Rome is often considered the Most successful empire in all of history, but most forget about the republic before the empire. After the sacking of 390 most of the roman records had been burned. This resulted in most of the “Roman history” is unknown and left up to legend. The Roman republic had started around 502 B.C with a very effective system. The Romans had a deep hatred for kings after a tyrants had upset the people and induced turmoil leading to the first roman coup. To keep the power away from one man they devised the consul system where the power would be split between two people who served one-year terms and a senate who could serve for as long as they wanted. They built the classes that shaped the their society. This system worked for about 400 years with military victories and expanse across Europe, Africa, and Asia until three men took it down.
Julius Caesar was a smart and charismatic man. The one thing he didn’t have in his favor was nobilitas. This was the Roman concept that while someone could be born into power they would have to prove they deserved it. Caesar came from a great lineage that was well revered in Rome. However, Caesar’s father never held the consul position therefore Caesar hadn’t been born into that part of Rome nobilitas but held aspirations of power. To achieve that power Caesar partnered with Pompey, Rome’s best general, and Crassus, one of the richest men in Rome came together to form the first triumvirate. Using Crassus’ money, Caesar was able to buy himself into the position of Consul. During his time in power Caesar made many reforms to Rome and the republic, giving more power to the people and in turn upsetting the senate. As consul Caesar legally couldn’t be charged with crimes against the state so for one year the senate brewed hatred for him.
To keep the senate from killing him, Caesar became the governor of southern Gaul (France) and became the general of 4 legions. To keep himself occupied for ten years until he could run for consul again Caesar went into a campaign in Gaul conquering all of France and even being able to launch an invasion into England. The campaign was an astounding success even though it was illegal. By the end of his term Gaul had been completely conquered by Rome. By the time his campaign had finished, the triumvirate had fallen apart. Crassus had died on a campaign in Parthia and Pompey had started having second thoughts about backing Caesar. Pompey was able to convince the Senate to revoke Caesar’s governorship in Gaul. Having nothing left to lose and with a target on his back, Caesar took the 13th legion and marched on Rome.
Caesar took his legion and in his famous crossing of the Rubicon River Caesar had come back to Rome. Immediately Pompey and the senate left east to Greece, and Caesar was pronounced Dictator (the one who speaks) by the people of Rome. Caesar went after Pompey in Greece and delivered a defeat to Pompey’s legion. Pompey then fled into Egypt where the pharaoh Ptolemy trying to gain favor with Caesar captured Pompey, executed him, and served him to Caesar. At this sight Caesar was disgusted. Not only had Ptolemy killed a fellow Roman citizen, but he had also killed Caesars friend who he had planned on pardoning after his capture. After making a deal with Cleopatra who had launched a civil war on her brother, for Roman support, while Caesar gained grain for bread making. With that Caesar returned to Rome. After returning Caesar had his term extended and eventually made dictator for life. In March after countless reforms, building projects, centralization, and a census Caesar was betrayed by the senate and two of his friends Brutus and Cassius who had been pardoned and protected by Caesar.
Once Caesar’s great nephew Octavian had heard the news he came to Rome and found Caesar’s will where he had left Octavian his name and therefore proclaiming him as his heir. The current consul Mark Antony who was Caesar’s close friend was able to work out a deal with the senate to keep Caesars reforms in place and in return the assassins wouldn’t be charged with murder. After his consulship Antony found himself in the same situation as Caesar where he was loved by the people yet hated by the senate. After his term ended, he fled north to escape the senates’ wrath. Octavian was contracted by the senate to go to Antony and capture him for the state. Octavian marched up to Antony with the current two consuls and 4 legions. After a battle where both consuls died the senate asked Octavian to forego command of his legion which he refused. Antony and Octavian, who shared the same goal of avenging Caesar, came together and marched on Rome. Octavian was made consul and together with Antony and Antony’s friend Lepidus came together to form the second triumvirate.
Unlike the first triumvirate the second one was a real political organization instead of an alliance between friends. The next thing they had to do was deal with the traitors Brutus and Cassius who had taken refuge in the east and become leaders in the provinces. To gain money and terminate the opposition in Rome the triumvirate dispatched 1/3 of the senate and many wealthy landowners confiscating their money to fund the campaign on the traitors. After sorting out their business in Rome Antony and Octavian marched east and after Octavian ran away from battle and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius the triumvirate controlled all of Rome.
The three of them split up the republic in three parts between them with Octavian in the west, Antony in the east, and Lepidus in Carthage. Octavian now aspired of taking the whole republic under his control. In the Mediterranean Sextus Pompey the son of Pompey had control over the whole Roman navy and had been blockading food supplies to Rome and after the breakdown of a treaty between the two Pompey delivered a crushing defeat to Rome in a naval battle. Agrippa-Octavian’s head general trained a naval fleet to take on Pompey in the Mediterranean and was able to get revenge for Rome.
After the triumvirate had secured the sea, it was time for Octavian to take on Antony. Finding out that Antony had very strong feelings for Cleopatra and planned on giving their sons territories in Rome. This allowed Octavian to launch a propaganda campaign against Antony to gain support for war. After the campaign Agrippa and his legions marched east to take on Antony. Antony and Cleopatra had made camp at Actium to be ready to take on Rome. The battle was handily won by Octavian and they all returned home. After Cleopatra poisoned herself and Antony died by his own hand Octavian centralized the government and annexed Egypt. After gaining control over all of Rome (Lepidus had been taken out of the triumvirate) Octavian changed his name to Agustus and became the first Roman emperor.
Rome is the most famous empire throughout history. From the battle of Cannae that delivered a crushing defeat and Zama Which set p the fall of a whole empire, Rome was ironicaly built on one thing, no kings. Rome was for the people it was a res publica an the public took back the king. Rome brings up the question, is it better to have people run people or and effective dictator. Caesar took power through shady means often breaking laws, but he was an amazing leader. Octavian built an empire that lasted in our minds for millennia, but he built on the body of friends and other Romans. Rome was always heading to turmoil, it’s been stuck in war since Romulus killed Remus. Before Caesar there had been 100 years of civil war. So did Caesar make the right call or was the empire always doomed to fail to its own fouls.
