Soldiers,
Warlords, and Civil War
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Instead of famers being drafted into the army
Rome began drafting landless poor people to fill the ranks
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These poor people fought in hope of acquiring
land when discharged, even though the Senate was too greedy to give in
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Government by supreme warlord was bound to be brief
and unstable unless turned into legitimate power
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Between 88 and 82 B.C. Marius (backed by the
commoners) and Sulla (backed by the Senate) were fighting for warlord power
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Sulla won and abolished the limits on the Senate
but also gave land to veterans
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After 2 years of ruling with terror he stepped
down feeling accomplished and safe
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Julius Caesar sided with the poor people
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He collaborated with Pompey, and Crassus (both
henchman of Sulla) and formed a triumvirate
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Caesar won proconsul of Gaul and conquered it
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By 50 B.C Caesar had built a powerful army all
loyal to him
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Meanwhile Pompey stayed in Rome and got jealous
of Caesar
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He supported the Senate and ordered him to
disband his army and return to Rome
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Caesar went against Pompey’s order and chased
him out of Italy where he was later murdered
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Caesar subdued all of Pompey’s supporters and
returned to Rome in triumph in 46 B.C
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The Senate hailed him-------Father of the
Fatherland
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Had himself appointed: tribune, consul, dictator
for 10 years
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The assembly had basically no power
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Caesar gave land to veterans to prevent civil
wars and to keep them loyal
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Appointed senators from Gaul and other newly civilizations
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He was voted to be dictator for life
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He never ruled with terror but was a Greek style
tyrant
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Senators struck him down with daggers in 44 B.C
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Caesar’s death led to more warlords
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His adopted son Octavian formed a triumvirate with 2 other war lords and
together they defeated Caesar’s murders and declared Caesar as a divine being
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Octavian was based in Rome and pushed the other
warlord out of power
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The remaining warlord and he went to war in 31
B.C.
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Octavian won was the supreme warlord of Rome
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