' cell. This is to prevent any escape attempt he or any of his supporters may make. Ready your arguements for his trial on Wednesday.

The Trial of Marcus Antonius

2008-03-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

Salvete, patres conscripti,

My name is Marcus Cornelius Cossus, and I am leading the defense for the noble and illustrious Marcus Antonius. I am delighted to hear that a relative of mine, Cinna, will be conducting the trial. I have every confidence that he will do so fairly and decorously.

The purpose of this brief letter is to DEMAND that the prosecution, in keeping with legal norm and proper behavior, make publicly known (i.e., post to the blog) the charges against Marcus Antonius. If we do not have these charges by tomorrow (3/25) at noon, I shall propose in the senate on Wednesday that this entire trial is a farce and that it be thrown out on the grounds that the defense had an inadequate amount of time to prepare for it.

Marcus

A Reminder from Your TA

2008-03-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

On a topic other than the game, this is a reminder that the Olympics will be held this Saturday, March 29. The games will start at 9:00, and they will be at the Reed quad. Also, extra credit will be given for participation and victory. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend, but you will only be fed if I receive an email from you.

Matt Wineski

Some Lovely New Decor

2008-03-24T04:56:00.000-07:00

Senators,

I have just witnessed a rather remarkable little scene in the forum. As I was taking my morning walk, I encountered a small crowd that seemed to be bearing several litters. At first I thought that this must be some sort of hastily assembled funeral procession. However, as they neared, I noticed that the expressions on the faces of the crowd were not ones of mourning, but rather that of anger. I must tell you that I found this rather disconcerting, so, hoping to prevent the outbreak of some sort of riot, I quickly approached the man who appeared to be the leader of the mob, and asked him whither they were going and what the cause of their anger might be. His answer, fellow Senators, surprised me. He answered me: "Sir, I am a veteran and served under Pompey, and it sickens me that we let the bodies of murderers and traitors be accorded the same honors as good and noble Romans. We are taking the bodies of Lepidus, Octavianus, and Dolabella to be dealt with properly." Astonished that such virtue still existed in Rome, I told him to carry on, and I followed the crowd up to the Tarpeian rock. At the edge of the cliff, the leader of the crowd halted. He had the bodies of the traitors brought forward, and, when the crowd had done so, he decapitated the traitorous dogs. The crowd then dumped the bodies off the cliff, and a small contingent ran down and dragged the bodies off through the streets to be dumped into the Tiber. Meanwhile, the veteran placed the heads on pikes and began to parade them down through the forum and finally placing them on the Rostrum, where they sit currently. I am amazed that men so virtuous still exist in our city, who know how to punish those who attempt to destroy our fatherland.

Clarification

2008-03-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

My last speech was meant to represent my stance before class on Wednesday. I stood by Octavian as the heir of Julius Caesar, but (if I didn't make this clear, I'm sorry) he was an obvious threat to the state. I did not declare allegiance to anyone in my speech.

New Senators

2008-03-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

Three senators will join the Senate tomorrow.

LUCIUS AEMILIUS PAULLUS (Mark Crowley) is the elder brother of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. In 63, he brought formal charges of violence (vis) against Catiline; and he was one of the sponsors of the bill to recall Cicero from exile. Cicero called Paullus “a man born to preserve the Republic.” As curule aedile in 56, he began to restore the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum, a building begun by the family in the second century BCE. He was praetor in 53 and consul in 50. He was a passive supporter of Julius Caesar in 50; perhaps he was won over by a huge donation from Caesar for the completion of the Basilica project, or perhaps he was helping his brother; in any event, he took no part in the Civil War.

GAIUS CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS (Kainien Morel) was consul in 50 BCE. Frustrated in his efforts to recall Julius Caesar from his province, Claudius called on Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus to take command of the two legions stationed at Capua and to raise more troops (2 December 50). After the outbreak of the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Claudius remained in Italy and obtained Caesar’s pardon. In 46 he made a dramatic appeal to Julius Caesar for the pardon and return to Italy of his first cousin, Marcus Claudius Marcellus (consul 51 BCE), who had also opposed Caesar and had been in exile on the island of Mytilene in the eastern Mediterranean since 48. In response to Gaius' appeal and Caesar’s pardon of his cousin, Cicero delivered his speech of gratitude to Caesar, the pro Marcello. (Marcus Claudius Marcellus was murdered in 45, as he passed through Greece on his way back to Italy.)

Since 54 Gaius Claudius has been married to Octavia, daughter of Gaius Octavius and Atia (herself the daughter of Julia, Caesar’s sister) and sister of the young Gaius Octavius, adopted in his will by Julius Caesar.

LUCIUS CORNELIUS CINNA (Emily Allen) is from a patrician family and the son of Lucius Cornelius Cinna (consul 87, 86, 85, 84 BCE), who was the most famous supporter of Marius and opponent of Sulla. Cinna supported Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the consul of 78, when he tried to dismantle Sulla’s “constitution,” and he joined Quintus Sertorius, a supporter of Marius and Cinna's father, in Spain, where Sertorius held out against the forces of Sulla through 75. Cinna was allowed to return to Italy, along with other supporters of Lepidus, in 70 BCE, supported by Julius Caesar (who was married to Cinna's sister at the time); but Sulla’s laws still prohibited Cinna from a public career until after Caesar captured Rome in the civil war and passed a law allowing the sons of those proscribed by Sulla to reenter public life. Cinna was elected praetor in 44. Cinna was not one of the conspirators against Caesar, but after Caesar's assassination Cinna joined the tyrannicides and took off the insignia of his office as praetor “because they were the gift of a tyrant.” Cinna resumed his insignia for the first Senate meeting after the assassination, but was attacked on his way to the Senate and was rescued by the magister equitum Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. The Roman mob attacked a tribune of the people named Cinna (Gaius Helvius Cinna) by mistake for Cornelius Cinna. After Caesar’s death, Cornelius Cinna sponsored the recall of the tribunes Gaius Caesetius Flavus and Gaius Epidius Marullus, who had been deprived of their tribunician powers after they removed a diadem from Caesar’s statue and prosecuted persons who saluted Caesar as king.

Rebellion in the Provinces

2008-03-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Senators I have some most grave though perhaps predictable news. Since we removed the legions to defend ourselves against the triumvirate there are grumblings of revolt in the provinces. As consul it is my duty to lead the armies of Rome in crushing this opposition; however, I am reluctant to leave Rome without any consuls in the city at this delicate time. My first duty is to the senate, next to the army. I will transfer the power of command to some worthy senators. Due to the overwhelming qualification of so many senators I have yet to choose who to send. I remind you that we already have Gaius Valerius Catullus and Lucius Antonius appointed to deal with the Syrian Province, but the legions from North Africa, Sardinia, the Hispanias, the Gauls, Illyricum and Macedon are all without leaders. Although I can give command of these legions away, I need you to vote to give funding and grain to the armies. I ask for your cooperation in this matter as it benefits none of us to have 17 legions leaderless, hungry, and without pay drifting across Italy.

A message from Lucius Antonius

2008-03-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

A message has been sent from Lucius Antonius, as he is still co-commander of troops outside of Rome.

Fellow Senators! A great travesty has indeed occurred! I regret to tell you that the statues you may have seen in the forum recently are in the likeness of myself. Being immortalized next to the Gods is a great honor and I know that I have done nothing in my life worthy of such honor. Had I been in Rome at the time of their construction, I would have personally seen that they were immediately taken down and destroyed. When I returned to Rome it was at the co-command of troops with my fellow senator Catullus to help defend the city from those we once called our own. There was no time to focus on this issue, as my beloved city was under attack. Catullus and myself did the best we could with our limited military experience to help in the defense of our great city. I am happy to tell you now that the safety of our city is secure once more, I have turned my full attention to this great shame that has fallen onto me. I have taken it upon myself to be rid of the statues that I never deserved. As we speak they are being destroyed beyond recognition, never able to shame the forum with their presence again. My only regret is that they were ever put up at all.

Adoption of Caesarion

2008-03-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

I, Marcus Tullius Cicero, have undertaken to pledge myself, and have acted upon this pledge, to adopt Caesarion, son of Cleopatra and Gaius Julius Caesar, into my household and family. I further pledge to ensure his continued safety within my household and those of my friends. he will be afforded a postion equal to that of my own son, as is appropriate to his young age. His mother, the Queen of Egypt, will be welcomed into my household as an honored guest, and will be provided full access to her son during his education in my my house. He will be given the name Marcus Ptolemy Tullius Caesarionis.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

[Please read comments]

Recovering

2008-03-21T05:26:00.000-07:00

Senators,
You probably noticed that I was not in my usual place, just outside the senate house during its last meeting. I sat down to eat the other night, but stopped after the first taste. My poor servant is dead, and I am violently ill. Someone was obviously trying to poison me. He or she did not succeed. I will be returning to listen in on the Senate meeting today.
Cleopatra

A Queen in a Bind

2008-03-21T05:25:00.001-07:00

Senators,

I firmly believe that one man with the potential to do great good has also the power to wreak great havoc. The late, great Julius Caesar saw a potential in his young nephew. He knew him to be cunning and bright. He saw a brave and courageous leader; he saw much of himself in the young man. Yet, few in the Senate felt the same. You recognize the all of the appointments and suggestions made by Caesar before is death, including the praetorship of the murderous, Brutus, accept for one. The young Caesar has acted according to his own dignitas. He knows he is all that his adopted father could have hoped for and more, but he is very dangerous now. We must not forget how important dignitas is to a Julius Caesar.
I find myself in a bind. I am a definite supporter of the young Julius Caesar, but, though my attempts at reaching out to you so far have been shot down, I still feel a sense of duty to Rome. If I stay in Rome amongst those left in the Senate, am I really going to be heard, understood, cared for, respected, or even recognized as one important to Rome in terms of resources? Catullus may make whatever outrageous claims of whose bed I may take comfort in, but nothing of the sort has happened. I still miss the warmth of the late Caesar. If he is referring to my obvious contact with Marcus Antonius and Gaius Julius Caesar, he should remember 1) These two were Caesar’s close and trusted friends before his death, and 2) they do not stand now beside a murderer and a coward. Also, I am sure as consul, Marcus Antonius receives a great deal of correspondence. There is no proof that any letter snatched by Catullus’ ridiculous fingers came from me.
Back to the topic at hand, where do I go from here? Where does my allegiance lie, with the rightful heir of Julius Caesar or with the Senate of Rome? Unless these two can be reconciled I am going to have to follow my heart. Unless someone wants to recognize that I am a strong, intelligent, and useful human being to the noble cause of protecting Rome, I am going to have to leave and give my support fully to the young Gaius Julius Caesar. I think he has a much to offer to the Senate and people of Rome. The senate has made a grave mistake in not seeing that.
On to Lepidus and Dolabella: I think the senate may regret a few of its recent decisions. 1) Lepidus should have been brought down immediately when he was still in Rome. 2) When Lepidus was declared an enemy of Rome, you sent out one legion, a legion unable to face the forces of Lepidus and led by an inept, debt-ridden fool. How can we be sure Dolabella won’t give in to Lepidus and join up with him after the offer of a bribe? Was Dolabella not a great supporter of Lepidus while he was still in the Senate? Was he not incredibly adamant about NOT sending a formidable force? I guess, we’ll have to wait and see where Dolabella’s heart truly is. I offered my aid, my grain, my friendship, and none of it has been accepted. What is it you want from me, Senators? I have offered it all. I just hope you know what you are doing when you have an army at your door. It is coming.

Cleopatra

P.S. That could have been read as a threat, but I don’t it wasn’t one. It was a warming.

Filth In the Forum

2008-03-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

Fellow Senators! A great travesty has occurred. Statues have been erected in the forum of one of our tribunes, Lucius Antonius. Let me remind you that these statues join the placement of our all-powerful Gods, of Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. Remember that Caesar placed several statues of himself as well as one of the horse of Alexander the Great so that he might confirm the absolute power of the beings immortalized within the forum. What has Lucius Antonius done to deserve such an honor? Line his pockets and the pockets of the bankers who put the statues there. Careful Senators. I am wary of a man who brings upon himself such an honor. He has no right to be immortalized next to Jupiter, nay even Caesar. For at least Caesar exercised great military skill whereas Lucius Antonius exhibits none.

(This was approved by Dr.Dix/Gamemaster/Jupiter/Rockin' Classics Professor)

Legions in the Provinces

2008-03-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

In response to several questions, the Gamemaster issues the following announcement.

Several provincial governors control armies of one legion or more. Julius Caesar had assigned all these governors to their provinces (one of the extraordinary powers granted to Julius Caesar by the Senate, as he prepared to leave Rome for the Parthian campaign), and many of these governors had been Caesar’s officers in the Gallic campaigns and in the civil war against Pompey the Great, so their devotion to the memory of Caesar is a given. On the other hand, some of these governors are linked to prominent Republicans by family relationship, by marriage, or by friendship; some of them (like Decimus Brutus, L. Tillius Cimber, and C. Trebonius) were among the assassins of Caesar; and others (like L. Staius Murcus) showed their support for the assassins before departing for their provinces, perhaps because they believed that Caesar had overstepped the proper bounds, or perhaps because they wanted to hedge their bets.

If you believe you can win over a provincial governor and his forces to your cause (whatever that cause might be), you may attempt to do so by following the steps below.

1. Inform the Gamemaster of your attempt to win over the governor and his forces, in writing.

2. Explain to the Gamemaster, in writing, the basis of your appeal to the provincial governor: that is, why would he support you, and what you have to offer him. (For information on these governors, see Broughton, Magistrates of the Roman Republic, vol. 2, pp. 326-331, and the Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd ed.), both of them available in the Alexander Reading Room in Park Hall.)

The first loyalty of these governors should be to the Senate and magistrates in Rome; so an appeal by the Senate for the aid of these governors automatically gains one point.

A convincing reconstruction of the governor’s motivations, based on his past actions, family and marital connections, etc. can earn up to two points from the Gamemaster.

• 1 Attempt to win over the governor fails.

• 2 Attempt to win over the governor fails.

• 3 Attempt to win over the governor fails.

• 4 Attempt to win over the governor fails.

• 5 Attempt to win over the governor fails.

• 6 Attempt to win over the governor succeeds.

• 7 Attempt to win over the governor succeeds.

• 8 Attempt to win over the governor succeeds.

• 9 Attempt to win over the governor succeeds.

More Rumors

2008-03-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

Word has reached Rome that Dolabella and his forces no longer pledge allegiance to the Senate. Due to the lack of cooperation he experienced in undertaking the pursuit of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, he has become angered by the Senate and their lack of concern. Dolabella swears allegiance to no one, not Gaius Julius Caesar, not Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and not the Senate of Rome.

Most Unfortunate War

2008-03-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Romans! As so frequently in our past we are again in a time of war. We have a serpent on our left and a scorpion on our right, both poised to poison our fair city. We can not possibly deal with these threats both at once, therefore we must deal with them one at a time. M.A. Lepidus has too long run renegade in our fields and it is time to end his rampage. He is the more experienced commander, but also has fewer legions at his command and is the easier target to eliminate. We must assemble our forces and destroy him first, then turn our attention to G.J. Caesar.

Currently the only legion in the field loyal to the senate is under Dolabella and grossly under powered considered against M.A. Lepidus’ five legions. We need the forces of Pompey to join us in putting him down. You must consider among yourselves the consequences of this action and what we should offer to Pompey in exchange for his assistance. The senate needs an interim with Pompey and Scribonius Libo is the logical choice due to the family relation. Because Pompey’s forces are less than fond of Rome the offer we make must be significant, the governorship over one or both of M.A. Lepidus provinces in Spain and Gaul is the most practical boon to offer.

For our part we still must send assistance to Dolabella in his struggle. The armies of D.J. Brutus are primed to fill this void. I know that this reminds many of you that D.J. Brutus just recently crossed the Rubicon at the instigation of his cousin M.J. Brutus. This is by definition an act of treason, our Praetor should know better. The legions have now been sent back to their province and should continue that way until they join Dolabella. This treasonous act has therefore been neutralized and reversed without bloodshed and, we can continue to discuss M.A. Lepidus and G.J. Caesar, but the act was still committed and must still be accounted for. Although nothing came of M.J. Brutus’ actions he still must face the repercussions of his actions, this is no light maneuver he unilaterally took. I urge you to consider your opinions on this matter as it will come up after the troop movements.

You have obviously noticed that these movements thus far leave Rome herself undefended from attack elsewhere, especially now that G.J. Caesar’s plans grow clearer. It may yet still be possible to avoid a clash with him; however, it is pure folly not to plan for the bloody alternative. The one legion in Sardinia and the three legions in North Africa are the closest armies yet to be utilized. We must send T. Sextus and the governor of Sardinia decrees to bring their troops to us. Although this provides only four legions against G.J. Caesar’s eight it will still provide some defense while we deal with M.A. Lepidus. Once M.A. Lepidus is dealt with we can redistribute the remaining forces for the defense of Rome and to maintain order in the provinces as needed.

These are the actions we must take in defense of Rome, these are the issues most immediate to Rome’s welfare. I remind you senators that we who remain loyal to Rome and in her very walls must bind together to deal with the coming frenzy, and the better we cooperate the more protection we can offer to Rome and her people.

M. Antonius

A Clarification of Today’s Actions

2008-03-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

The legions that came with my cousin Decimus came only with my cousin as prompted by me and by most of the members of the frightened Senate, as was seen by the support my actions received when we put the issue to a vote today. I did not lead the legions, but re-routed them to march toward Rome to protect her when I heard that Octavianus was planning to march toward the city to reclaim us from…ourselves?? I am not sure why this insolent brat continues to mask his intentions of taking over the country when it is apparent he wants nothing less than this. If he is so underhanded in his proclamations from the beginning, then I shudder to think of how he will treat the people of Rome if this petty coup succeeds.

Although I should have consulted the Senate before moving Decimus’ legions, I was in no position to waste any time for fear that forces might be on their way to sack our dear city. I had no intention of causing any panic as I only wanted to protect the city. The legion was already summoned by the Senate; Decimus and I discussed the matter and decided that we could not sit by while a potential threat was looming across the Adriatic. The Senate should have had the foresight to allow Decimus to move the legions as we saw fit in order to protect the Republic.

Lepidus and Octavianus claim that they had “no choice” but to leave Rome. Octavian claims that he has now been thrust into Civil War, that he now stands at a “fork in the road”! To me this is a less-eloquent rendering of Caesar’s words as he crossed the Rubicon. Octavianus claims that he left to “do his duty to Rome.” He left, people of Rome, to do his duty of plundering and attaining glory for his soldiers, nothing more! The Senate has not yet decided what the matters at hand are. Now that Octavianus has inherited his adoptive father’s wealth from his will, his first step is to raise his father’s old legions and march on Rome! I know that some among you still welcome the image of Caesar into your hearts and minds, but I must confess that I do not know why! Caesar is dead, and therefore Octavianus cannot speak for him. I am sure that even Caesar himself would be horrified to know the violence that his son is committing in his name. O the impiety!!

Lepidus and Octavianus, even though they plot to band together, will not stand together long. Antony will also have to fight them. At least one of these men and their legions will die, if not in this war, then in the next that is sure to come. These insubordinate actions set into motion by these two incorrigible wretches of men will only further lay waste to more Roman blood, all for the image of the dead tyrant Caesar!

The legions of Octavianus, if they complied with the voice of reason and came home to defend their mother country, would surely crush Lepidus’ forces and live long to bring home the many spoils that await them in Hispania, Parthia, Gaul, and other extremities of our vast Republic. How dare Octavianus lie to his own legions, assuring them of a victory! He certainly does not respect the lives of his soldiers, since he is guaranteeing them a long and bloody Civil War if he takes these actions against the state. Lepidus says that troops are only loyal to those who don’t commit them to foolish campaigns: why, then do Octavianus’ legions remain loyal to him? It is not naïve to think that Octavianus’ army will be loyal to anyone but himself in these circumstances; however if Ocatvianus were to only work alongside the Senate with his large forces, think of the even greater glory that awaits the Republic. He is not thinking long-term, and once again proves his youth and lack of foresight. When Octavianus is done with annihilating the helpless city and the Senate (O what an accomplishment! What glory!!), he will go for Lepidus next. We have shown him no hostility! Octavian himself said that the public works lay in ruin and are half-finished, waiting to be repaired so that Rome can shine in her glory! Is burning them to the ground his way of accomplishing this? Octavianus seems to think that we are to wait for his costly Civil War until we are to accomplish anything for the people! The threat lies east of him, not west! This cannot stand, Romans!

And Lepidus! The wretch! He sits from a distance in his province and laughs arrogantly at the Senate. And laugh he should at the men who stalemate proper action against him by only authorizing the Senate to send one legion after him. We all owe an apology to Dolabella for nearly sending him to his death. I certainly did not advocate that we send him ill-prepared; on the contrary, I advised that we send him with more legions than one, and his own faction was against it! We made a terrible and costly mistake when we did not mobilize all the legions needed to go quell Lepidus’ rebellion outright the moment he left. Lepidus is right that there is grave danger in leaving our distant provinces without troops—and both of these wretches knew that when they mutinied. There is no respectable camp to choose if this war is to be fought. Therefore, we must sacrifice the provinces for the glory of Rome, for the safety of her noblest citizens, for the safety of the Senate, to ensure the future of the glorious Republic! What makes any of you think that your lives will be spared by Octavianus or by Lepidus, who have proven themselves madmen who command their legions at a whim, in the name of a ghost?

Rumors from the provinces

2008-03-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

Reports have reached Rome of an address delivered by the young Gaius Julius Caesar to the legions assembled for the Parthian campaign. It is said that Julius Caesar spoke such words as these:

"My loyal soldiers!

"All of you are here to serve Rome. Many of you were expecting to do so against our hated enemy, the Parthians. I hoped to have the honor of leading you against the those enemies of the Republic.

"It appears, however, that the Senate is otherwise inclined. A matter of days ago, I received a messenger from the Senate informing me that I am to surrender my command and forfeit my armies!"

[The soldiers interrupted the speaker with catcalls of derision against the Senate.]

"If I do not do so, Gaius Julius Caesar is an enemy of Rome! If I fail to prostrate myself before the Senate, they have declared that I am to be a criminal!

"They have declared, for all intents and purposes, that all of you who pledged your loyalty to my command are also criminals! "

[More catcalls from the soldiers.]

"For my time in the Senate, I was insulted and berated by the conspirators who murdered my father, your father, Gaius Julius Caesar. When I left to do my duty to Rome, I was ordered to surrender my command. Why? So you men could be sent to your deaths in the Senate's vendetta against Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the former Magister Equitum! To fight to the death against your former comrades, under a General whose greatest crime was giving the man we all loved simple dignity after his assassination!

"The Republic is being led by madmen who see themselves fit to be Generals! What a dark time it is! Since the murder in the Senate, I have warned of Civil War, and now it has finally come, I stand at a fork in the road. On the one hand, I can abide the rule of the Senate and surrender my arms, and you men, to the Senate so that they can be thrown away in the Republicans' personal vendetta against the followers of my father. I can watch you be annihilated in Civil War and the Republic fall with you.

"Or, I can do the 'unthinkable' as the Republicans describe it: I can join with those who stand in opposition to the Senate, and in doing so save your lives, your families, and the Republic, from Civil War! Are these men the criminals some of Rome's fathers make them out to be? Have they killed their opponents in the Senate chamber?

"I swore my loyalty to you, as you did to me, and so I will ask: should I take the easy road and let the Republic consume itself in Civil War, or should I unite you with your comrades so that you can save your families and your nation? I know what I will do, so what about you, soldiers? Are you ready to save your homes?"

[The soldiers replied with cries of "Hail Caesar!"]

2008-03-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

The senate has officially lost its mind. With Dolabella having been sent out to “stop” me with one legion, the senate considers his lack of success in that endeavor to constitute treason. It was sheer idiocy to send him out so ill equipped. It would have been sheer suicide for him to engage me, and he knows this well. These senators seem to think that this wise inaction is his own personal fault, though. Will they next deride the accomplishments of Fabius “Cunctor”? How would they have defeated me, outnumbered five to one in my own lands nonetheless? Your fear must be clouding your judgment, O senators, if you think that a lack of unwise action is indicative of duty having been failed to the point of treason.

So now they strip all the provinces of armies to try and marshal troops against me. Have they forgotten why those troops were there in the first place? Do they not see how this will only cause far greater uprisings all throughout the abandoned lands? And they think they are fighting my cause through such actions. Fools! They put me where I am and they have done nothing since except unknowingly support my cause. Do they think I am just sitting around enjoying a little vacation?

As I have said before, the senate is acting in the truest manner of insanity. To repeat the same action and expect different results is insane. We must learn from the past or we are doomed to repeat it, yet they have repeated their previous mistakes in their treatment of Caesar once already since his death, which caused me to necessarily pursue my present course of action. Yet they still did not see what they were doing and why I did what I did. Now they are demented enough to try it again in the case of young Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus! They think that he is out pursuing their ends just because that is what they want to think. They think they can just send out a messenger and he will apologize, give up control of his legions, and come home like a scolded child. Do they forget how they were at 19 years old? I would have killed a man for calling me a child then, and from my knowledge of young Caesar, these senators are digging themselves early graves. I hear of the most ignorant comment ever uttered since the Marian Reforms. Apparently Lucius Julius Caesar has never had any experience with the army, and has been living in a cave for the last 50 years, because he is foolish enough to think that their loyalty lies “not with Lepidus, or with Octavius, but with the senate.” Such ignorance is comical in these times. Did my troops ask you for permission when I gave them orders? Did Octavius’ troops do so? Did Caesar’s troops do so? Did Pompey ask for senatorial permission to raise a private army to fight for Sulla? I didn’t think so. As an army officer, I know that troops loyalty lies with the man who fights shoulder-to-shoulder with them, with the man who eats, sleeps, and marches with them every day, with the man who does not commit them to foolish ventures, so that they know to follow him in whatever he orders, with the man who provides them with food in the field and suitable reward after the campaign is over. They do not care which old fools are discussing strategy in Rome. They do not care about temporarily elected officers. Their loyalty lies with whoever is loyal to them every day and every night. But these senators know nothing of that.

It is laughable that they call Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus a child while they cower in their senate and make wild and fearful speculations about Gaius, Dolabella, and me as if we are Gorgons who are ready at any time to swoop in and eat them. Dolabella is a consul of Rome, by Jupiter! Yet they speak of him like an incompetent traitor. Why ever did they elect him then?
The senate has no idea what it is doing. They are inviting rebellion into their provinces. They question even their most powerful magistrates. They do not know how an army works, much less what to do with it if they found themselves in control of one. They make my search for allies so much easier through their insane incompetence, yet they are so unaware of it that they feel justified in accusing others of incompetence. Do you remember how I always used to say that good comedies were no longer being put in Rome? Maybe they should start charging admission to senate meetings.

Converning GJC

2008-03-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Romans, fellow conscript fathers, let us look at ourselves; we are divided. Not only into factions, but physically as well. Here we sit, the right side of the room spouting affronts whilst the left side responds with a menacing look of rebuttal. It was our adolescent bickering which kept us from taking action to ensure Lepidus and his legions were under control and it was our adolescent bickering which aggravated Octavian to the point of leaving Rome with his legions. We all know this is true and this is a step in the right direction. If we can all agree to learn from our mistakes in the past, then we may better be able to avoid similar mistakes in the future. In reference to Octavian and Lepidus, this ‘self-education’-if you will- is exactly what the Senate should do.
These are not the first men to have taken legions and proposed to use their forces against the Roman people. The name of one man might have a faint ring of familiarity to some of you: M. Aemelius Lepidus, the father of our own renegade Lepidus. M. Aemelius Lepidus the younger must have inherited the whole of his father’s bad habits for it seems that he is following in his footsteps almost precisely. In 78, after a sickening display of sycophancy to the Roman people in an attempt to gain public favor, Lepidus the Elder retreated to Etruria with his legions, carrying with him the threat of a march on Rome itself. He, like his son does now, rejected the Senate’s demand to return to Rome. While Lepidus the Elder was rogue he did not spend his time idly. He diligently recruited troops from the surrounding area and we must assume this is what his spawn is doing as I speak. In this instant the Senate did not wait to squelch this rebellion. It took strong and necessary actions. It passed a consultum ultium in 77 to preserve public safety and sent Gnaieus Pompeius to deal with the truant Lepidus in a timely and effective manner. Meanwhile, the Senate decided to leave Catullus in Rome in an effort not to leave her defenseless lest Lepidus or some foreign attack in a moment of weakness.
This is exactly what we should do today. We have our very own Pompey, my son-in-law Sextus, waiting at our disposal with the ability to raise legions of a greater magnitude than that of Lepidus. In addition, we have Dolabella with a legion that, if recalled, has the potential to serve as a protector of the city herself. Furthermore, the placement of Sextus and his forces could not be of a more favorable nature. With his power centralized in Hispania, Sextus stands to be able to flank Lepidus from the West and drive his Legions towards that of Dolabella’s. With two armies loyal to the Republic roping him in Lepidus stands no chance of victory. That is, he stands no chance of victory so long as we move swiftly enough to avoid the unholy union of Lepidus with Octavian. I know Octavian says he stands with us in the Senate, yet he is but a boy. We must remember he is a nineteen year old man with legions at his command for the first time in his life. He must be scared to death and searching for a guiding hand to provide him with some inkling of direction. We must not let Lepidus lend this hand and you must admit that to Octavian, Lepidus seems to be someone whom he should be able to trust, at least on a tangential level. Octavian should be treated with the respect that he deserves given his adoptive rights. If we can not agree on one man to send, let us each choose one man from our respective factions and send them as a team to reason with the youth. Not only will this act demonstrate to Octavian that we are finally working and a whole, but it will be a step in the direction of compromise. Friends, our forefathers ensured the safety of the Republic with a two consul system in order to divide the power. We can not let absentee legions flutter in the wind, this is unacceptable. Even if they mean no harm, they still pose a threat. These legions were created to protect the Republic and while they are marched off at whim they grow hungry, weak and frustrated. An easy target for attack as any man in this room can tell you. Let us be the ones who take advantage of the Achilles’ heel we have ourselves exposed. Let us regain control of our men and our country.

My Justification

2008-03-19T06:01:00.001-07:00

In leaving Rome to assume command of the armies intended for the Parthian Campaign, it would seem as though I have alarmed many of Rome's conscript fathers. My supporters in Rome have informed me that many Senators are calling for my resignation from the position of General, my return to Rome, and the forfeiting of the armies who pledged their loyalty to me following my father's assassination. If I thought it would defuse our present crisis and bring peace and honor to Rome, nothing would make me happier than to abide by the Senate's request. However, common sense tells that this is not the case.

It is no secret: the status quo, championed by my accusers, is not only far from satisfactory, but is failing Rome. I am not merely referring to the constant stream of insults to my honor and reputation that comes from certain members of the Senate. I still consider these private matters, despite the efforts of wise men like Brutus and Flavus to turn them into state policy. Apparently, when you cannot beat or stab someone in person, shouting vulgarities at the shadows is the next best alternative. I speak of the fact that the Republic has become unsteady, inefficient, and disingenuous. More and more, it cannot address its most basic responsibilities—attending to financial obligations, ensuring military security and leadership, and completing the public works projects intended to benefit all Romans. The power and authority it has been entrusted with is being squandered in petty rivalries by men more interested in guarding their own fortunes than the well-being of Rome. By men who consider preserving their ancient fortunes and noble names at the cost of the Roman people an excusable, even honorable, goal. If they were truly interested in honoring Rome, they would concern themselves with her greatness—military triumphs, expansion of the provinces, development of Rome itself—rather than just their own pockets. It's amazing how stubborn some of these men have become, having demonstrated their unwillingness to negotiate or exercise any sort of political flexibility.

It distresses me to see that many of these "wise" men equate the survival of the Republic with the survival of their own landholdings and riches, believing that there is no future for the Republic if their families aren't enjoying its splendors and luxuries. I cannot surrender my military command to such men. This thinly-disguised vanity can't be allowed to govern the legions, as it would certainly mean the end of Rome has a military power, something countless Romans, most of them who never enjoyed the sort of splendor and comfort these "wise" men have been entitled to since their birth, spilled their blood and gave their lives for. In asking me to resign, the Senate asked me to dishonor and betray men who pledged their loyalty to me following news of my father's death at the hands of these "wise" men. Now, some in the Senate say that I should be crucified alongside Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Am I to entrust my armies, the wellbeing of loyal men, to these characters?

I am reminded of another Roman whom, as a young man, was forced to make a similar decision for the greatness of Rome, even if it meant defying some of the Senate's sacred leaders. A man whom stood in opposition to my father, yes, but before this was a hero to many in the Senate and a brother to its leaders. A young Gnaeus Pompey Magnus, born outside the elite circle of the Patricians, was fully embroiled in the power struggle of the Social War at the age of seventeen. It was there Pompey Magnus rose to greatness, defeating Rome's enemies in Italy and being compared by his allies with no one less than Alexander the Great. When he returned to Rome, his enemies tried to fault him with charges of misappropriate of plunder, but were unsuccessful—Pompey Magnus was a hero to Rome, much to the bitterness of those Patricians. He was not kept from doing his duty as a Roman by jealous, entitled men, and nor will I. He knew that he must defy the Senate for the survival of Rome.

I have not become the hero young Pompey Magnus was to Rome, however, I feel I must do as he did. After no short consideration, I have come to the conclusion that I will neither resign from my command nor forfeit my armies to a hand-picked general of the Senate without assurances that these armies will not be squandered and trivialized. I am fully aware of the implications of these choices, and it remains my intention to avoid Civil War and shedding the blood of my fellow Romans. Accordingly, I feel as though my refusal is the only responsible course of action. If the Senate interprets these actions as a sign of defiance, I remind them of the men who stood in defiance of their institution in the past for the glory of all Romans before me. Above all, I remain steadfast in my determination that the soldiers who swore their loyalty to me are not "disposable" for the goals of a rash and ill-advised Senate body. Rome is more than just her a few privileged men in the Senate: it is her soldiers and her citizens as well.

Use Caution

2008-03-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

Lucius Vorenus

Two things greatly concern me about Gaius Julius Caesar fleeing to Parthia. Though his disposition and words depict a youth seeking personal accolades, let us not forget that these are Caesar’s troops he commands. Let us not forget this is the adopted heir of Caesar. And finally, let us not underestimate the power of an ambitious, charismatic general of Rome. Admittedly, the only reason I am amongst you distinguished politicians, philosophers, and generals was my undying devotion to Julius Caesar. Despite my longing for the reinstitution of the Republic, I found myself defending my former general against verbal assaults. Certainly this can be partially attributed to the everyday deplorable decorum of Brutus and the utter disgrace his colleagues sought for Caesar’s body and legacy postmortem, but it was a betrayal of my Republican ideals. Armies grow fickle with bloodshed, hunger and homesickness. We cannot allow Octavius to secure the loyalties of NINE LEGIONS! Therefore, we need to send another distinguished general to Parthia to take full command over the armies. I expect Octavius to be obedient to our commands. If he is, allow him to cultivate his talents while serving under the new presiding general. However, if Octavius is disobedient to our decree, then another, more “compelling” course of action should be taken. BUT any aggressive response towards Octavius should occur only after Lepidus has been dealt with accordingly.

My greatest fear (and initial inkling when I received word on his departure) is the possibility of Octavius uniting forces with Lepidus. Though possibly a certifiable psychopath, Lepidus is quite cunning. Lepidus informed me of his departure from Rome and assessed my interest in joining his forces. I am a simple centurion. It should be assumed that Lepidus has contacted Octavius to assess his interest in joining forces. Lepidus will surely use their relationship to Caesar as a tool for persuading Octavius. Either passion or hormones have been the Octavius’s decision-making tool recently, so there is a possibility he could be enticed by the proposal of Lepidus.

Senators, Rome simply cannot withstand the onslaught of a fourteen legion army in these troubled times... period. The Senate is divided. Our legions are scattered, and our constant state of turmoil has exhausted a significant portion of men capable of combat. We are currently scrabbling to put more than five legions under the command of Dolabella. Dolabella’s current numbers are insufficient compared to Lepidus’s army, imagine a foe with an additional nine legions! Fathers, our main concern at this juncture should be preventing any alliance between Octavius and Lepidus. We must use any means necessary to prevent this from occurring.

I believe that our course of action with Lepidus thus far has been commendable. I know some are weary of Dolabella’s appointment as sole general of the armies against Lepidus. If the appointment of another general will appease the disgruntled, and the army will stay maintain its level of effectiveness, then I will be open to any suggestions. Yet, Octavian’s impulsive departure presents another quandary that we must confront immediately. Make haste senators. Send another general out to Parthia to command the troops immediately. If he refuses to acknowledge the authority of the Senate, so be it. Rash action could potentially drive him into an alliance with Lepidus. An alliance we could not defend ourselves against.. For his time will certainly come. But his time will come after Lepidus’s.

On the Matters at Hand

2008-03-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

Fellow senators, I see that we are acting with some caution when it comes to what we should do about the young Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. Some were calling to send an embassy to him, telling him to come back to Rome. Conscript fathers, have we not already done this? Have we not already sent a friendly embassy to this young man telling him to come back to Rome? Enough time has passed now to allow Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus to come back, and yet, has he? Has he not openly defied the orders of this very Senate? Yes, fellow senators, this is exactly what he has done. I do not think we should take this action, or rather, inaction, lightly. I do not believe that he can be planning any good thing as he runs around with nine legions. After all, he is merely a boy! He was angry with us, angry with the Senate because he felt that we were doing his father a disservice after his death, whether we believe this was true or not. At this point, sirs, it does not matter. What matters is that this child is angry and will act rashly, as we have seen him do before. Was it not a rash action to leave Rome in the first place? We cannot let him sit outside of Rome for any significant amount of time, senators. We must find a way to stop him before he carry out what I believe to be his ultimate plan, and that is that Gaius Julius Caesar will eventually attempt to march on Rome.
As far as what action to take, we do not have many options before us. Unfortunately, we are beginning to wear ourselves quite thin in the area of Rome’s armies. I do not believe that we should name Gaius Julius Caesar an enemy of the state without first handling the situation with Marcus Lepidus. We should send legions out to help Dolabella, now that he has finally closed in on Lepidus’ whereabouts, as he has only one legion compared to the five Lepidus is in control of. We must send help to Dolabella, for I fear that Lepidus will not want to talk when he is confronted. It is possible, after the legions we raise reach Dolabella and are prepared for battle if it is needed, to send a messenger out to the camp of Lepidus and give him one more chance to turn his troops over without a fight. If he takes this offer, which I see as an unlikely outcome, then Dolabella could take control of the legions he possesses and we could finally focus our full attention on Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. We will need the legions that Lepidus holds under his command if we are to even approach the boy and his nine legions. We must go into all of this prepared and knowing how angry Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus is, and also what rash actions he is capable of. Do not brush off this total disregard of our Senate as a small thing, fellow senators. We must get to Lepidus before this young man can, as I fear that the two may meet and join forces if we let this situation go for too long. If they meet and join together, Rome could be lost. Do not let this happen! We must do our duty to Rome and take care of this matter, quickly!

Concerning Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus

2008-03-19T04:23:00.000-07:00

Conscript fathers, regarding the actions taken to resolve the matter of the absent Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, I feel I must speak. Octavianus, incensed by the disrespect shown to him by some members of the senate who remain unnamed, and eager to continue what he feels is his father’s legacy, has left Rome with nine legions to wage war against the Parthians, that savage race that has been a thorn in Rome’s side for more then half a century. He took his legions without authority from the senate, and is paying them with his own money, which he received from the will of Caesar. We as a senate found this action of commanding these legions away from Rome on the authority which was found merely in the “inheritance” he received unacceptable, so we sent a messenger demanding Octavianus’s quick return to Rome. I voted in favor of this judgment, and I stand behind our decision to attempt to request that he return, without rushed judgment to declare him an enemy of the state, although when Lepidus left Rome, with fewer armies than Octavian has now, we were not so hasty in our decision concerning him. Nevertheless, Octavianus has refused. He was insulted more than a few times by the noble senators seated before me, and burns with anger at the absence of keen judgment he felt necessary that it be found against his father’s murderers; he will not come back to Rome.

This action is unacceptable. This senate will not tolerate insubordination, and therefore we cannot let him continue the Parthian campaign without our approval. I am not saying, however, that I believe Rome to be in danger of a possible attack from Octavianus and his legions. In spite of the injustices performed against him, Octavianus assures us that he is still one and the same with the people of Rome, that he is now and forevermore loyal to their interests. I trust him in this sentiment. As his cousin, I have some knowledge as to the content of his character, and I know that he loves Rome and her people as much as his father before him did, and will not see her fall into danger. Nevertheless, he cannot be let to flout the authority of the senate, thus making this body into even more of a mockery that it has been of late.

Some have suggested we send another message in which we demand again that he return and surrender his troops. This would be futile. He did not concede to our first request; why would he to our second? No, this action would do more harm that good for the people of Rome. I have stated that I know Octavianus’s character well, and that he had Rome’s best interests at heart. But I also know that he holds a high regard for honor, and will not stand insults to his. In repeatedly asking for his return, you are suggesting that his intentions are not what he states, that he has some devious alternative up his sleeve. We have seen what actions an angry Octavianus takes; would you like to see him furious? A furious Octavianus, I am sure, convinced that the senate in no longer an asset to the Roman people, would seek out another enemy of Rome, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and join forces with him. Then Rome would have fourteen of her own legions against her. Undoubtedly, this is not advisable; therefore we cannot send another messenger demanding his return.

Others opine that we should send an emissary with military experience, approved by the senate, to induce Octavianus to forfeit control of his legions to him. I have been nominated by Bassus as the man for the job, since my familial relationship with Octavianus would ingratiate me, and he would therefore be more likely to turn over to me control of his legions. I do not believe that the Republicans in this senate would at any time approve the transfer of nine legions from one Caesarian to another, from one heir of Caesar to another. Furthermore, I not believe that Octavianus will give up control of all of his legions to me, even though we share blood. I am a representative of the senate which mocked him and allowed Brutus to remain in office despite his actions, and although I did not take part in his mockery or vote in favor of clemency for Brutus, I remained in the senate; I did not take a stand against my uncle’s enemies. Therefore in Octavianus’s eyes, I am as culpable as if I had committed the actions myself. In addition, Octavianus is paying their salary out of his own pocket; they are loyal to him, and will not willingly accept another’s command. In light of these judgments, I decline to accept Bassus’s proposal.

Piso, however, in his great wisdom, has offered another solution to the wandering Octavianus: approve his command, and induce him to fight for the betterment of Rome. I understand that it was not advisable for Octavianus to depart in command of nine legions without the approval of this senate, but if we declare him a public enemy, as I fear Brutus may advise, Rome will have fourteen legions against her with no protection. I argue in favor of diplomacy and clemency. We must vote to support Octavianus’s control of his troops, and then use them to our advantage. Convince him that the real danger to Rome lies not in Parthia, but in the west with Lepidus. Encourage him to dispatch one or two legions to Rome for its protection, and then march west with his legion in pursuit of the public enemy of Rome. Persuade him to do away first with this more pressing threat against the people, as his father would have done, and only then resume his intended campaign against Parthia.

Spare the Rod...

2008-03-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

Oh Octavius. Yes, Octavius and not Gaius Julius Caesar for this pathetic boy is not even worthy of a name so tainted as that of Caesar. He shows his true age through his immaturity and cowardice. In his last letter to us, he spoke of danger to himself which explains why he ran in such haste to hide behind daddy's legions. However, I might point out that not a single liberator was among this “brawl” of which he speaks. Catullus was the one who was brave enough to grab the message in an effort to help weed out the corruption. The note ended up with Lucius Julius Caesar (who cannot even be suspected of harming the rightful and now late Gaius Julius Caesar) after which dear Lucius was then assaulted by our illustrious consul Marc Antony and that wretched bit of Egyptian filth of a whore-queen. I too was outraged. Outraged that this harlot whom we have so graciously allowed in our forum had the audacity to lay a single of her infectious fingers on a noble senator. And might I add that she was JOINED by Marc Antony?

But I digress, Octavius, as is typical of youthful angst, has dreamed up this danger to himself. All of Rome is out to get poor little Octavius. We allowed him to speak and vote with us, senators of age and wisdom beyond his, and he repays us by mocking our proceedings and defying our decrees. He was quick to name several things that we did not deem important. Once again, his imagination runs as wild as he does throughout the countryside (behind nine legions, I might add). However, why did he, in his greatly professed concern for Rome, not propose these things himself? No, he is not a presiding officer but as we recently found out through an intercepted communication, he clearly has ties with Marc Antony. I'm sure he could have had the issues addressed had he stuck around. Instead, he fled. Leaving his dignity and prepubescent testicles behind.

Senators, we cannot bend to the whims of this suckling child. The time for offers or incentives has passed. When we asked him to return to Rome and explain himself, we cut off any possible support we could give him. He blatantly denied our request. To bow to him at this point would be the ruin of the Republic. Let us foolishly and optimistically imagine for a moment that he will not betray us when we send him off on a campaign to increase his experience. What precedent have we set? What have we done to discourage another son of a great general to assume command of legions upon his father's death? The answer is absolutely nothing.

That being said, I propose that we ignore Octavius for the moment. He poses a lesser threat than Lepidus due to many things, one of which being that fact that Lepidus is actually a man. Lepidus left Rome in great and outspoken anger toward the Senate. Lepidus does not have his father's will to explain any of his actions. He has only his irrational and selfish motives. We cannot blame ourself for his actions. There was no need for a magister equitum so the position was eliminated. In keeping with the traditions of the republic, we voted on one matter at a time. Rather than wait around in hopes of being awarded of another office after the matter concerning Caesar had been resolved, he stole Caesar's body, burned it, and fled the city. He has left a trail of treason behind him.

I feel that we should fortify Dolabella with legions from Decimus Brutus and have Scribonius Libo campaign with her as co-general as wise Catullus has spoken of with some of us (meaning previously on the blog). Gods willing, Dolabella and Libo will have no trouble defeating Lepidus. We should then take these troops along with those defeated who previously served Lepidus and develop a strategy to confront Octavius. Hopefully, he will come to his senses and more lives will not have to be lost. However, this is Rome and nothing and no number of men is worth more than the Republic. We should not hesitate to fight for our Republic just as we have done for hundreds of years. If either Octavius or Lepidus wishes to continue to oppress the Republic, they shall have pay the consequences. Lesser men have fallen against our fair nation. They will not be the first nor will they be the last. We cannot pretend that either of these men does not present a threat to our Republic whether immediate or years from now when he returns from whatever appeasement campaign we might give him. With Octavius, the question we must ask ourselves is whether we want to deal with him now or after we give him years of military experience. Let us go deal with Lepidus so we can give Octavius the spanking that the spoiled child clearly deserves but has not yet received.

Octavianus inherets a tyranny

2008-03-18T22:00:00.001-07:00

Indeed, Octavianus is his father’s son. Although he alludes to the importance of internal administration in his haughty letters to the Senate, his interests obviously lie in marshalling legions Parthia for reasons which are contrary to the will of the Senate. If Octavian has been paying attention to the affairs of his own country, then surely he has noticed the shortage of young men eligible for military or public service which plagues us because of his father’s extensive campaigns. These endeavors made for personal glory arguably stirred up all of the trouble that we are now facing. But this is neither here nor there, since the trouble is now upon us whether we like it or not.

It is a simple matter, gentlemen: Octavian has no reason to be there outside of currying favor with the legions in the name of the dead tyrant Caesar! Although he is young, again, gentlemen, I beg you not to underestimate his desire for power! A campaign against the Parthians has not been decreed as a priority by this body! We do not need to be privy to his specific aims with his army in order to understand the need for swift and firm action to bring him back; any action made against the will of the Senate and its magistrates is to be understood as an act of treason. Octavianus already knew of the danger that Lepidus presented before he left to go back to the East. Therefore this young man must be leaving us in this vulnerable position for the sake of personal opportunity.

We allow the boy to speak in the Senate, to express his opinions although he is not of the proper age to do so, and furthermore he is the adopted son of a tyrant. And this is how he repays us! He has done nothing short of leaving the country he says he loves in eminent danger of being invaded by the hostile forces of traitors! Some of you may wonder at how I dare to call others traitors since I am labeled one by Caesar’s flatterers myself. You may think that I am the ill to be purged, but I was not the one who claimed sole power for myself or created my political career by scheming, bribes, the slaughter of innocent millions to cover my debt, numerous attempts at revolt, or by creating a civil war. I still sit amongst you, offering bribes to no one, hoping to resolve the issues created by the power vacuum of Caesar within the limits of our constitution, without bringing Caesar back to life in any sense.

Parthia is a threat as of late to our province of Syria, this is true. Octavianus, therefore, may be acting in line with the best interests of the people on the surface, but I do not trust the young man with any extraordinary commands. He quite simply has not proven himself moderate enough nor obedient enough to do so.

Therefore, I will request that we formulate a further plan in addition to our requesting that Octavianus come back. First I propose that we secure the grain supply in Sicily with the help of Sextus Pompey and his legions. We ought to recall him from Spain with his forces in order to do this. Second, I propose that we send Cleopatra back to Egypt with her son in order to ensure more productive meetings of the Senate. She has no right to be here in the first place. Thirdly, I have sent a request to my cousin in Cisalpine Gaul to immediately gather his legions and be ready to march on whichever man we deem to be the more imminent threat. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we ought to bury the image of Caesar once and for all. He should be openly declared a tyrant, and any man who attempts to profit from his image should be declared an enemy of the state, for they do not seek to move forward for the good of Rome, but rather seek personal aims. Octavianus is clearly attempting to do this by assuming the campaign that his adoptive father intended to lead. This is dangerous for the people of Rome and will further de-stabilize an already-divided Senate. Octavianus is not the man for Parthia and must return, or he will assume the tyranny that has not yet been properly put to rest in the minds of the people. I believe that although Octavianus is not using the directly threatening language that Lepidus uses in his infrequent correspondence with us, his subtle form of attack mirrors the subtle tyranny of his adoptive father. It is calculated and menacing while appearing to be honorable. I will not compromise with Octavianus and pray to the gods that the wise men of the Senate will see past his youth and innocent claims for “justice” and thwart this young man’s selfish ambition!

De OMNIBUS Hostilibus Romae

2008-03-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

Dearest Senators, many dangerous issues confront us today. Marcus Aemilius Lepidus looms somewhere outside Rome, and Gaius Octavius has openly defied the Senate and its time-honored power and roams the East in Parthia. I, merely a poet, do not profess to know much about military, as the only related position I have held was assistant to the governor of Bithynia in 57. However, as our maddeningly incompetent leaders have failed to offer any real solution to our situation, I feel that I, even if somewhat unknowledgeable, could at least offer some thoughts and ideas—and a little invective, as always.

In regards to the situation with Lepidus, as it still has not been resolved by our consuls, I feel that we must vote to grant Dolabella’s request for more legions. I have spoken with Lucius Scribonius Libo, and he has on numerous occasions expressed to me his eagerness to offer legions of Sextus Pompey, to fight for the Republic of Rome. These legions are quite near to Lepidus’ presumed location and thus would seemingly be the best choice for this campaign. However, I also do not trust Dolabella, as it has become quite clear from his absolute deference in the Senate that he is being paid off by our other honorable consul, Marc Antony. Therefore, I posit that we send Libo along as co-general of the legions, in order that the glory of the Republic accompany this expedition and so that Marc Antony’s quest for power does not end in yet a third enemy of Rome with numerous legions at his disposal. We must also vote that Libo and Dolabella return immediately to Rome with all her legions once Lepidus has been brutally and painfully dispatched, as he so rightly deserves.

Once the more pressing matter of Lepidus is dealt with, we must turn to our new public enemy, Gaius Octavius. It is outrageous to me that some of you senators have suggested that we act with care, that we must befriend this 18-year-old boy who has openly disobeyed our requests. I remember the turmoil of youth, and I know firsthand how hotheaded they can be—I wrote dozens of carmina about the passion and despair of love and lust. But however humorous my passions for Lesbia may seem to you learned and wise men now, I assure you that passion for power is no laughing matter. Octavius obviously does not give a damn about the Republic, as he left without consulting us and then refused to return when asked. And some of you talk of sending him an ultimatum? Have we not already passed this point? I cannot imagine why he would not return, unless he plots some destruction of this Senate’s power. And what a surprise! He is the adopted heir of Julius Caesar. I’m sure Caesar would be happy to know that little Octavius is following closely in his tyrannical footsteps.

We must deal with Octavius immediately after Lepidus, and equally as firmly. I suggest that we keep some of the legions currently under Lepidus here in Rome to protect us from any more crazed and power-hungry men. Libo and Dolabella should again take their legions towards Parthia and destroy the boy-general before he has a chance to destroy us. Senators, please do not make the same mistake twice. Rome has at last been freed from its tyrant Caesar, and I commend all of you, save a few, for your dedication and hard work towards rebuilding the Republic of our ancestors. If we allow Octavius to cross the Rubicon while we wait for our emissary to return, the Republic will again be obliterated by a dictator—and a boy at that!

In closing, I would like to make one final point. As we turn our eyes towards war with Lepidus and Octavius, let us not become oblivious to the actions of those in Rome and in our Senate house. Do not forget the conniving note revealed to us by the gods, and do not trust Marc Antony, a man who shares his bed and hopes to share our Republic with a foreign whore!

De Caesare Octaviano

2008-03-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

We as a body have not voted on what specifically should be done concerning the young Gaius Caesar Octavianus. Various opinions of his actions exist, some considering him simply a misguided youth, others that he is a brigand and a thief, using the republic’s resources to gain profit for himself.

As we continue to face serious threats to the Republic’s safety, we must realize that this body has faced innumerable threats throughout our history. The senate was established as an advisory body, whose wisdom and knowledge has ensured our very survival. Those who disregarded our opinions – whether foreign dignitaries, eastern kings, or fellow Romans – have often done so to their peril.

The privilege of being enrolled in the Senate comes through service to the state. The desire to extend Rome’s glory to the farthest seas is a noble trait, which burns strongly in the souls of the young. How can we seek to censure such desire? Many of us ourselves have burned with equal fires in our youths. But this desire of the young can quickly grow to a conflagration – or worse – if it is not guided by the wisdom and skill that only comes through experience. If Caesar Octavianus were to act rashly with his own property, I would offer him advice on how to behave properly, with an eye toward future profits. But his hasty actions have brought the resources and security of the Republic into jeopardy. He seeks to extend his father’s legacies beyond what is proper, without considering the needs of the Republic, nor the advice of the Senate.

As Dolabella campaigns in Gaul for out safety, Gaius Caesar Octavianus seeks glory for himself. As the experienced Dolabella struggles to train new recruits, the tyro Gaius Caesar Octavianus leads vetren soldiers. As Dolabella considers strategy through the wisdom gained from her experience, Gaius Caesar Octavianus charges unaided at the walls of Syrian Antioch, thinking it Tigranocerta. Dolabella shows consistent consideration for the safety of the Republic by seeking and weighing the views of the Senate. Gaius Caesar Octavianus has shown us nothing but fiery rashness and haughty stubbornness. Dolabella understands the responsibilities that are inherent in the Senator’s purple stripe.

Gaius Caesar Octavianus’ youth provides him the opportunity to control his desire to honor the Republic through service. But he must allow himself to be guided by the experience of the Senate. It does not matter who of us is sent to provide this service: if he does not show respect toward the purple stripe, he will not show respect toward a magistrate’s lictors. If he does show the respect that is demanded of our position, then he must be provided a position where he can gain the experiences and knowledge that will make him truly worthy of the status that he assumes is his.

Concerning Gaius Julius Caesar

2008-03-18T21:14:00.001-07:00

At this point, gentlemen, we must be cautious and careful. None of us, I’m sure, even care to rehash the dreadful events that have taken place in our sacred house the last few meetings because the path immediately ahead of us now is quite daunting, but we must proceed nevertheless. Gaius Julius Caesar must be treated with respect, being in command of so many legions, and I think that we should do what we can to bring him back within the legal bounds he has so hastily disregarded. We cannot afford to allow him to ally with Lepidus or to get in on whatever secretive alliances have been formed recently – we must get him back to the side of the Senate using whatever means we can. Diplomacy is key, and pride on our parts cannot be tolerated. That is, I recommend sending out a collection of senators – three or so of his father’s former military commanders – and offering Gaius Julius Caesar a place here in the Senate to voice his complaints. While I don’t particularly care to bend to the whim of some petulant child, I do think that the position we are in requires us to keep him as close to us as possible – we need to offer him more than Lepidus or any of our enemies already have. We need to keep him on our side.
I do not wish for anyone to think that I approve of his actions or wish to reward such immature and reckless behavior with honor or decorated offices. I think the vast majority of us can agree that what the young Gaius Julius Caesar has done here justifies the hatred and disgust we are pouring on him. All the more reason to act cautiously, conscript fathers! We are now aware of what first steps he is capable of – what else might he attempt? We are also now aware of how little regard he has for us, for our institution, and for what we stand for – what else might he have in mind? We must win him back into our influence in order to fight against whatever legions may soon be attacking our city – a very real and imminent threat!
The time for unison is now. Even more lives are on the line. We must act quickly and in harmony, allowing for no wasted time or energy. Send a few senators to converse with him, offering some incentive to entice him back nearer to our presence. Lets not think that offering him the Parthian campaign that his father had planned would end well for anyone. The massive wealth and following he would obtain in the time that war would take would bring him back to our city aged, experienced, and possibly more powerful than his father. Besides, sending his troops to Parthia would merely put them as far out of the way as possible, a drastically unhelpful move if diplomacy and Dolabella’s relatively small command fail against Lepidus. Bringing them closer to the city could also serve problematic, but it is the lesser of two evils unless there is another, more beneficial location to be offered.
With regards to the Lepidus situation, let no one be foolish enough to think that this man is sitting back, idly wasting the days away, with no plots or rash ideas on his mind. He illegally burned the body of Caesar in the middle of our city! He is planning something, and as long as Dolabella wanders aimlessly – and unsuccessfully – around the Italian countryside, the man is probably allying with powerful locals and plotting doom for Rome! Be prepared for the worst, Romans, as long as we rely on this hapless commander who has hardly found out anything about Lepidus’ whereabouts. We have at least two serious threats coming at us from unknown directions. Heaven forbid they join together!

Let youth crave honor

2008-03-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

My fellow senators, we again find ourselves at a loss. The senate has been denied another great mind and once again it is our own foolish words and actions that have caused this absence. Will we quarrel and fight amongst ourselves until none remain? Gaius Julius Caesar may be young but he has proven himself in the few years that he has walked the soils of the earth. In some, greatness is only found after many years of study, thought, and time, and yet with others greatness is placed within them and can be seen in youth. Surely Caesar recognized this in not only the men he kept company with during his lifetime but also in the one he chose as his heir.
We have only talked of how Gaius Julius Caesars leaving has offended us and our need of his legions. Let us now consider his motives in leaving. He was set to a task and perhaps it is only his wish to accomplish something great and honorable and leave us to our petty words and squabbling. We no doubt have great need of him and the men under his command but we did not let it be known until he was gone. How could he have known that we would have ever given him a task? He might have been forced to sit in silence so instead he chose action. Give him a more honorable path. Let him see that he is needed and respected by the senate and by Rome. I believe that if we send a message to him and express to him our desire for him to come and protect our city he will surely heed our call. He will see the wisdom in our words when we tell him that we need a safeguard against Lepidus and surely he will comprehend that above all else Caesar would have wished for him to ensure the safety of Rome.
However, we cannot simply leave it at that. We must also address what is to become of him once this matter is over otherwise I fear he will choose to continue his campaign in devotion to Caesar. If it is his wish, I believe that we should grant him permission to continue on the way that Caesar set him and continue his campaign once the issue of Lepidus is in check and Rome is no longer in such immediate damage. What man, nay what Roman, would shrink away from the prospect of fulfilling the wishes of such a great man as Caesar, his namesake, and at the same time protecting the citizens of Rome from danger? By providing him with these assurances I believe that he will put aside youthful rashness and will come to our aide.
I am still unsure of what actions we should take against Lepidus. We have heard no word from him and this is surely a disturbing omen. Still, we cannot send one of our legions against his many. While we await word on further support from the cousin of Brutus let us again send messengers to him to glean what we can of his intentions. I believe some would be uneasy at sending Gaius Julius Caesar out to battle Lepidus in fear that they would join against us. If Gaius heeds our call home then perhaps he will grant us the use of a legion under someone elses command or rather allow someone to lead along side him. However, I do not believe that he has such malice against Rome in his heart for it would be a terrible insult to the memory of Caesar. I believe that he may prove to be extremely efficient and ruthless against Lepidus, if he shows himself to be a traitor of Rome, in an attempt to cleanse his name, bring honor to his family, and firmly establish himself in history as a great general. Youth often has the need to prove itself and Rome has need of a military man. Let us hope that our two paths are able to align for the betterment of our people.

On Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus

2008-03-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

We are faced with another challenge, unfortunately on the heels of many others. Gaius Julius Caesar has taken nine legions and left Rome without protection. Our few legions that are still loyal to Rome are far a field and are being recruited to aid our wise Consul Dolabella which leaves our city with no nearby legions. We are caught between a rock and a hard place. Do we demand that Caesar Octavianus return his legions to Rome, risking him taking other rash actions and possibly driving him to joining with Lepidus, putting no less than FOURTEEN legions against our fair city? Or do we try to save our city by retroactively giving Caesar our permission to command the legions and ask him to aid Dolabella against Lepidus before continuing the Parthian campaign.
Gaius Julius has already shown that he is prone to rash actions due to his youth when he left to gather his legions after we did not bring Brutus to trial. He immediately left to gather legions that had already pledged loyalty to him. We must remember that these legions pledged loyalty to Gaius Julius BEFORE he returned to Rome, if we try to forcibly take command from Gaius then the legions will not necessarily listen to the senate. Also, currently he is paying his legions, a situation that gives them greater ties to him and something that the senate would have to take over if we even could get the legions’ loyalty back.
As unfortunate as it sounds the senate must tread carefully to avoid another civil war. If we anger Caesar then he will likely join his forces with Lepidus who is now an enemy of Rome and they will over power Dolabella and the senate’s forces. At the least we must delay any actions that would send Caesar to join with Lepidus until after Dolabella has defeated Lepidus’s legions and can turn his attentions to protecting Rome.
The senate has caused this problem and we must solve it calmly and rationally. If we had brought Caesar’s father’s killer to trial then the man who had the loyalties of NINE of our legions would have stayed in Rome and we would still have control of those legions. We already turned Lepidus against us by not taking action against murderers in our midst, and now we are driving Caesar the same direction. We cannot afford to be divided while the Republic is still recovering. If the squabbling and division in the Senate continues in this fashion more valuable men will leave Rome making the Republic weak and vulnerable. Gaius Julius Caesar has great potential to be as great a leader as his father; already he has skilled soldiers who are loyal to him before he has even been in battle. We should use his potential and hone his skills so that there might be another great general to add to the glory of Rome.
Let us not compound our mistakes in our treatment of Lepidus and write off Caesar when he has the potential to be as great a general as his father. We must find a way to ensure that he stands with us in our time of need and not drive him off as we did with Lepidus. Rome needs all of her strength and her leaders united. We must send Caesar our support and try to cultivate him to be the great general he can become. Send him somewhere other than Parthia, history has shown that it is a futile battle and we cannot afford to loose so many men on their constant annoyance at this time. We must find a better outlet for his eagerness for battle.

On the Problem We Have Created

2008-03-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

With regard to the matter of the movements of Gaius Julius Caesar, it seems plain that little real action has been taken so far. In truth, we have asked him to return, but we have also given him no alternative orders or incentives. Should we choose to send a friendly emissary in the form a sympathetic senator, we will accomplish little more than was accomplished with our first messengers, which is to say, nothing. In order to accomplish our goals, we must accept the fact that we must entice the young commander with some sort of incentive, or at least another objective.

Naturally, this idea brings up for consideration the question of what sort of objective should be offered. It can be argued that we should send the considerable forces under Gaius Julius Caesar to make a stand against Marcus Aemilius directly. Between the combined legions of Caesar and Dolabella, it is reasonable to think that we could end the threat of Lepidus once and for all. However, we must also recognize the possibility that the close proximity between the legions of Caesar and Lepidus will encourage them to unite against a common enemy. At the same time, to ask him to return to Rome merely to position his troops around the city, even if such a request should be worded in the most flattering and diplomatic language, will seem like nothing more than a patronizing offer from a haughty and superior body.

Despite these problems, I am uncomfortable with leaving Caesar to his whims in Parthia, though not for the reasons I have previously heard stated. I do not fear leaving Caesar in the East because of the possibility he might raise funding for himself in the same manner that his father did in Gaul. Should our plans fail, resulting in Dolabella’s defeat against Lepidus, we would very dearly wish for the aid of those legions under Caesar, but to no avail. Even if we assume that we have misjudged his motivations, and that he truly wishes to aid and obey Rome, he will be much too far away to render any sort of help. Moreover, this entire idea assumes that, by the time we have finished dealing with Lepidus, Caesar will not have met a fate similar to that of Marcus Licinius Crassus and his son at the hands of the Parthian hordes.

Whether or not you trust Gaius Julius Caesar’s actions up to this point, we have no option other than to tread carefully, lest we provoke further action by Caesar or, gods forbid, a concerted strike by Caesar and Lepidus. To this end, I admit that we have no hope of removing Caesar from his command at this time, but I remain insistent upon the fact that, if we have any hope of using him to our advantage, we must provide him with an incentive. This incentive may be nothing more than instructions to move his legions into a position that is more strategically beneficial to Rome than Parthia, but an offering of some kind must be made. Some of you may balk at this idea, as you may see it as conceding to the wishes of a youth who walks on the very borderline of treason, but at this point we have little choice. We dare not directly antagonize him, and if we offer only empty words and promises, our pleas will surely only fall on deaf ears. It is a fine line we now must walk, yet we can only blame ourselves for the necessity of it. Thus, if we must swallow our Roman pride for a short while in order to preserve the sanctity of the state as a whole, we must accept this fact as the consequence of our prior actions.

Concerning Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus

2008-03-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

Fathers of the Senate, we find ourselves in a struggle of power with the threat of war. As the actions of the young Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus are neither ideal nor under official senatorial command, we are at a critical peak and must take every caution possible. The fact that Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus has refused to adhere to the Senate and will not return is crucial. This is certainly an example of the rash of a nineteen year old. However, it also shows the boy’s zeal and devotion to the image and wishes of his adopted father. I do not believe that Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus intends to harm Rome because he provided no direct threat to the Senate unlike Lepidus. Therefore, the immediate threat is Lepidus. I will address both of these men at once because they have the ability to become directly connected. I have done my best to try to prevent war, and I still believe we can, but I cannot control the actions of Lepidus if he so chooses to march on Rome. I will still make it my goal to prevent a colossal and deadly engagement. The unfortunate and I admit frightening truth is that the Senate has no legions in Rome. If war is brought to our gates, we have no way to protect ourselves. To diplomatically ask Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus to step down from his position or send a senator to resume control of his legions is foolish. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus has already denied our request to return and we do not have more time to waste. My biggest fear is that if we do not take action, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus may be convinced to join forces with Lepidus and war will be inevitable. My suggestion is to take his loyalty to his father and appease him to apply it to the Senate. We can use his enthusiasm to help protect the city if we are attacked by Lepidus. Because Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus is adamant on carrying the wishes of his father with the Parthian campaign, we should give him permission to do so. Parthia is at a constant struggle with our borders and Rome cannot afford to have foreign conflicts at this time. It would give Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus the military experience he needs, while our permission and support will strengthen his ties with the Senate. Since our internal affairs are of the utmost importance, we should send a messenger stating that the Senate will give full approval of the Parthian campaign if he will provide military assistance against Lepidus. Some of you may disagree and claim his legions are not necessary against Lepidus if Dolabella is able to secure more troops from the provinces and Decimus Brutus. Those legions alone might be able to conquer Lepidus; however, if we have roughly sixteen to twenty legions against Lepidus’ five legions then we may be able to intimidate him into retreating and returning to Rome. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus can also remind the armies that Lepidus no longer has legal control over them and, as a fellow supporter of the belated Caesar, may be able to persuade these men to declare loyalty to the Republic and Senate. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus will have the honor of protecting Rome’s interests in the image of his father. I doubt he will refuse this glory. Remember, conscript fathers, time is running out and we must take every step possible to eliminate this crisis and regain firm control over the Republic. If the Senate uses my suggestions, I believe bloodshed can be prevented. We can save more lives than just the citizens within the walls of Rome. We can save the lives of our soldiers, generals, and leaders. Conscript fathers; let us finally restore order and bring peace to Rome!

Ambition and Youth

2008-03-18T19:49:00.001-07:00

The recent actions of Gaius Julius Caesar are cause for serious alarm, Senators, as his refusal to return to the senate is a direct subjugation of the governmental body which rules the most powerful civilization in our world. Senators, do not sit idly by and watch your power be taken by this wanton youth! This boy is simply riding the popularity of his late adoptive father in order that he gain more popularity and continue on the path his adoptive father set for him.
Although his popularity is potentially threatening, it is the power and authority of the senate that is in jeopardy today. Differences of opinion are to be expected, especially considering the burgeoning size of the Senate, but it is a senator’s duty, not merely the opinion of a few, to enforce its decrees. If the senate allows no action against, or does not reprimand the young adoptee, then the senate has openly and publicly announced to anyone who gives attention to the issue that it is powerless.
Gaius’ most recent letter to the senate does a poor job of hiding his true aim for Rome. He constantly refers to the people, as if it is the job of a youth not even old enough to legally participate in the senate to decide what is best for the people. He has made his intentions clear by openly defying the senate and appealing to the love the people had for his late adoptive father simultaneously. Anyone, senator or otherwise, who remains under the assumption that he has Rome’s interests ahead of his own needs to be reminded of just how quickly a man’s popularity can turn him into a tyrant.
You all may remember that Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, who in his early career led the campaign against Mithridates, gained a staggering amount of wealth after his military exploits ended. How fortunate Rome was that he did not decide to use that wealth to achieve political dominance. Our wanton adoptee has given no substantive promise assuring Senate that political power is not his ultimate goal. Stated or written words, as you all know, are often not the speaker’s true intentions at all.
This youth’s political aspirations are clearly not the same as Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus’ were. Pompeius’ political involvement was limited at best. The young adoptee, however, aims to win over the affections of the people using his ambition and his family name. Having Gaius Octavianus in the Parthian fields, out of control of the senate, only allows him to bolster support among his supporters and troops. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, any financial victory or taking would strengthen any attempt he might make to march on Rome.
The most important thing to remember while making any decision on how to handle the current situation is what happened after Lepidus left Rome. After Lepidus fled, no one (to the senate’s knowledge) has heard from him. His whereabouts, and more importantly his goals are completely unknown. Does Rome need another wild general running amuck somewhere in the Mediterranean? If he has already refused the senate’s orders once, what possible guarantee does the senate have that he will comply with our orders in the future? It ought to take more than one simple refusal to declare Gaius Octavianus an enemy of the state, but if he continues to defy the senate or refuse our decrees, he ought to be given the same label as Lepidus. Those who defy the Senate defy the institution which has for so long now upheld the values and principles which make Rome the most powerful city in the world.

"Enemy of the State" or a 19 year-old? Hmmm....

2008-03-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

Once more we are gathered here in the Senate, and once more we are faced with urgent issues that threaten this great empire. I need not remind you all that we are the council of the finest empire the world has ever seen for a reason. I understand that this senate is divided into factions, but I ask that we continue to work together and hear each other out, for the sake of our city, our families, and ourselves.
After reading Gaius Julius Caesar’s letter, I detected very little animosity towards our Senate and towards Rome.

No, I do not declare myself dictator-for-life, nor do I stand against the Senate for my personal disagreements with their judgment. I have resumed the military administration duties in the Parthian Campaigns of which I was originally assigned to, as these were not addressed in the Senate.[1]

Yes, obviously, he is upset that we did not give his adopted father (and egotistical maniac) any honorary public funeral (of which he was undeserving of), but Gaius Julius is young and has his heart set on his responsibilities on marching against the Parthians, who have regularly threatened the Roman republic. Thus, as of right now, he is actually helping us, more than hurting us. He is ambitious and capable in battle, but I sincerely doubt he intends to march on his fellow Romans, at least not immediately. It is a bit of a surprise to you all that he has left Rome and taken nine legions with him, but I must say that I am not surprised. Imperial arrogance and ambition come with his foul last name.
Thus, we shall devote our attention to our primary concern, which has been our primary concern for the past three weeks, and continues to still be our primary concern: Lepidus. Must I remind this council that we declared him “Enemy of the State” not too long ago? This was a wise decision, but now the time has come and we must act upon our decision. As I have stated in my speeches before, we must not turn our backs to him. He is our most immediate threat, and I am worried that if we twiddle our thumbs over what to do about Gaius Julius Caesar, then Lepidus will strike upon an unprepared Rome first. We must take the initiative and stay in active pursuit of him. He is apparently brilliant at hiding from confrontation, but we learned this quickly at our very first meeting.
Here are my suggestions: First, I propose, once again, that we send embassies to all our neighboring allies immediately and make sure they swear allegiance to us. We must remind them that they are allies with the greatest empire in the world, and we must be able to call upon their aid if necessary. Second, we must give Dolabella more power to put down Lepidus. I propose that we send Decimus Brutus and his three legions to Dolabella with the hope that they will reach him in time before Dolabella finds Lepidus. If all goes well, Dolabella, with additional legions along with his own, will find Lepidus and provide him with an ultimatum. Either he surrenders himself to arrest and criminal trial back here in Rome, or he must fight against skilled Dolabella and our combined legions of proficient soldiers. I understand that this is a bold move, and would leave Rome naked and vulnerable to attack, but it must be done. If we do not give Dolabella our man-power, he will face a much larger army under Lepidus, and Dolabella’s legions will most likely be slaughtered. In addition, we must start raising our own legion for immediate protection. Further, if we are still concerned about Gaius Julius Caesar’s potential to attack on Rome, then we must turn to Sextus Pompey, who has the ability to raise six legions of his own, along with his current convoy. His allegiance to Rome may prove beneficial, yet we must not promise him too much power in return (for obvious reasons).
I trust that you, conscript fathers, will make good on your judgments, but I must emphasize that whatever action we consider, we must do so quickly and efficiently. A wrong move here could lead to the destruction of Rome and this great empire.

[1] A passage from a letter written by Gaius Julius Caesar to the senate, informing the reasons for his departure of Rome

Make Haste Slowly

2008-03-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

My fellow senators, I have spent many hours since our last meeting contemplating our situation. We hold a precarious position, my friends, one from which we should not too hastily move, lest it prove our downfall. The young Caesar has acted presumptuously, rashly, even foolishly, but he has yet to show himself to be a villain. As my esteemed colleague Varro has noted, Caesar is not Lepidus. He did not rush out of the city, cursing us and threatening violence on all those who stood for the Republic. However, let us not think for a minute that the young Caesar shares our interests.
His actions do border on treasonous. However, they are not explicitly so. Caesar still nominally supports the Senate, and if that is true, he has a weakness. He is still beholden to our judgment in the eyes of the people. The young Caesar has pledged his loyalty to Rome. I do not think it would be his first choice to march on the city he claims to protect. The people would not welcome a man who brings them fire and sword rather than wealth and glory from a rich campaign in the East. An overt move to seize control by the young Caesar would surely turn the people against him. They will not support a man who shows up on their doorstep wearing a tyrant’s royal purple. This young man is not an idiot. He knows that he has much to lose by attempting violence upon the state. No, I think he will want to earn glory and riches in Parthia in order to strengthen his support here at home.
Yes, he enjoys some popular support as the heir of the late Julius Caeasar. However, Furthermore, if the young Caesar should continue to flaunt the Senate’s decrees, he will alienate this popular support. The only way for him to acquire legitimate support is if we give it to him. Moreover, we must avoid any crisis that will give him an excuse to return to the city. He knows that he cannot be seen to make an overt bid for power unless we give him an excuse to do so. However, if we manage to uphold the virtues of our forefathers, then we shall manage to deprive him of this. For this reason, I believe that we are, for the moment, safe.
This being the case, let us make haste slowly. Send out another emissary recalling him to the city and installing a new commander of the legions bound for Parthia. If he complies, all the better for us. If he does not, then we shall be able to expose him to the people as a man who seeks power for himself. If he continues to Parthia, pretending that he never received the orders, then at least he shall be out of the way long enough to deal with Lepidus. Who knows? Campaigns in the East can be long and dangerous affairs, he may even get himself killed.
In the meantime, however, we ought also to prepare ourselves for the worst. A two-front war may very well be upon us, and it will not be an easy affair. In light of the preparations we have made to deal with Lepidus and the temporary strain this will put on our troop levels in the West, I believe it to be in our best interests to begin raising legions and ships for a possible campaign in the East. Sextus Pompey currently has a fleet and has the ability to raise six full legions. I suggest that we normalize our relations with the younger Pompey and begin to marshal these forces in the event of a conflict with the young Caesar. I believe we may entrust this duty to my honorable colleague Scribonius Libo, who has always been a loyal Roman, and I believe has the unique talents necessary to accomplish this task.

Octavianus: Well-intentioned but Misguided

2008-03-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

Fellow Senators, We now have a choice before us: to let a youth guide this city by force, or to take back control of Rome for the Senate. If we continue to let Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus march about Rome and her provinces without the authority of the Senate what will become of us? Octavianus either assumes that we support his decisions or does not care for our opinion. While the Senate has itself been in a state of chaos of late, Octavianus should have at least brought up the issue of the Parthian Campaign before taking it upon himself to continue it in this time of crisis. I do not doubt that Octavianus has done what he thought to be right, but in this situation I feel that the inexperience of youth has led him to pursue the wrong course of action. When the Parthian Campaign was started the state of Rome was quite different than it is now, while it might have been the right action at the time, the present situation calls for us to focus on Rome herself. A time will come for campaigns in Parthia, but right now we must focus on the current conditions in Rome and the ever more present threat of Lepidus and his army. Our best course of action would be to convince Octavianus of this fact. We should remind him that his father put Rome above all else and that he should as well. Octavianus will be letting down his father's legacy if he continues to run about the countryside and leaves Rome defenseless. We should use Octavianus, his staff, and troops to their full potential by using them to defend Rome and confront Lepidus. After that threat has been removed, by all means let us continue the Parthian Campaign allowing Octavianus to continue the work set out for him by his father.

We should also be prepared to face the fact that Octavianus will not see the truth in our words and continue to pursue his current course of action or even worse turn against the Senate. This is something that we must prevent at all costs. We already have Lepidus to deal with; adding in a rogue Octavianus will only make our situation beyond hopeless. We are already in a precarious situation facing the threat of Lepidus; we cannot possibly hope to confront forces from both sides that are larger than our own. At the present we have given Octavianus no reason to oppose the Senate, we must maintain this relationship for the protection and safety of Rome and her people.

Another thing we must remind Octavianus of is our love of Rome and her citizens, including himself. In his letter to the Senate Octavianus speaks of public projects and the improvement of Rome, we need to remind him that we do care about these projects, but that they will mean nothing if Rome is attacked. While I do feel that some of his actions have resulted from inexperience and lack of wisdom, in this matter he is right. We have long succumbed to petty squabbles and personal vendettas, we need to remember our duties to the people and the city. I would hope that the instant the threat of Lepidus is over we would turn our focus towards Rome and her people, working to improve the city and the lives of those under her rule. Let us remind Octavianus that we will complete these projects as soon as Lepidus is under control and the safety of Rome and her people is not threatened.

Gaius is not Lepidus

2008-03-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

We must take some precautions when we deal with Gaius Julius Caesar. We have taken some actions lately that while they should not warrant the grounds for him to take command of an army, yet I can see how they would upset him. He sees what this noble senate has done as disgraceful to his adopted father and as such he takes it as a sign of disrespect to himself. While his actions are unjustified, we must not push him to make anymore rash decisions by stripping him of his command or sending troops after him. If we embark upon this course again, nothing good will come of this path. I say again, because we have already seen this manner of events unfold before us once. Remember dear Lepidus and our proposals caused him to turn his back upon us and take legions through the city. Young Gaius is going to join legions on campaign against Parthia, which while we may not have granted him command of those legions, he is not within striking distance of Rome at this time. Our first concerns therefore must be how to best deal with Lepidus. If we deal with Lepidus first and Gaius second, we may even solve two problems at once. Wouldn’t it be nice to deal with Lepidus and when finished find that Parthia has now been tamed. It would benefit us more to deal with the threat we are all sure of rather than trying to take action against Gaius and creating another threat to Rome. There is no perfect path right now, however we must choose between two evils. The option to strike out at both sides does not exist because both men control more of Rome’s armies than Rome does right now. We have been forced into a tight spot and now must come up with a solution, however desperate it may be, to get rid of the problems we now face.

I propose that we focus on Lepidus instead of creating a worse situation with Gaius Julius Caesar. If we allow him to command the Parthian campaign, we may be giving him a triumphal parade. This situation would be much preferable and beneficial to the people of Rome than making him a public enemy and trying to force him to relinquish his legions. We must learn from the past actions we have taken and realize that forcing someone into a tight corner is not the best way to disarm them. Force is a great tool and there are many situations in which force will win the day, however tact can be a more effective tool than force in many situations. A wise man once said that brains triumph over brawn, and at this particular junction in time I believe that this is the right idea. If we use Gaius Julius Caesar to his full potential instead of trying to bend him to our will, we may find that he is capable of great things. Once we have dealt with Lepidus, we will then have the ability to deal with Gaius’ refusal to return to Rome. As of now, that is the worst crime that he is guilty of and he has given some reasons as to why he would not return to Rome. In due time, hopefully we will come to understand fully why he has not proceeded according to the wishes of this senate, however for now we must try to face Lepidus with as much force as we can marshal and we will be unable to do so if we have to keep some of our forces to protect against other possible threats. Thus, I think that our primary concern for the time being should be Lepidus and we should wish Gaius the best of luck in Parthia.

Paper topic #4

2008-03-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

In the judgment of your character, has the Senate taken appropriate action concerning the young Gaius Julius Caesar (the whippersnapper formerly known as Gaius Octavius)? What further steps (if any) should the Senate take?

In light of this new challenge to its authority, should the Senate reconsider its earlier actions with regard to Dolabella and Lepidus?

As you consider your response, keep before you the early career of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus ("Pompey the Great").

Two pages, double-spaced, due in hard copy to Matt Wineski in class on Wednesday, March 19. Please e-mail to the Gamemaster at tkdix@uga.edu and post to the blog before class. You may post a longer version to the blog.

Some Words from the Gamemaster

2008-03-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

First, the Gamemaster noted the absence without explanation of five senators from the last meeting of the Senate before spring break. Such absences are unacceptable; they are a breach of the senators' duty to Rome, to the Senate, to the members of their faction, to history, and to themselves. The Gamemaster assures the Senate that such breaches will lead to History's negative evaluation on absent senators, as well as to the Gamemaster's negative evaluation of class participation.

Second, the Gamemaster has some comments on senatorial decorum. While you should expect and accept some vocal expressions of dissent and disagreement in a body as large and fractious as the Senate, senators should accord one another a courteous hearing, in the interests of maintaining a civil and efficient meeting.

Some silent communication through written messages is to be tolerated, as well. Some members of the Senate have expressed the opinion that other members of the body have resorted to frequent written messages during Senate meetings as a substitute for adequate preparation before the meetings. The Gamemaster urges all members to communicate with their fellow members on matters of strategy and tactics before senate meetings. If you must communicate with other members during a meeting, do so without distracting other senators, in particular, those senators who are trying to listen to speakers.

(And by the way, preceptors have the Gamemaster's permission in advance to communicate with senators and with the Gamemaster as they find fit and necessary. Senators should ignore the presence of preceptors and should not comment on their presence in the Senate; preceptors represent the "spirit of history" and are invisible to the senate until they choose to address individual senators).

The Gamemaster will not tolerate any further attempts to intercept messages on the floor of the Senate nor will he tolerate wrestling matches over scraps of papyrus. As a salutary reminder of this policy, the Gamemaster hereby publishes the contents of the (unsigned) message which he confiscated in the last meeting: "Antony-- you need to offer to attack Octavian so you can have control of some forces-- pretend like you're against him."

The Senate has two more weeks to meet, and many problems yet to confront; so make a better History!

An Open Letter to Rome, her Soldiers and her Citizens

2008-03-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

My Countrymen, I may no longer stand next to you as I did before, but I still stand with you, so listen to my words!

Imagine my dismay when I heard our noble Conscript Fathers, the learned, aged, and above all dignified men whom we have trusted to guide Rome to her destiny, broke out into an open brawl in the middle of a Senate Session. What are we to make of this, the citizens and soldiers of Rome? That our Senate has become so polarized, so angered and consumed with dispute, that they cannot control their own emotions?

When I first left Rome, it was in part because of the understanding that my continued participation in the Senate was an insufficient response next to the threats facing the Roman people. But now I have begun realize, had I remained in the Senate, my own safety would be threatened by my father's murderers! Is it so hard to imagine they might aim to finish what they had begun just a few weeks earlier with their daggers?

In the meantime, it is the Roman people who suffer the most, however. The immense public works projects, the plan of diverting of the Tiber River in order to reduce the risk of flooding and expand the Campus Martius, all stand incomplete and in disrepair. These are not pressing matters, the Senate decrees! The honoring of Brutus, the crushing of Lepidus, those are real issues! But they do matter to the Roman man on the street!

My last hour in Rome was spent in the Forum, overseeing the personal distribution of funds in my Father's name. There, one hard-working Roman spoke to me, as I was presenting him with the sum rightfully promised to him in my father's will. "Gaius Julius Caesar," he asked, "What of us? What of the Romans? Is it not enough that our heroes have been insulted, that our Champions are spit on?" He understood, as I understood, that now the Roman stands on a delicate precipice between starvation and Civil War, with more than some anger directed towards his Senate. The crowds who loyally chant my father's name bristle under the insults done against him. The Senate's antics, now practically legend in of themselves, do not help the situation. When Senates threaten each other with fists, how long before citizens do the same to their Magistrates?

As I continue my march and mobilization of men to the East, some of the men under my command have pleaded with me to turn West—to respond to the insults and injuries made against myself and the memory of my father, to the name-calling of "the Boy", and "the Tyrant" in the Senate. That I have too long tolerated the insults from my father's murderers. That the people are tired of the overdue funeral games promised to them and their beloved public works left abandoned thanks to an assassin's blade, and that the proud soldiers are tired of the insults to a General who gave them so much—wealth, fame, glory—and to which they gave their blood and sweat in return.

But to do so would be to march on Rome, something I would not contemplate! If our Conscript Fathers will take a moment from their antics and name-calling, I would ask of them: where would you have your General go? I am still loyal to Rome, to the Senate trusted to lead her, despite these personal insults and threats. My father loved Rome, to his final moment, and I still serve her!

Leaving the Senate

2008-03-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, I would like to thank Consul Marcus Antonius for so diligently enforcing the precepts declared in my father's final testament and will. Being rightfully declared the heir to Gaius Julius Caesar, and to settling his financial obligations, were among my reasons for returning to Rome. I am relieved to see that he was worthy of my father's trust, and has honored his obligations to him. I myself was honored to personally oversee the distribution of 300,000 sesterces to loyal citizens of Rome.

Another reason was to seek justice for the murder of my father. Such justice has eluded the Roman people, much to my disgust and disappointment. However, I recognize the authority of the Senate and the Magistrates, and respect their wisdom.

With that, I leave the Senate, to resume my duties as Caesar—both in name and military capacity. No, I do not declare myself dictator-for-life, nor do I stand against the Senate for my personal disagreements with their judgment. I have resumed the military administration duties in the Parthian Campaigns of which I was originally assigned to, as these were not addressed in the Senate.

As was previously intended for this long overdue campaign, I have taken command of the three legions in the territory of the Illyricum, administrated by the honorable Proconsul Publius Vatinius, who pledged their loyalty to me following news of the assassination reaching Apollonia. They are joined by the six legions that have been training and arming for the Parthian Campaign in Macedonia as administrated by the honorable Proconsul Q. Hortensius. This is included the relatively small number of my father's veterans who volunteered to follow me from Rome, and were not called to serve in under Consul Publius Cornelius.

These legions are now in migration east to combat the Parthian Armies that have so regularly threatened the Republic.

I leave the Senate, confident that the Conscript Fathers will continue exercising their wisdom and judgement.

The Next Senate Meeting...

2008-03-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

We will conclude the issue of sending out emissaries to the legions in the next senate meeting. We will then discuss any further issues on the actions of M. A. Lepidus and any issues of securing Rome and the legion's grain supply.

M. Antonius

Conspirators

2008-03-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

Senators! We have heard your advice. Villians! We have heard your deceptions.

Senators, we will soon hear your consensus. Villians, we will soon hear your laments. You are no doubt thankful that the disorder you have sown with your daggers takes so long to weed out, for by all rights you ought already to be decaying in the Tiber. We quickly approach the day when you will reap the vengeance of what you so insidiously cultivated.

Your cohorts have run out of excuses and pressing issues for you to hide behind and likewise you have run out of time. Indeed all this urgent business seems to have sheathed the vengeance of Rome, but no longer! Your lackeys ask us to remain true to the customs and traditions of Rome. They ask us to remember the past in deciding the future. Remember Lucius Saturninus, tribune of the plebs, and Gaius Servilius, praetor, both executed for conspiracy against the state. Remember the Grachii, righteously killed for their rashness, for their impudence against the senate. Remember the Catilinarian conspirators, strangled with even less consideration than we now offer to the executors of this most recent conspiracy.

Senators, stay on the path you began by naming Dolabella consul, the path you continued in granting Caesar the state sponsored funeral games he deserved. We have already praised Caesar in death for the great man he was, but this issue is not complete. Now we must punish the men who struck him down, struck down the very same man they swore a sacred oath to protect!

Realize the small measure of order we have regained still lies vulnerable. If you do not call the conspirators to stand for their crimes then you also do not affirm the composition of this senate. We must continue to forge forward or we will fall apart. We do not need to start all this over again. If we abandon our course in support of Caesar then we take up the burden of the assassins. We take up the burden of new elections without old magistrates, of new problems without old guidance.

Do not make light of this progress we have striven so far to achieve. Do not let the calls of amnesty soften your hearts, lest we all remain at the mercy of these murders. If we grant them immunity now, then we leave ourselves vulnerable to them in the future. If we let them walk free what are the people to think of the senate except that whichever man holds the most daggers holds the most power?

Marcus Junius Brutus sits before us still and stabs at us with lies as he stabbed Caesar with iron. You have heard this man claim he wants peace with all of you, but whose actions are to blame for riling the people to begin with? He seeks only escape from his crimes. You have heard this man claim compassion, but who was it that remained numb to Caesar’s pain? He is the one who stabbed the man offering clemency. You have heard this man claim liberty, but who was it that shackled all of us with complaint, and deceit, and pettiness as we strive to reform our country. His liberty may still yet imprison us all in the slaughter of a plebeian rebellion.

Since the beginning of all these affairs have we spoken of grain? Of expansion? Of taxes? Recording history? Furthering literature? Building infrastructure? Building temples? Finding our soldiers land? Securing our borders? Securing our provinces? In short have we spoken of any matter looking to ensure Rome’s future? Any matter to benefit all of Rome? NO! We have been restricted in fighting amongst ourselves, fighting to establish order we had until so recently already achieved, fighting for peace. And what root is to blame for sapping so much of the Roman Senate and People’s nourishing efforts? I look no farther than you and your conspirators Marcus Junius Brutus.

Therefore senate I ask you to vote on the conspirators: for the safety of us all, and the conservation of Rome; so that we may appease heart of the people and ourselves; to the verification and glory of this august body; to the repression of the enemies of Rome; in keeping with the previous rulings of this body and the ancient precedents and customs of our people. I ask your advice, conscript fathers: should not Marcus Junius Brutus be stripped of his praetorship and with his fellow brought before a trial to face the consequences of his sins?

Marcus Antonius

on true dignitas

2008-03-05T17:47:00.000-08:00

Romans,

I am proud of our Senate, full of new men as it is, for having exercised such wisdom and foresight in declaring an enemy of Marcus Aemelius Lepidus, whose exemplary temper tantrum has given us yet another diversion which keeps us from cleaning the administrative mess that Caesar left in our wake. Instead of allowing us to move on from the politics of personal gratification and revenge, Lepidus has not only threatened us with Caesar’s old legions and therefore his ghostly image of tyranny, but he has defied the rulings of the Senate. Lepidus only answered to Caesar, and now that the tyrant has been slain, who does he answer to? It seems that Lepidus learned how to ignore the Senate from his beloved leader. Just as Caesar allowed himself to be motivated by personal gain when he rendered Bibulus helpless during his first consulship, when he crossed the Rubicon a decade later, and when he made all of his subsequent decisions, Lepidus has sacrificed Roman dignitas for his own. We, the Senate, cannot allow him to maintain any shred of his former honor, since he has made it perfectly clear to Rome that he considers us his enemy. Now we shall make it clear to him that he is no longer welcome inside the pomerium.

Lepidus claims to be a man of action, but I only see in him a man of reaction. Too long have men in our Republic treated the public house like the private house, scheming and plotting at whim. I see in Lepidus a frustrated child who did not get his way and therefore has decided to take matters into his own hands without regard for authority. Lepidus has made it clear that he does not respect this body and its decrees. What this man does point out is whether or not we have demanded enough respect in our recent past; this is surely a matter up for discussion in subsequent meetings. However, whether or not Lepidus owes us respect as the primary decision-making body in this country is not up for discussion, for the answer is a simple “yes”. It is the law of our ancestors that protects us from things such as one-man rule, and promotes the deep-seated well-being of the people; it is never the law that fails us, but the execution of this law with steadfastness. True well-being cannot come from the flattery and empty promises of leaders that die with either shifting public opinion or with the shifting of said leaders. The tide has turned frequently in our city as of late, and the sentiments of the public are of course with the dead tyrant for predictable reasons. Even in death he continues to make men a slave to his “clemency” by bequeathing small cash amounts to every male citizen. What nonsense—Caesar governed as if he thought himself a god, as if he thought that he could never die. And look the situation he has created for us! He has inspired Lepidus to imitate him by invading Rome, and empowered the dregs of society with booty from war. No longer is it obvious who the nobiles are, now that our leaders act like cowards and the urban mob renders one (or both) of our consuls their slave! During the reign of Sulla the massive flight and murder of the nobiles was the first step toward our present desperate situation. We find ourselves lacking in men who were educated for the ways of the public house when we convene this body. While it is no fault of their own, it is a problem that needs to be understood and addressed. If you find yourself wanting for evidence of this bold claim, I would kindly ask you to remember your own voting records when Caesar likewise made unreasonable demands of us for nearly two decades. Another Caesar could not have lived long 30 years ago. When Caesar did not get his way, he simply manipulated the system or stepped past it. He was allowed to assume himself superior to the men who made him.

Gentlemen, we must understand our position as it stands regarding all positions of leadership in Rome. We must empower these new men to embrace the traditional courage and moderation of the established nobles of the city by acting like true leaders, as well as not allowing those who might hail from a lucky lineage but who are corrupt, to serve the Republic. Lepidus, although he was once a noble and Caesar’s distinguished magister equitum, can now label both of these titles superfluous in regards to himself and the state he used to serve. Now he declares open war. When have we, Romans, ever erred on the side of leniency? To err on the side of leniency is not liberal or just or merciful: it is foolish and puts citizens of this great land in grave danger. Along with these scouts that we sent to find out about his whereabouts, we should have also sent legions right behind them and alerted the provincial governers to meet any unwelcome surprise.

Let Lepidus quiver in fear over his rashness; let him regret the day he ever stood against Rome in defiance, hoping that the shade of his tyrant will be there to rescue him. How foolish he was! Let the world see that we are to be respected, that we are untied against tyranny, mighty in power, and steadfast in our laws.

An unusual legal proceeding in 61 BCE

2008-03-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

A quaestio extraordinaria tried P. Clodius in 61. The offense was exceptional in every regard. Clodius had allegedly participated incognito in the feast of the Bona Dea, a ritual open only to female celebrants. The violation constituted an affront to the gods. Nothing resembling a precedent for such a case could be uncovered, and no guidelines to determine proceedings. The question was referred to the Vestals and to the priests, as stewards of the state religion. They pronounced simply that an offense against the gods had been committed. Under other circumstances that might have been the end of the matter. No compelling reason demanded secular intervention. But Clodius was a politician of note, with a dubious reputation and a host of enemies in the senate. Hence, pressure arose for a judicial proceeding. No standing court existed, of course, with jurisdiction over such offenses. A senatorial decree, therefore, instructed the consuls to bring a bill to the assembly instituting a quaestio extraordinaria. Debate and dissension ensued in the senate, and the contest spilled over into public meetings and the streets.

The intensity of the political clash engulfed any impartiality on the legal question. The senatus consultum called for a special court, for which the praetor would handpick a jury. Its object was little short of inquisitorial procedure. Feelings ran high against Clodius, and the measure received overwhelming senatorial backing. Clodius’ supporters objected; M. Piso and Curio fought against the decree, and a tribune, Q. Fufius Calenus, exercised his veto against it. Matters reached an impasse. A way out was found by Hortensius. He persuaded Fufius to drop his veto and to introduce a new bill himself. It was identical with the consular measure except for the constitution of the jury. The praetor would not have a free hand in appointing jurors; presumably, the customary and impartial operation of the lot would select the bench. Fufius’ proposal passsed.

The affair produced the one known quaestio extraordinaria directed at a single individual in the Ciceronian age. Explosive political motives kept this case out of the realm of traditional criminal legislation from the beginning. Reluctance to establish permanent procedure in a matter that belonged more properly in the religious sphere may also help to explain the ad hoc proceeding. The exception, in fact, throws the rule into relief. For even this instance, enmeshed as it was in politics and personal enmities, produced a tribunal constituted by traditional regulations governing the standing courts. The Romans tended to eschew ephemeral arrangements. Criminal statutes were designed for the future as well as for the present.

Erich S. Gruen, The Last Generation of the Roman Republic (University of California Press, 1974), 248-249

Look before you type

2008-03-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

I hate to see senators abuse the Latin language, so:

"ad" takes the accusative
"de" takes the ablative
"in" takes the accusative

That wretch, Lepidus

2008-03-05T08:57:00.001-08:00

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of you. Declaring that wretch Lepidus “Enemy of the State” is the most plausible as well as the most just decision we have yet to make here recently. However, I am bewildered! How can we publicly declare the man as a threatening enemy to our glorious state, and then suddenly decide to go back to discussing matter about Brutus, who we have already proved to be right in his actions? By discussing what to do with Brutus immediately after we declared Lepidus our enemy we are turning our back to our most immediate threat, which (as the vast majority of us know through military experience) can be fatal. Have we not already discussed this matter in detail? Caesar was a tyrant, therefore Brutus rightfully dealt with him the only way we Romans know how to deal with a tyrant: kill him! And for those of you, who propose to put our brave savior on trial, should reconsider. Brutus is praetor right now and as a member of the magistry, he is hereby unable to be tried until his term is over. If you argue that Brutus should be removed because tyrannical Caesar put him in his power, than perhaps you should take a long look at yourselves and recall that the vast majority of you too were put into power by tyrannical Caesar. Further, by claiming that “tyrannical Caesar” is the reason Brutus got his position as praetor (as Gaius Julius Caesar stated), you are additionally claiming that Caesar is a tyrant, therefore Brutus’ killing of Caesar is, once again, justified. Therefore, I propose a most rational and simple conclusion: general amnesty, so we can move on to the more urgent matter of Lepidus.

Now, for the first time today, I address an issue of actual relevance to Rome’s immediate safety: what must be done about Lepidus, now that he is “Enemy of the State.” Let me remind you of Lepidus’ last words: “If you are truly Romans, rise to bloody and just action. If, however, you want to play the Greek, then sit around and discuss the rights and wrongs of this action, philosophize, and fornicate with little boys, go ahead; you will get no sympathy from me. You will see my opinions through my actions.” This man clearly has evil intentions against us, and with a formidable legion under his command, I ask why we hesitate? I hate to say it, senators, but it is clear he intends to march on Rome. That wretch took a legion of our beloved citizens, and even buried Caesar on his own, screwing you Caesarians out of your public funeral wishes. We as a senate, for the first time, shall unite in our stance against Lepidus unanimously. I fear that Lepidus intends to persuade our neighboring allies against us with the intent of isolating and surrounding us. As we all know, this must not happen. I propose that we send embassies to all our neighboring allies immediately and make sure that they pledge allegiance to us. We must remind them that they are allies with the greatest empire, the greatest senate, and the greatest citizens in the world. We shall make it known that Lepidus will have to take on the entire western world, if seeks vengeance upon us. If we find Lepidus, I propose we immediately arrest him and bring him to trial here in Rome, and let justice be done, once again, to our criminals.

Lepidus

2008-03-05T07:08:00.000-08:00

My fellow senators let us not judge any Roman too hastily. I believe that we were right in removing Lepidus from an office which no longer had any grounds to exist. I also believe that we are right in being wary of Lepidus and his men. None of us wish for him to turn Roman against Roman and take the city by force but before simply turning our thoughts against him we should discover his true intentions. Perhaps it is simply that in his view we have treated him unfairly and so he has escaped from the city in order to escape from the shame that we thrust upon him when we did not treat him with the honor that his status and his actions have accorded him. We cast him aside without a second thought instead of remembering all that he has done for our great city. He had devoted himself to the life of a soldier and general so that he might protect us and all that we hold dear and yet we turned our backs to him.
Now is our chance to make right our error; let us not allow it to slip past or our country to slip into war. I believe that we should send out messengers to Lepidus and prepare for him a position here in Rome as a general to protect the city. Let us use his knowledge for the good of the people and make it known to him that we have not forgotten that his is a great man. Yes, he acted rashly when he took his men and left us defenseless but it was in response to being rashly cast aside. Allow him the chance to redeem himself and his legion's honor. If he still would not set aside his own pride then we shall take further action against him.
I do not say that we should not prepare should he decide to turn against us, I merely suggest that we give him the opportunity to return to Rome with honor and not shackles. Even if he will not see reason then we should at least let the men who follow him know that they have officially been commanded to return to the city. Surely then some of these great Roman soldiers would heed the call of their people.
If all reason evades Lepidus and he still will not return to us then we should focus on protecting the city of Rome and its interests abroad. We cannot allow him to march on the city or to cut off our valuable supplies. We must fortify our allegiances with our legions in order to protect our food supply and our people. It grieves me to think on it but if we are truly threatened by him then our only option would be to wipe him out. If he will not see our reason then he must see our sword. This is why we must do everything in our power to resolve this issue before we begin turning countrymen against each other.
Put pride aside, put aside your politics. Let us unite to confront this challenge and not bicker and whine like so many children turning meetings of the senate into a laughingstock. No matter what actions we decide to take against Lepidus we need to be quick and concise. If we keep tearing the senate apart from the inside then Lepidus has naught to do but to be at ease and enjoy himself while we do his work for him.

On Lepidus

2008-03-05T05:42:00.000-08:00

Conscript fathers, the matter of Lepidus has grave implications for the reinstitution of the Roman Republic and for me personally. I wept for Caesar, and rumors even surfaced that the assassination plot purposefully coincided with a day I’d be absent from the Senate House, but what’s done is done. Now let us shift our focus temporarily from the conspirators to the imminent threat to the reestablishment of the Republic, and that is Lepidus.

Firstly, I commend this body for hastily declaring Lepidus a public enemy following his loathsome removal of the protectorate legion of Rome. From the first meeting following the assassination of Caesar, the usually poised Lepidus morphed into a temperamental, volatile man that should have been removed of any military command. Unfortunately,we, as a whole, decided to proceed with the seemingly more important
matters of Caesar’s death. Many suggested temporary measures that primarily centered on raising a legion in Rome. Obviously, these measures are vital for the protection of Rome, and I believe that we should fortify a legion in the city as quickly as possible. The legion should not venture outside the city until the intentions of Lepidus are revealed. Envoys should sent immediately to locate the whereabouts of the enemy camp. Then, we should mandate that Lepidus relinquish the control of his legions to the Senate, and if he refuses without an adequate explanation for his actions, then we should consider it a declaration of war.

We are currently recruiting and attempting to contact veterans, but under whose command this army shall be is still in question. I’ve heard the overtures of the legions being commanded by Publius Cornelius Dolabella. Dolabella’s extensive military career certainly qualifies him as a worthy candidate for position. And I will willingly serve under Dolabella if this assembly sees it best. However, I understand that certain senators are advocating for my appointment as general of this army. Being arguably the most decorated and esteemed centurion of Caesar’s army, I associated with generals unlike most men of my rank. Caesar rewarded my unparalleled bravery, valor, and competence in military matters by granting me a seat amongst you honorable gentlemen. Caesar, often times, sought my counsel prior to battles and frequently offered me promotions within the army. However, the commitment to my cohort and the therapeutic effect of battle on my young, restless soul kept me from accepting his offers. Age imparts wisdom, and now I feel myself best suited for a position of higher rank. Not to belittle my fighting capabilities, for they are still the standard of excellence within the Roman legion, but I feel my military experience would be best suited for a higher position.

However, I serve with pride under the command of Dolabella or Gaius Julius Caesar Octavius if this body deems it best.

Offering a Friendly Hand

2008-03-05T05:00:00.001-08:00

Romans,
Though recently I have been insulted and ignored by most of the members of the Roman Senate, I am willing to put that aside and prove to you all how much I respect and honor your great state. I open myself wide to the Senate and People of Rome and offer my aid in destroying Marcus Aemelius Lepidus and this ridiculous move of his to completely ignore everything and everyone. He is obviously working on his own accord and cares little for those ideals which he once held so dear. He used to speak of peace, rebuilding, and prosperity. Now he has obviously gone mad and has turned the entire state against him. Marcus Antonius, along with other Caesarians, stood before the senate in its last meeting and tried to convince you that we do not know exactly what Lepidus wants and is trying to do. We should wait it out, they said. Though one may not know exactly what goes on in the mind of a madman, he does not sit back and allow him to beat him swiftly and repeatedly. Nor should the senate of Rome get on its hands and knees and take it from Lepidus.
I am going to have to agree with most of the Republicans and say that the threat of Lepidus should be much more worrisome to Rome as whole than Brutus. While Brutus may be destroying what is good and beautiful about Rome from within, Lepidus has the ability to level the entire city. While the issue of Brutus’ possible trial is incredibly important, and must be dealt with as soon as possible, securing the safety of all of your lives and the lives of the men and women of Rome must come first. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus raises a good point: Lepidus has several loyal legions backing him at this time and victory in battle against him is not certain. You need more support and I can offer a great deal.
Before Caesar was brutally killed on what you call the “ides” of March, he had written a set of plans for the future. I am not sure what all is contained in these wishes for I do not have access to them, but he had mentioned a title to me: “Friend and ally of the Roman People”. Allow me to offer a helping hand in this matter against Lepidus and promise the continuance of a great flow of grain. I only ask for your protection and friendship in return. For those of you who have personal problems with me, try to look beyond whatever you may believe about my social and/or sexual life and see that what I offer will be greatly beneficial to you all. If that is not enough, look at me merely as a representative of my people and allow them to extend many friendly hands to you all. I do not wish to slow the process of this Senate meeting with debate on this issue. I ask that this question be dealt with quickly and if there are too many against this idea, then say so now and move on to another topic. The safety of Rome is more important to me than this title, but I also think what I offer will greatly increase the probability of victory in a battle against Lepidus’ forces.

Ceoncerning Lepidus

2008-03-05T03:42:00.000-08:00

Conscript fathers, we are every day faced with new challenges which threaten the safety of the republic. A very few days ago, our dictator, my uncle, was slain in the very Senate House. At the next meeting, his Magister Equitum was claimed illegitimate and thrown out of office by our Consul, Marcus Antonius. During the same meeting we could not agree as one to grant to Caesar a state funeral; so Lepidus, a close friend of Caesar’s, felt compelled to take it upon himself to bury Caesar privately. Shortly thereafter he fled Rome with his legions, having been disgraced in the Sanate. At our next meeting, we all voted in Dolabella as consul with Antonius, a conclusion which was reached more quickly than any other that we have come to in this Senate. Following Dolabella’s appointment, we again broke into our factions when the issue of Lepidus was brought forward, arguing constantly, not letting one another speak. Though we have met more than four times since the assassination of Caesar, now we are split into factions over the fate of Junius Brutus, my fellow senators have given their counsel to the consul over two senate meetings, while a vote is still yet to be taken. Let us decide on the matter at hand, which surely must be close to a conclusion, for only a few senators are remaining who have not given their opinion. While I agree with my fellow senators that Lepidus is a force to be reckoned with, and that while we do not know his intentions we should not be able to rest easy here in Rome. But while we are unsure of the location of Lepidus and the actual level of threat that he presents, we cannot forget that those proven to be murderers are in our presence every day in the Senate House. It is true that Lepidus has enough legions to present himself as a formidable enemy of the Republic, there are those in our midst who have already proven themselves as such! So let us finish our discussion of the matter of Junius Brutus and the other conspirators, which surely will not take long, and then move on to the matter of Lepidus.

Concerning Lepidus

2008-03-04T22:24:00.001-08:00

Senators,
We meet in this room today with an urgent affair before us. A private citizen is camped in the foothills of the capital with a legion and for all we know he is preparing to march on us as I speak. Now is not the time to squabble, it is not the time to debate frivolous matters, and it is certainly not the time to lay in wait. Our hesitations may have already cost us valuable time in gathering a legion for this city. We declared Lepidus public enemy. Though I personally feel this action was slightly hasty, it is one which has been made and therefore, it must be fully embraced by every man among you today. If we are to retain power we must appear unified even though we clearly are not.
Wherever Lepidus may be his troops will undoubtedly ransack their area of occupation for food and shelter-if they have not done so already- to the extreme disliking of the men of the countryside. Considering the haste in which the legion left there is no way they could have carried enough food for a lengthy stay of any sort. I propose we use this basic need against them. Do I need to remind anyone here that we are still in charge of the grain supply? While the legion is doing what it needs to in order to survive, the soldiers are making enemies left and right. Soldiers’ ransacking the crops and estates of Rome is not kindly looked upon, especially if it is something which can be avoided. It seems to me that the best way to deal with this issue is to let nature take its course whilst we prepare for the worst. We should continue to raise legions just outside of the city for its immediate protection and we should continue to let the legion of Lepidus starve and pillage in the countryside. Those men are faithful to him personally beyond their allegiance to the empire, not because they believe in his cause, but because they depend on him for their own personal well-being. If we ensure that our grain supply is securely protected and that no grain goes unaccounted for we diminish the soldiers’ loyalty to Lepidus and bring about a better chance for victory should a battle ensue in two ways. First, we will have created a treacherous, desperate army and secondly a physically weaker army.
Further, I propose we send Lepidus a public ultimatum. Either Lepidus disband his army and return to a secure location where he will dealt with as a public enemy or immediate military action will ensue to remove him from the good peoples of Rome’s land which they unwelcomingly inhabit. This ultimatum should be worded politely and eloquently in order for it to achieve its maximum effect. By issuing this statement publicly we not only show our loyalty to the state and its people whom we are trying to protect, we make Lepidus the inconsiderate villain who is voluntarily and deliberately attempting to ruin the empire.
We can not afford to hesitate on the issue of Lepidus. We need to act quickly and efficiently in order to make sure we keep the Roman people on our side and away from his. I have seen to many a good man fall because of their military hesitations and I do not intend to wait idly by and watch it happen again.

A Call to Arms

2008-03-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

I spoke for the Senate when I declared Lepidus public enemy, though I have never seen the Senate so divided on an issue brought to a vote. So long as one of our legions is unaccounted for, though, we must observe caution. I followed the majority. The decision is made. We must now accept that and raise a legion to contest Lepidus’s. It would take far too long to bring one of our legions from far away, so I recommend that we bring some of our veterans from Campania to our aid during this crisis. You, Senators, have named me as leader against our enemy. Now I ask you to give me what I need to find this man.

An army needs weapons, food, armor, and reimbursement. I know our soldiers have the heart and loyalty to march at the command of the Senate, but they are nothing without weapons and armor. No man can live without supplies, no matter how his heart bends. I also fear that our men will be hesitant to leave the homes they have built in Campania without promise of reimbursement. The Senate must stand firm against our enemy, and thus you must provide me with what I need to find Lepidus and defend Rome. Do not put frugality over security and the sanctity of Rome. I know many of you detest the idea of a general leading his troops into Rome. Take action now, and give me what I need to prevent such a familiar incident from arising again.

Now, many have stated that the issue of Caesar’s murder be dealt with after the issue of Lepidus. Why, Senators, should we let murderers sit in our midst while we chase another man to our furthest borders? We have named Lepidus our enemy; he dare not show his face in Rome lest he face the ire of the Senate and the people. Lepidus took an army and buried a man. Brutus has gathered up Senators and killed a man. Who should we focus our attentions on: the enemy in our midst, or the enemy at a distance? This is why I pursued the matter of Brutus and not the matter of Lepidus. But today I believe the matter of Brutus will be resolved. That leaves us with the matter of Lepidus. Now we must take action, for he is an ever present shadow over our proceedings.

I will depart immediately when the Senate orders, assuming I have the means to build my army. Do not delay in your decision, for I cannot leave unprepared. Now is not the time for squabbling or stalling. I have kept my message brief. Please, make your deliberations likewise. Give me the means to pursue Lepidus, and I give you my word that real action will be taken.

De Lepidus

2008-03-04T21:54:00.001-08:00

O conscript fathers, allow me to openly admit that the Senatorial decisions concerning Lepidus has left me deeply disturbed. I feel as if my entire reasoning regarding this situation has fallen upon deaf ears. A few days ago I sent a letter to all of you discussing the severity of Lepidus. In this, I reminded everyone that we had not yet decided what to do with the army, and therefore left it in the hands of Lepidus as a private citizen. The Senate had not yet re-assigned Lepidus to another public office, although we discussed the possibility of making him Pontifex Maximus in our first meeting after the assassination of Caesar. We agreed to put that aside, apparently along with the issue of Lepidus’ army. Lepidus clearly threatened the Senate by saying “If you are truly Romans, rise to bloody and just action. If, however, you want to play the Greek, then sit around and discuss the rights and wrongs of this action, philosophize, and fornicate with little boys, go ahead; you will get no sympathy from me. You will see my opinions through my actions.” His disappearance with his army most certainly arouses suspicions. This is why I immediately declared that we should finally decide what to do with the army. Legally, as well all know, he should not be in command of troops and therefore the consuls have decided to rightfully take control of the army. Somehow, fellow Senators, our discussion of finding Lepidus and acquiring his army turned into declaring Lepidus as Enemy of the State! As I have said before, I take blame along with the rest of you because we did not address the issue of Lepidus’ army in a timely fashion. I sincerely believe we would not be in this position if the Senate had swiftly attended to this matter, and that is why Lepidus should not be enitrely blamed for this situation. Declaring Lepidus as Enemy of the State is outrageous because we have not given Lepidus a chance to subside to senatorial orders. As for particular senators who left the meeting just before the vote, even though you clearly stated you thought declaring Lepidus as Enemy of the State was premature, shame! What is the point of you rising to speak and wasting our time if you lack the courage to take a stand? This is a serious matter and one that may result in great repercussions for Rome if we do not act wisely. Many of you are just assuming that Lepidus will refuse, and while I’m not denying that is a possibility, you should have given him that chance before you made any declarations. Just think of how he will respond when he hears he is declared Enemy of the State! This is more than an issue of being just, however. I greatly fear we are adducing war upon Rome. Obviously the Senate agrees since everyone unanimously voted to gather legions to protect Rome. What is being done to prevent this, Senators? Surely you do not want to inflict yet another civil war upon our glorious city! No true patriot of Rome would wish such horrors! As for myself, I have witnessed too much bloodshed and destruction in my lifetime. I cannot reverse the decisions of the Senate, but I advise all Senators to make the greatest efforts possible to maintain peace. We must show the world that we are strong and united following the death of Caesar. If we thrust ourselves immediately into war, what image would that reflect on Rome? Is this what you were planning when you assailed many daggers into the body of Caesar, assassins? I suggest we take no further actions against Lepidus until we have more information, which we should gather from scouts. If we determine that Lepidus does intend to attack Rome and disobey the commands of the Senate, then we must take action against him as one man but not at the risk of the lives of great Romans. Until we can affirm these accusations, any attack on Lepidus is embryonic.

De Lepidus

2008-03-04T21:54:00.000-08:00

Another address to the Roman Legions

2008-03-04T21:29:00.000-08:00

To Rome's stalwart defenders, I salute you!

It must be discouraging, brave soldiers, that you find yourself once again face-to-face with Civil War. But do not loose heart, soldiers, for I stand with you, just as I stood with you at Apollonia. I am here because I owe you nothing less.

Who is our enemy? Perhaps Civil War's greatest crime against a people is that it clouds one's enemies, forcing men to attack the shadows of what they believe are their foes. The enemy of the Senate is Marcus Aemilius Lepidus—former consul, praetor, and trusted deputy of our father, Gaius Julius Caesar. Many of you served under his generalship against Pompey in the East, and you know he is an experienced military mind and determined commander. Some of you, understandably, may still feel as though you owe your loyalty to him, for his treatment of you. I know many of you are angry at the Senate's condemnation of your former-General, but it must be understood, it was no easy decision to make.

I too looked up to Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, but I will not relent in my defense of Rome in this most critical moment. With that, I have expanded the military payroll using my own assets in addition to what is normally afforded military command. We are in a dire scenario—every Roman must make sacrifices, but I will not ask for you soldiers to make sacrifices before I do so myself. Soldiers here, as you know, will be well-fed, well-equipped and well-trained, so long as I have anything to say about it!

In the coming days, the Senate may decide to assemble legions under the consul, Publius Cornelius Dolabella. These legions may include you as well. I fear for your safety, in that this is a death sentence and a painful request that you fight your former brothers, and will do everything I can to assist you in the meantime, even if the Senate ignores my requests to be allowed to lead you personally in defense of our country. Most important is where we stand: Rome is in peril—I know you men, and I know you will come to her rescue!

On Lepidus and Other Matters

2008-03-04T21:14:00.000-08:00

Fellow senators, while I am happy that we have decided to rightfully declare Marcus Lepidus an enemy of the state and have begun raising legions against his possible march on Rome, I feel that we did so with entirely too much delay. As I stated in a previous meeting of our established senate, the fact that Lepidus has left the city of Rome in the company of his legion is cause for emergency! Even after this statement, our consul still felt it necessary to continue on with the issue of funeral games. I do feel that Caesar deserved honors in his death, as a general and leader of Rome, but at what time did funeral games become more important than the immediate safety of our Rome? I feel that we are allowing too many issues from the past to cloud our ability to move forward and ensure the safety of our future. I feel that Marcus Lepidus' actions should take precedence over any other matters that need to be addressed.

I know, conscript fathers, that there are some in this room who feel that the matter of Brutus and his fellow conspirators should be dealt with above all else. I believe that the only way we will be able to move past all of this is to grant a general amnesty to these men for the sake of Rome. Removing these men from their offices and creating a hole in the senate would only throw our establishment into further turmoil. In one of my earlier speeches, I suggested that the conspirators should be placed in the hands of the courts, but I would like to apologize, for I now see that I was simply putting my personal feelings in front of what is best for our city. I feel that it is in Rome's best interest to grant these men their amnesty so that we can get on with matters of our future. Senators, let us contemplate what the consequences of a trial might be. A trial would only serve to widen the ever-growing gap that already exists in our senate. Despite our personal feelings in the matter, we must not dwell on what has happened in the past, fellow senators. We must try to turn our eyes forward and look to what will be best for Rome in our present time and in our future.

With this said, I believe that we should focus all of our attention onto Marcus Lepidus. This man is unstable and rash. He did not leave Rome with a legion of men to have a picnic, senators. We must be prepared for anything, for we have already been caught unawares by letting him slip out of Rome right under our noses. As soon as his position is established, I believe that we should send troops to meet him, thereby not allowing him to get to Rome. We cannot allow this man to get back into Rome of his own will. The consequences will be devastating should he get the chance to march on Rome. We cannot let our city be thrown into another civil war, so let us take action, fellow senators. Let us not continue our pointless fighting amongst each other as it only causes more delay in actions we should be taking quickly.

Our Actions Against Lepidus

2008-03-04T20:59:00.000-08:00

Conscript fathers, the matter of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus’ behavior forced us to address several questions which most of us had hoped never again to deal with in our lifetimes. For some of us, these questions were painful and inflammatory in nature, causing tempers to rise as our voices did. However, by the time the meeting was concluded, it had become obvious that Lepidus’ divisive action, though it is perhaps arguable that he was forced by the Senate’s lack of action on the matter of the burial of Gaius Julius Caesar, could not be condoned. While I still hold some reservations concerning our former magister equitum’s intentions, even I am not blind to the implications of actions such as his.

It may be true that Lepidus acted only as he though was best for the honor and burial of Caesar; at the same time, for the wellbeing and safety of the republic, his behavior could not be allowed to pass without consequence. It was because of this reasoning that I was in favor of sending emissaries to deliver our inquiries to our seemingly prodigal general whilst taking the actions necessary for raising our own armies to a state of readiness. I am still unconvinced that we were not premature to declare him an enemy of the state with as little information as we had; nevertheless, we have attempted to afford him an opportunity to explain his actions. It remains to be seen what he will do with this opportunity, but, as for myself, I remain hopeful that this whole business may be concluded without needless bloodshed.

Honored senators, let me be clear: I do not disagree with the actions that this body has taken thus far on this matter; indeed, I bore witness as many men gave wise council that day and that council was, for the most part, followed. As a result, we have ensured that the necessary actions will be taken while we await further intelligence, as is evidenced by the fact that troops are in the process of being levied.

At this time, we must wait for further information before deciding upon our next actions, but, for the good of Rome, we must also be prepared to put aside any differences we might have had concerning the decision regarding Lepidus’ status, pending his response to our emissaries. Should he choose to disband his legions and return to Rome peacefully in order to explain his actions, we must be willing to hear his words with open ears and open minds, lest we cause the situation to escalate into yet another civil war. Similarly, if he should chose to remain in command of his legions without explanation or even take the unthinkable action of marching on Rome herself, we must put aside any affections that any one of us might have held toward him, and treat him as his behavior would warrant: as an enemy combatant. Until he demonstrates his intentions by word or actions (or lack thereof), we must tread cautiously, for a single misstep could send us hurtling once again into the chaos and discord of an internal war, the aftermath of which could have greater consequences for the longevity of our newly restored republic than any previous conflict.

On Lepidus

2008-03-04T20:54:00.001-08:00

This Senate has accomplished very little in the last handful of days, and in the meantime, who knows what plots and schemes have been laid out in every corner of the city and, indeed, the Mediterranean world? Rather than harp on the failures of the past, however, and place blame on poor leadership and useless incessant squabbling from every side of this house, I’d think our time now is best spent focusing on the tasks immediately at hand, the most pressing matters, detrimental to the members of the Senate themselves as well as the city and the citizens and the colonies as a whole. While I for one certainly cannot stand the presence of murderers and agitators here in this sacred house, I have to admit that issues more important than these stand before us, namely the whereabouts and movements of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. I’ll not have anyone think that I approve of murderers voicing their opinions on any matters such as these, but it is impossible, I think, to pretend that the trial of the assassins of Caesar would not bog us down further into turmoil, rendering the future of peace all but hopeless anytime in the near future.
We know that Lepidus, having been declared an enemy of the state, left the city last week with his men while the pyre of Caesar’s cremation still burning. We squabbled momentarily about whether or not to send out scouts, and even if this matter was resolved (the topic was so quickly pushed aside, I hardly remember if we voted on more than one issue regarding Lepidus), a handful of men gathering information, easily bribed and even more easily killed, would hardly suffice when a third round of this civil war is so surely and imminently on our horizon. Did we even decide to raise a legion, or were we stopped at the details of leadership? Even if some of us weren’t convinced of the importance of this man’s actions a few days ago, for now the truth is evident: we must act quickly and we must act strongly. Raise at least as many legions as he has, send out scouts to every corner of Italy, and as soon as we find him, begin allying with the locals in every direction around him. As long as we keep him alone and isolated, with as few political friends as possible, and as long as we march quickly, he cannot do much apart from surrender the lives of his own men.
I’d like to be brief on this matter, conscript fathers, and simply emphasize the importance of acting as a unit and as a united front against this man who, while he may have not antagonized most of us personally, does represent the threat of a dictator in much the same vein as Caesar, something I’m sure the vast majority of us are not looking to live through again in our lifetimes or even in our children’s. We are unaware of the depth of his motivations, and we don’t know what his exact intentions are. I’d guess that, considering the rashness of the events of late, he may not even know what his next plans are. I’m certainly not advocating any more bloodshed or another war, but as we approach this man and this situation with caution, I find it important that our caution err on the side of careful protection rather than unorganized apathy. Nothing good can come of sitting still, arguing more about games, and allowing Lepidus to plot and bribe his way into a threatening position of power, which is what we’ve been doing for a week. Now is the time to come together with one front, conquer this enemy, and consider it a task necessary for the future, necessary for peace.

On the virge of Civil War

2008-03-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

Everywhere I find myself—in the Forum honoring my father's financial obligations to the citizenry, on the streets of the city in discussion with veterans, in the audience of the Senate itself, I am confronted with the specter of Rome once again in Civil War. Who can we say is responsible besides Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, a man I held in such high esteem as a great general and a great father of Rome. He has been declared an enemy of Rome for his actions in direct conflict with the Senate's authority.

So what can be done? It is not nearly as easy an issue as many Senators believe—men whom, for their considerable worldly wisdom, I fear have become increasingly distant from the actual realities of Roman life beyond their own: the lives of Rome's soldiers, Rome's citizens, and others residing within this city. Rome's soldiers, in particular, are a very different audience with very different minds than the Senate. Many of them still honor Lepidus for his great deeds in the past and even speak of following him if they were called to do so. Despite his actions against the Senate, he is still their general—this is not a reality we can afford to ignore. Contrary to what some might assume, any war against Lepidus will not be an easy one, and victory is by no means guaranteed.

My personal opinion is this situation is based on an idea: a natural urge to avoid the self-destructive act of Civil War in the nation I love, and if that is not possible, protecting it from utter destruction. The idea of Romans fighting other loyal Romans is most tragic, and the fact that our wise Senate was unable to avoid such an outcome, even as it was thrust upon them, is a severe disappointment. I wish it could have been the case that Lepidus could have been negotiated with, rather than declared an enemy of the Senate outright, in what amounts to a death-sentence for thousands of men under arms on both sides. Still, I understand that it is not my position to question the wisdom of the Senate, as I am a young man who has not benefited from the insight and judgment that comes with advanced age.

What is done is done: if Lepidus is to threaten Rome, we must rise up in her defense. I may honor Lepidus for his prior accomplishments, but I do not advocate simply staying inactive and hoping the crisis resolves itself. In fact, despite the perhaps-misinformed accusations of Marcus Junius Brutus, I have been appealing to veterans loyal to my father, and reorganizing and reequipping soldiers for new legions. Many of these loyalists—and make no mistake, there are large numbers of them—are loyal Lepidus as well as Caesar. To the best of my ability, I have sought to organize soldiers under my command, because for every veteran I successfully rally to my standard, there is one fewer man whom might oppose the Senate. I'm sure those men most vigorous in their opposition and condemnation of Lepidus, such as Marcus Tullius Cicero, understand the importance of keeping this enemy of the Senate from bolstering his army's numbers even further.

I will not shirk from any responsibilities I owe as a Roman. If asked to command or serve in any Army against Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, I will not decline—in fact, I'd consider it an honor to serve Rome in such a manner. What more serious threat is there to Rome than Civil War? The situation must be defused, one way or another, as soon as possible.

apologies for being out of character...

2008-03-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

Does anyone care to have the background color of the blog changed from stark white to something a little easier on the eyes? We can change this easily if a majority of you would like to. Just comment to this post, email me, or tell me (Travis Green/L.J.Caesar) and I will do whatever most of you prefer.

On Lepidus

2008-03-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

Lepidus as of late has been the topic of many rumors which, surprisingly, seem not to have reached many senators’ ears. Some among you find complacency in the fact that Lepidus has been declared an enemy of the state. I believed, and still believe, that this is so. The senate has lacked recently the ability to follow through with her decrees, though. The point I bring up, conscript fathers, is that naming Lepidus an enemy of the state is only half of a solution to a problem which every one of us knows is growing more threatening daily. Leaving the matter at this stage is akin to formally declaring the need build defensive walls, for instance, but stopping discussion before construction actually begins.
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus has shown that he is more than able to take initiative; even going so far as to ignore the entire senate, the most sacred of Roman institutions, while doing so. To have a man able to circumvent, or rather, preempt the will of the senate by burying Caesar’s body without approval and still escape Rome with no apparent repercussions is a disgrace to the body which has been the primary vehicle for holding up the values of the republic, and a direct insult to every citizen of Rome.
Lepidus’ crime was one which, fortunately, the gods have granted us a brief time to resolve. This emergency requires that we set aside bitter differences for however long it takes to decide what ELSE must be done in order to better prepare the republic in the event that Lepidus return armed. It is known that Lepidus fled Rome with a legion under his command; it would be irresponsible to assume that he would be alone in his return. For this reason, an army ought to be set up to protect Rome in the event that Lepidus returns to Rome with intentions to bring down the senate for personal gain. Let not our progress regarding the rule of two consuls be trashed by a man whose actions have shown has no regard for republican ideals or the stability of Rome. Let not the members of this astute body be divided so deeply by personal differences that we all lose sight of what could—and what undoubtedly will—happen if Lepidus returns to the same unguarded and disorganized Rome from which he departed.
The Senate’s army will have the sole aim of domestic protection, not chasing Lepidus around all of Italy. We have seen enough war already. Having a domestic army protecting the city, or repositioning certain legions so that they may directly defend Rome will insure that the senate may continue to conduct business normally, without fear of invasion, and doubly will not put more strain on Rome’s resources. This army will be stationed a short distance outside of the city to insure that Lepidus can do no harm to the citizens of Rome should this situation elevate to open conflict.
Always remember Lepidus’ preemption of the senate and never forget that he would do it again if given the opportunity. Keep in mind that Romans do not want to see another civil war. And if an enemy of the state should return to Rome, may the gods grant that the senate not forget why he was declared such in the first place. Let the formation of a protective army show finally to any who doubt that Rome’s system of government is still intact, that the senate will always retain the authority and power to enforce the laws of the republic, and moreover, that insubordination or preemption shall be dealt with in the most severe manner acceptable to retain Rome’s sovereignty.

Cinaedus Romulus

2008-03-04T20:17:00.000-08:00

Do we really question Caesar's tyranny?!
The man whose pet offered him a crown?
Only when we booed did he thrice turn it down,
A cover-up for his staged regality.

The Republic stained by his wanton member
A diplomatic mission to bed Nicomedes,
Transacting deals with that Queen on her knees.
These illicit affairs, do you refuse to remember?

Betraying his wife for the bed of Servilia,
Betraying the Great Pompey by sleeping with Mucia.
Such foul deeds have past been punished:
The perverse Tarquins were expelled and banished.
Now banish Caesar's memory to his grave,
and uphold your liberator, Brutus the brave!

In Lepido ET Antonio

2008-03-04T20:15:00.000-08:00

Most honorable Senators, I find myself before you speaking about a subject that, though undoubtedly important to the safety of Rome, should have been dealt with long ago by our all too incompetent consuls, Marc Antony and Dolabella. While we sat in this Senate House idiotically debating whether to give the tyrannical and sexually depraved, not to mention dead, Caesar his expensive and unnecessary public games, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus marauded around the Forum and beyond Rome’s borders with his dangerously loyal legion. In the age of our ancestors, such behavior and threatening activities would be considered of the utmost precedence and would have been discussed before any other matter in the Senate. However, sadly, it is obvious that the noble age of our ancestors is long gone. Instead, we Senators sit by idly and watch as one consul seeks nothing more than his own political gain and glory and the other quietly and cowardly plays the part of a puppet, in order that he might receive gold tainted with dishonor. But I am tired of wasting my pen on these corrupt lowlives. Instead, let us turn our attention to the matter of Lepidus.

Declaring Lepidus a public enemy should have been a much simpler matter than it was. Aulus Hirtius and other Senators so faint of heart suggested that we send scouts to find the criminal and then ask him politely to lay down his army and return to Rome peacefully. What kind of sissies are we? Do we not know our own law? It should not have been a matter of asking at that point, Senators. Lepidus had already violated Roman law by stealing the body of Caesar from Calpurnia’s home and seizing the Forum in order to carry out his funeral. He seized the Forum! And yet you wanted to ask him to come home and play nice? Why do you think he left Rome with his legion? For a peaceful vacation? No Roman leaves the city with his troops, telling no one of his whereabouts, unless he has a despicable and violent plan to carry out. Thankfully, enough of us were dedicated to Rome that Lepidus was still declared a public enemy of the state. But in the future, let us not forget the time we wasted listening to cowards and instead let us enforce the Roman law to its fullest extent!

After declaring Marcus Aemilius Lepidus a public enemy, we voted on raising a legion to protect Rome if he should, which he undoubtedly will, march on the city. I wholeheartedly agree with this decision, and believe that the levying of troops should be carried out with as much haste as possible. Lepidus could lay arms on Rome any day now, and we do not want another man to seize the city and chain us with his tyranny, when we have just been freed of the dictator Caesar. However, I realized after the meeting, that technically we only voted for Dolabella to gather legions. I believe this is an irresponsible move. It is clear to everyone in the Senate that Dolabella is being bribed by Marc Antony to support everything he suggests. Marc Antony has already made it quite obvious that he cares not for Rome’s safety, but only for his own advancement. Thus, placing his puppet in charge of the troops is dangerous and may lead to Rome having two advancing legions on her hands. I suggested and again expound that Vorrenus head the troop-levying as he is a third-party in the split Senate and he adheres to traditional Republican ideals. With him as general of the Senate’s legion, we could all sleep easier at night, knowing that the man in charge of our troops aims solely to protect the Roman Republic.

Now, Senators, act with haste! Place Vorrenus in charge, and gather these troops as quickly as possible! While we wait, Lepidus’ anger boils ever more fervently. Let us not allow the ineptitude and greed of our consuls deter us from protecting Rome. I want to be proud to be a Roman citizen once again, as I was when I arrived here from Verona, carrying the noble values of Cato close to my heart. We have seen how those values were thrown to the wayside when Caesar ruled solely in Rome. We cannot allow Lepidus, or Antony for that matter, to lay low the Republic once more and reduce us all to pawns!

An Enemy of Rome

2008-03-04T19:13:00.001-08:00

In regards to our action against Lepidus, I feel that it was inadequate and will only serve to infuriate Lepidus more causing him to inflict more damage upon Rome. Regardless of whether I agreed with declaring him a public enemy in the first place, it is done now. We must move on and deal with the situation at hand. As far as dealing with Lepidus further, I believe that we should strip him of his provinces and make it known throughout Rome and the world, that he is an Enemy of Rome and should be treated as such. Allowing Lepidus to take control of his provincial armies would be detrimental to our already unstable position. Sitting around and doing nothing about him now will only lead to trouble later. We should be hunting him down, as he is an Enemy of Rome, and dealing with him as quickly as possible; thus allowing the Senate and Rome to get on with business as usual. While there are many issues vying for our attention, and they are all very important, I would like to remind you fellow Senators that we have no idea where Lepidus is right now. He could have gathered his legions from Spain and Gaul already or be in Egypt gathering more troops preparing to march on Rome. Lepidus should be our main concern right now. The issue of Brutus and the conspirators can wait. As much as it pains me to speak highly of him, Brutus has remained in Rome ready to accept the consequences of his actions, whether it be honor or death, and for that I thank him. Do not think that I feel that Brutus deserves no punishment, but I believe that Brutus will remain in the city until we decide what his fate should be. Lepidus however, has taken over the forum, and left Rome with a legion of troops! Only the gods know how many he has gathered by now! He has proven again and again that he is prone to rash action and will do anything to accomplish his objectives. I feel that we should suspend the discussion of Brutus until immediately after the crisis with Lepidus is resolved.

A Crisis Ignored

2008-03-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Senators, Lepidus has been declared a public enemy. War is upon us. We must act quickly if we are to emerge victorious. While I held that we should have first delivered an ultimatum to Lepidus demanding that he relinquish his command and return to Rome, we, instead, voted to declare him a public enemy. There is no more time to delay. If he was not opposed to us then, he will certainly be opposed to us now, and a formidable enemy he is. Lepidus will fight. He commands five legions; one here in Italy, two in Gaul, and two in Spain. If we do not act quickly, we shall face the very real prospect of military defeat.
My esteemed colleague Varro has suggested a good plan. With the large number of veterans of Caesar’s campaigns residing in Italy, I suggest that we recruit them into the legion being raised by Dolabella. Furthermore, if Lepidus has summoned his legions from Spain and Gaul then it will be imperative that the three legions under Decimus Brutus in Transalpine Gaul prevent them from entering Italy. We also have a way of dealing with with Lepidus’ legions in Spain. Send the two legions under Pollio against Lepidus’ Spanish legions. This will keep Lepidus’ Spanish legions tied up in the west, while Decimus Brutus fends off those in Gaul. This leaves only one legion in Italy at Lepidus’ command. We should be able to raise more than enough troops from Caesar’s old legions to deal with these.
Let us also keep in mind, Senators, that our scouts have brought us no news of Lepidus’ whereabouts. Without actionable intelligence, our armies do not stand a chance in the field. We must redouble our efforts to gain this information, or we will not succeed in defending our fatherland.
I would also like to point out here why we are in this position to begin with. We have spent so much time squabbling over personal vendettas that we have failed to seize the opportunity to prevent this sort of thing from occurring in the first place. Our esteemed consuls would have us believe that their personal vendetta against Brutus is somehow more pressing than a renegade general who knocks at our door with the strength of no fewer than five legions! Are we mad?! By the gods, to continue our debate from the other day would be not only insane, but also a clear sign that we no longer have the best interests of the Republic at heart.
I propose that we suspend the discussion of Brutus until we have dealt with Lepidus. We are in a state of emergency. We can no longer sit idly by while the wolves howl at the door. We must answer them, or be devoured. I implore you senators, put down your vengeance; put down your petty squabbles. Our country is in mortal danger. Protect her! What good will it be to try Brutus for crimes against the state when there is no state left in which to do so?! Turn to the danger at hand before it is too late.

The Threat Is Not Over

2008-03-04T18:25:00.000-08:00

Marcus Amelius Lepidus is a threat to the republic which we so greatly value. In a true republic, no one man should be given an unusual amount of power. His title of magister equitum and command of a legion located within Rome clearly set him up to assume Caesar's post as dictator. This failed when the Senate showed their lack of faith in his ability to lead and removed him from his office. However, this is where Marc Antony chose to leave the matter and this is where Marc Antony was mistaken.
Antony was blinded by his blood-thirst. Rather than choosing to contain an angry ex-magistrate, he moved on to his petty wishes of exacting revenge on the liberators. Now Lepidus runs amok somewhere within the nation. Yes, we have raised and army. However, Dolabella is in command and still sits in the Senate, day after day, playing lap dog to Antony. This legion is about as beneficial as the last one put in place to guard Rome, the very same one Lepidus has on a leash with him. It was suggested that Vorenus be in charge under Dolabella. However he did not see fit to include Vorenus in the raising of the army. Why? Because Vorenus would have used the legion for its purpose, to defend us.
We have also made Lepidus and enemy of the state. While I do think this is appropriate due to his blatantly criminal actions, we should not have stopped there. We did not send scouts to find him. We did not try to legally disband the army. We moved on to harassing our patriots as a scapegoat to draw attention away from Marc Antony's own tyrannical actions. I ask you, what good is two consuls when both are fed from the same pocket?
At the very least, we need to send out scouts to ascertain the location of Lepidus and his legion. What are we to do if he gathers his other legions? We should remove him from his command of all his legions. Some will argue that we do not know his intentions and that this act would be hasty and rash? What then was his act when he removed his legion from the city? It has been the purpose of that legion to reside within the city walls and protects us for over one hundred years. This whole situation smells of more chaos and confusion. We could very well have another civil war on our hands. Yes, we have raised an army. But will it stand when Lepidus returns with all his legions? We are giving him time to collect these other legions by ignoring him while Marc Antony pursues a personal vendetta against Brutus. Brutus is not going anywhere. He is a very noble senator loyal to the Republic. Anywhere there is something to be done for the good of the Republic, there you will find Brutus.
If Marc Antony does not wish for Lepidus to march on Rome, he should set his personal feelings aside, for at least the present, and pursue the real danger at hand. Perhaps he should have learned this had he actually listened to the wise words of Piso, rather than spend that time instructing his lap dog on how he wished the rest of the Senate meeting to run. Lepidus is dangerous. If we do not act quickly, he will act for us. When he does, there will be no more Senate conflict and squabbling because there will be no more Senate.

De Collatini Nomine

2008-03-04T18:10:00.000-08:00

In this senate we have heard the names of Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, the first two consuls of the Roman Republic. We here are debating the fate of this Brutus’ grandson, but I wish to talk of the other consul in those early days, Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. In doing so I also hope to show you all the utter revulsion that your ancestors had toward the title king.

Once Tarquinius Superbus had been expelled, an oath was taken that the Roman people would never allow anyone to be king, nor anyone to be in Rome who might be a danger to freedom. Yet the people found a Tarquin again in a position of power. Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus was a nephew of Superbus, but held no desires to become king. Though in the position of consul, he had no love of kings, mindful of the violence done to his wife Lucretia by his cousin Sextus. But he retained the name of Tarquin, not by choice, but by birth, and the people of Rome found that name utterly detestable. The people of Rome, his co-consul, and his father-in-law all asked Collatinus to remove himself from Rome.

Though a friend to the whole city, Collatinus left Rome, rather than allow his presence there bring danger upon the Republic, of which he could truly be called “father”. The people understood Collatinus’ honest nature, but also the danger that his name possessed. And so, for the welfare of the newly founded Republic, they exiled a man who didn’t have the ambition to be king, but only the name.

If the people of Rome could not endure such a man, how could it endure a man who did not yet possess the name, but was filled with the ambition? If we are to judge Caesar by the honors and titles he possessed, we should also consider what type of character led him to actually accept these titles. Is there any honor he did not accept; did he show any restraint when gleefully lengthening his name? Did he show himself conscious of the respect due the Senate and the Republic when he claimed that the Senate was nothing, “a mere name without body or form”? Did he show proper propriety when he threatened us to consider his words as law? I have already discussed the removed crown that he so deeply mourned, and his actions during the Lupercalia. But what of his campaign against Parthia, which the omens state may only be conquered by a king? Would Caesar have left upon his campaign without assuring his success, and not urge Lucius Cotta to recommend the title of “REX ROMANORUM” be added to his already burdensome name? Through his actions Caesar proclaimed his desire for the throne – but I misspeak. He had already commanded that a golden throne be set up in the Curia, and that his statue be added among those of the Roman Kings. It was apparent that Caesar, though he lacked the name itself, still sought the power of a king.
In such a situation, is there any doubt how the first Republicans would have acted?

On the Order of Lepidus

2008-03-04T17:35:00.000-08:00

The actions taken against Marcus Aemelius Lepidus were for the good of all Rome. The senate had been in a state of lethargy and the actions taken against Lepidus will hopefully bring an end to this. Prior to this vote, the senate had been slow to take action when and if they took action at all. Hopefully, we have awaken from our sleep in time to stop the dangers at hand and are able to keep Rome safe from the rule of one man. We have given our consensus an army should be raised and lead by Publius Cornelius Dolabella. This is, at least for the time being, a start on the right course of action. However, as you may know we are unsure as to where this legion should be going. We failed to act when Lepidus was within the city, thus at that time we showed that wisdom without action accomplishes nothing. However, action without wisdom is just as futile. We must now look to become both men of action and men of wisdom. We must now try to figure out what has become of dear Lepidus. The one thing we can be sure of is that we have not heard the end of Lepidus. We have declared him an enemy of the state, so we must expect him to try and enter Rome through the force of his legions. This, however discomforting it may be, is not the worst of our troubles. We must find Lepidus and deal with him before he inspires others to perceive Rome as weak now that Gaius Julius Caesar is no longer our leader. If men start to believe that Rome is weak, this will only be the first of many rebellions that we shall have to put down.

Noble senators, what I propose is that we take action while we gain wisdom. We have no knowledge of where he is going, but I believe Lepidus will seek the support of his many legions. He will hope for the support of his men, seeing them as the most trustworthy people to his cause. We must at least match the number of troops he will attempt to turn to his cause. I believe that these men should also be experienced in battle, because Lepidus’ men, the men our legions may have to fight, will also be veterans. We should recall some of the troops we have abroad to help us fight against this new threat. We must also seek to learn as much about Lepidus’ activities as we possibly can. As long as we have no knowledge of what he is up to, we can only hope to counter the actions he takes after they have been taken. In order for us to take the offensive, we must seek greater knowledge and understanding. We must understand where he will head so that we may take the initiative. If we can learn his route, we will be able to engage him on terrain that we desire to acquire an advantage for our soldiers. We may even be able to separate his forces and engage them while we maintain the advantage of numbers as well. There are many variables when fighting so there are no guarantees, however a good leader can increase the odds of success for his army. A good leader is even capable of turning bad odds to his favor and snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat. Do not believe that Lepidus is anything short of a good leader, for doing so would be folly on our part. He will have the support of his men and he may be capable of turning battles in his favor, which is all the more reason for us to prepare for his actions. We must hope that his plans will take time to come to fruition, because right now time is our ally. However, we must be prepared to act once he starts his plans in motion. We must have troops on hand and we must have knowledge of his whereabouts and the path he seeks to take to arrive at Rome. If we can acquire this knowledge then we must take action because we will have the wisdom to choose the best course of action. However, if we cannot obtain this information we must react as best and as quickly as possible until we can outmaneuver Lepidus.

Roman Legions in March, 44 BCE

2008-03-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

The following list shows the disposition of Roman legions in March, together with the governor assigned to each province.

Further Spain: 2 legions (C. Asinius Pollio proconsul)

Nearer Spain: 2 legions (M. Aemilius Lepidus proconsul)

Gallia Narbonensis: 2 legions (M. Aemilius Lepidus proconsul)

Gallia Transalpina: 3 legions (Lucius Munatius Plancus proconsul)

Gallia Cisalpina: 2 legions (Decimus Iunius Brutus proconsul)

Sardinia: 1 legion

Central Italy: 1 legion (Marcus Aemilius Lepidus magister equitum)

Illyricum: 3 legions (Publius Vatinius proconsul)

Macedonia: 5 or 6 legions, destined for Parthian campaign (perhaps including one formed from Pompey’s army)(Q. Hortensius proconsul)

Syria: 7 legions (C. Antistius Vetus, quaestor pro praetore; succeeded by L. Staius Murcus, proconsul)

Africa Nova: 3 legions (T. Sextius promagistrate)

Egypt: 3 legions (perhaps including 2 formed from Pompey’s army)

Veterans: Julius Caesar had established at least two, and perhaps 3, colonies of veterans in Gallia Narbonensis; and two in Campania, one at Calatia and another at Casilinum (this one incomplete at Caesar’s death).

Paper topic #3

2008-03-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

In the judgment of your character, has the Senate ordered appropriate action against Lepidus? What further steps (if any) should the Senate take against Lepidus?

Two pages, double-spaced, due in hard copy to Matt Wineski in class on Wednesday, March 5. Please e-mail to the Gamemaster at tkdix@uga.edu and post to the blog before class. You may post a longer version to the blog.

An apology to Octavius

2008-02-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

Fellow countrymen:

I know that many of you, in addition to being angered at my actions towards Caesar, are angered at my general decorum in the Senate. May I remind you all that no true Roman is to ever apologize for slaying a tyrant, but is to instead be praised as a hero. I leave the Senate to debate this issue tomorrow, as the state decides what is best for its own. As for my interruptions during our meetings, what honorable Roman would allow the subtler forms of tyranny to slip through the lips of the few who lie, claiming to profess the good of the Republic, when it is their ambition that drives them, not their patriotism. However, you have my pledge that I will honor my fellow Senators and attempt to let everyone speak within reason, no matter how much my blood is boiling. For the order of the populace depends on the example of order the Senate sets for them.

And as for my mistake regarding Octavian, I have to apologize. He has not proven himself hostile to the Republic. My messengers provided me with a false rumor. What is more, the inevitable nature of what I had to perform in order to save the Republic has caused my wife and I great greif.

It is not the fault of Octavian that Caesar appointed him magister equitum designate, just as it was not my fault that Caesar sought after my council after Pharsalus, both in matters of the sword and state. As his advisor and friend I warned him of the hazardous state of dependence to which he subjected the Republic; in the latter years of his reign as "king," as "Divus Julius," Caesar began to understand the irreversible situation into which he had plunged the Republic and therefore further absorbed himself in his military campaigns. For this is what was familiar to him. Internal administration, as we all know, was not.

But back to the subject of Octavian: while it is true that I insulted his honor due to misinformation, and for that must profusely apologize, the truth of the matter remains that he is rallying his legions in the East from Rome in Caesar's name. Thus he has proven his army to be a potential threat. I ask you, Senators: while it is true that the image of Caesar unified our army because they were largely his army, they must know that he is alive no longer and that Rome is greater than any man. To continue to call upon the image of a ghost, as if to allow our armies to forget for whose cause they fight, is highly unwise. This is the sort of thing you would expect from a youth like Octavian: it is impetuous, ambitious, and irrational, and furthermore, it is simply too easy. While Octavian no doubt is to be honored as wise beyond his years, the fact remains that he does not have seasoned military experience on his side. Therefore, I propose that we divide his legions amongst the 3 frontier borders. The reasonings for this are twofold: firstly, the nations surrounding us are agitated by Caesar's constant warring and therefore constantly harassing our provinces. Secondly, this would allow Octavian to gain more military experience under the watch of the Senate.

I also propose that, in return for official Senator status, that Octavian, along with the other commanders of his army, be required to sign an oath of loyalty to the Senate to only act in the best interests of the Republic. I think that we are all in agreement when we say that we can afford no private citizen an army of his own. But we do need the ability to focus on the internal administrative issues at hand, Senators, without being distracted by either Parthia, Gaul, or Egypt and her scheming queen.

And as for my trial, I do not condone it. Frankly, I am surprised that you, supporters of Caesar and lovers of convenient justice, suggest to use our court system. But I am not surprised that you favor to use it inappropriately and for your own personal gain, for these are the "virtues" which the late Caesar favored. I know that those who model themselves on Caesar's form of governance--that is, favoring personal friends as opposed to appointing those who would best serve the Republic--will not listen to my reasoning. But I must speak my mind on my own trial in hopes that rational men will hear, if this spurious "trial" is to take place. For it rather feels like a petty act of revenge, attempted by those who are angered that they can no longer live in the glorious shadow of the giant that was Caesar. If a trial is held, think of the factionalism that will arise in the Republic. You, Caesarians, will drive the knife deeper. You not only punish me, but the 22 other nobiles who aided in this plot. Are these conscriptions, Senators, or a fair and balanced trial? To me this smacks of Maruis and Sulla. It is one thing to have proper room to protest within a Republic, but Caesar, with his absolute control of all Rome, all of the rest of us being his puppets, left us no room for protest. There were either the nobiles who bought into his flattery, or the nobiles who eventually found their way out of such confusing tyranny of the soul. There was no room for dialogue in Caesar's Rome! The rule of one man always stifles virtue! No one could but praise him, not out of their will, but out of fear or lust for power. Even Cicero, the father of our country, was rendered a slave to his "clemency" when invited back from his exile, and was forced to utter these prophetic words, both complement and entreaty:

"For it has often come to my ears that you are in the habit of using that expression much too frequently--that you have lived long enough for yourself. I dare say you have; but I could only be willing to hear you say so if you lived long enough for yourself alone, or if you had been born for yourself alone. But as it is, as your exploits have brought the safety of all the citizens and the entire Republic to a dependence on you, you are so far from having completed your greatest labors, that you have not even laid out the foundations which you design to lay."

I must agree with Cicero that Caesar never delivered this glorious Republic into our hands. But why must we wait for Caesar to deliver, why did we ever wait for him, when we are men perfectly capable of together achieving ten times the glory of Caesar, if we would only work together? I am not overthrowing anything but tyranny, and not restoring anything that was not here in the first place. I am not a revolutionary, but a patriot. For the rest of you who are still not convinced of my innocence, I leave you with a quote from the speech of the honorable Scribo:

"In order for the proper actions to take place, the decision on what the act truly was needs to be decided. If it was a murder, it should be dealt with as a murder. If the killing was a noble act of tyrant-slaying, exalt the liberators and erect statues in the forum."

I beg of you to consider the terms for a trial before one is convened. We must first decide whether or not Caesar was, by definition of our constitution, considered a tyrant before any lengthy trial is to take place.

Viewpoint of a Centurion Part Deux

2008-02-29T12:06:00.001-08:00

Though we as Senate are currently debating matters that have more immediate implications, I feel compelled to address the issue of the eventual fate of the conspirators of Rome. I have disclosed my beliefs on the ideal government for the Rome. History substantiates that a republic composed of men of the utmost character, intelligence, and integrity undoubtedly surpasses any other form of government. Ironically, the men who champion the notions of the Republic, my notions of the Republic, are the assailants of my military and intellectual mentor. Rumors have even surfaced that Caesar’s assassination intentionally coincided with my absence in the Senate. Despite my grief, I will not let my temper overcome my judgment.
Only the mighty gods and the future know whether the conspirators acted in Rome’s best interest. I certainly would have rather the conspirators voice their opinions of Caesar in the senate like the politicians they are, and left the blade to me and my fellow soldiers. Nevertheless, we cannot alter the past, and we must, as a unified body, move forward. If the goal of this body is actually to reinstitute the Republic, and to further the legitimacy and credibility of this assembly, then let us handle this issue legally, as a lawful republic. To label these men as public enemies without a fair trial would be imprudent. However, it would also be imprudent to acquit these men, who publicly confess to the slaying of another person, of all charges. Tyrant or not, politician or private citizen, a true republic prosecutes those who commit murder. Let the Senate decide if the murder was justifiable. Let the trial of these men be another measure that ultimately results in the reestablishment of the Republic.
With the acts of the conspirators and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus tarnishing Rome’s reputation amongst our citizens as well as our international reputation abroad, let us show that the internal affairs of this country are dealt with by reason, not the blade. Though throughout my life, I have found the sword to be highly persuasive, now is the time for prudence. Now is the time for reason. I understand the quarrel with a trial in this Senate. The conspicuous divide of the Senate already exists, and the assembly will inevitably vote based on those faction lines. Yet, some of the Senate is indeterminate. Some of the senators do not possess loyalty to either faction. Therefore, I propose that a select panel of those unaffiliated senators serve as the jury for the trial of the conspirators. Controversial, yes, but I feel this is the only legitimate way to fairly determine the fate of the senators.

A General Address to the Roman Legions

2008-02-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

To the fighting men of Rome, I salute you!

Some of you may have heard of the debating of the Senate. Some of you have even heard of my presence there, and my reluctance to address the Senate directly. I have a respect from decorum—I always have—and understand that I am beneath the minimum age for a Roman Senator. In accordance to aetas senatoria, to run an election, one must be thirty-one years of age, and to hold an official Senate seat, the normal minimum is thirty-two years of age.

Still, some of you are frustrating, as you have a right to be. When I was in Apollonia, as your commander, you swore your loyalty to me upon hearing of the assassination of the dictator, my adoptive father, Gaius Julius Caesar. You pledged your loyalty to me as your commander, and then, as the only son of Gaius Julius Caesar.

You have honored me, centurions and legionaries, and so shall I honor you. Indeed, I had the privilege of presenting to some of you, personally, the sum of money left to you in my adoptive father's will, as I have presided over the distribution of funds personally. But it is more than just this small gift.

Some of you cry, "Justice for Caesar!". And it is my cry as well. My father, indeed our father, was murdered. What greater insult is there? And yet, I have sat silently in the Senate.

I do so because I honor you. So have you pledged your lives to me, I shall not waste them. So much as it might be inevitable, I do not want Civil War. I do not want to fight the man who committed a crime against the Senate by trying to honor his brother-in-arms, my father, by giving him a decent burial. But most of all, I do not want you men to be forced to fight each other, to forced to kill and be killed, because of your loyalty to my father. And I do not want you, the soldiers, to have to worry for your families in Rome, caught up in this crisis.

But if ordered to fight, we must all do so, for Rome and her people, for our fathers and our families. That is why such a crisis looms.

In the meantime, what can I do? I can honor you men. I can do everything to assure that you are fed, equipped, and paid as appropriate. I do everything I can to bolster your numbers, for there is strength in numbers. But there is also honor in service, and that is the fate of a Roman soldier. Indeed, through the crisis, you men continue to serve—you protect the borders of the Republic, ensuring the safety of us all.

The fate of my father's murderers will be addressed in time. I wish it could be today, but to ask for such would be to bring Rome, her citizens and her warriors, into crisis. I, personally, will put your safety, and the safety of your families, as one of my primary concerns—I owe that to you, honorable men.

How to properly honor Rome's heroes

2008-02-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

Although Gaius Julius Caesar’s body was not exactly flushed down the Tiber River as it should have been, I am now able to sleep with ease knowing that Rome’s citizens will not have to endure a public funeral of their tyrant leader. Lepidus has privately stored the body where it can no longer do harm to this great nation: underground. With the issue of his body having been dealt with, we must now devote our attention to the next important matter: how to properly praise Marcus Junius Brutus and the liberators of Rome.

Senator Quintus Pedius suggests that the saviors of Rome’s democracy should build a great monument to Caesar “in remembrance of the great deeds he performed for the glory of his country.” Preposterous! Must I remind you, once again, that Caesar marched on Rome with his own legion? The deeds he performed which you claim were “great,” he performed them for the glory of himself, not his country. Rather that put Rome to shame by erecting a statue of Caesar, I propose that re-unite Rome by erecting a statue of liberty, a statue of freedom: a statue of Brutus. A statue of our oppressive former leader, I guarantee you, will not stand for long without being vandalized and spit upon. As Caesar learned himself, Rome will not tolerate tyranny. There are a countless number of citizens and of you senators who desired to ridden Rome of its misery by assassinating Caesar, but you hesitated. ‘What about my quest for consulship?’ ‘What about the debt I owe?’ These cowardly questions did not taint Brutus’ courage and patriotism. He could no longer stand the constant humiliation Caesar made of this noble country. Brutus and his fellow saviors should be honored and praised. How dare you denounce these men who fought against their personal relationships and friendships with Caesar for the sake of the Senatus Populum Que Romanus. These liberators have fought for Rome and fought well. Gaius Trebonius commanded the forces at our victory in Massilia, yet must have spit at disgust when Caesar praised him for his services. Fighting alongside Trebonius at Massilia was Servilius Casca, who demonstrated his will to do anything in his power to save our glorious country; even if it meant ending the life of his close personal friend, Caesar. What does it say about a man when he is murdered gruesomely by his cousin (Decimus Brutus) and his close personal friends (Servilius Casca and Brutus)? This “father of Rome” is so oppressive that his own family and friends could not stand to see him ruin their country. They could not stand to see him ruin our country. One could argue that Brutus conspired against Caesar for personal gains. How can this be so, when Brutus, along with Decimus Brutus, was mentioned in Caesar’s will and would have become consul under Caesar regardless?

I ask you, not as senators or men of high prestige, but as fellow Roman citizens. Do you not see that there is a reason that Caesar was buried privately and secretly? I am not satisfied with this action, as I know of no other criminal who received the honor of peaceful burial. But once again, I motion that our heroes be rewarded in the following way: we shall have statues constructed of them in our Forum, serving as a constant reminder of the reason we are still the greatest city in the world.

De funere patris patriae

2008-02-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

In my speeches before the Senate and in my letters to you all, I have consistently stated that Caesar deserves those honors worthy of a Roman citizen. Those who seek public funding with which to hold funerary games in Caesar's honor have cited their desire to remember him as "Father of the Country", as "Dictator for life", and as general of multiple triumphs. Allow me to address each of these individually.

It is true that Caesar was voted multiple triumphs for his victories, but other Roman generals have been given the same award. How quickly we forget the three triumphs celebrated by Pompey! How much more quickly we have forgotten the location of his Egyptian tomb!

Caesar was given the title of "Dictator for Life", but it is of great importance to recognize the meaning behind this phrase. Whatever may be though concerning his death, the fact remains that Caesar is dead. The title "Dictator" had been given him for the remainder of his life, but now that he is gone, so is the title. If honors should be given to Caesar, let them be given to him as he is, a former Dictator. After the Caesar's end he became once again a Private Citizen of Rome, as I did after my consulship.

Arguments for Public Games for Caesar's memory begin, and often end, with the recollection that he was "Parens Patriae". I wish to remind the Senate, however, that so am I. After the Republic had been freed of the boil named Catiline, Quintus Catulus lead the Senate in hailing me as Parens Patriae.

I do not speak out against Public Game for Caesar out of jealousy or envy of his legacy. I seek to give Caesar the same form of remembrance I ask for myself.

Cicero