cIt was around April of 45BC, and the GreatRoman Civil War was over. At last, Caesar could turn away from war andfocus on the politics of the Republic. A true politician, Caesar, believed that thepower of the Republic was its common people, rather than the aristocracy as the Optimatesbelieved. The extent to which he really believed inthese ideals has been debated for centuries and he has been variously viewed as a militarytyrant, a despotic demagogue, a benevolent dictator, a would-be saviour of the Republic,and a populist champion of the people.
In this episode, we shall look at the reformsenacted by Caesar throughout his career and allow you to decide which view you agree with. Want to enact reforms akin to Caesar? SEGA that you can purchase on Steam, Epic Store, Stadia,or Xbox Game pass. In Humankind you will be creating your ownhistory, by making a unique civilization from the combination of more than 60 historicalcultures. Start as a tribe in the Neolithic era, transitionto the Ancient period as the mighty Babylonians, become the Classical era Mayans, add Umayyadcivilizational traits in medieval and round up it all with the British attributes in theearly modern period. There are near-endless combinations of civilizations!.
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So, what are you waiting for? Create your Avatar to lead your empire, customizeit as you progress, and challenge strangers and friends alike in multiplayer games upto 8 players. Support us and buy this genuinely unique gamevia the link in the description! By the time of Caesar’s first consulshipin 59BC, Pompey has long struggled to push legislation that would give land to his veterans. Caesar proposed a bill that would achievethis, while also including measures that would also distribute land to the urban poor ofRome. The Gracchi brothers, almost 70 years earlier,had tried to carry out a similar proposal, distributing “public land” to the poor,eventually resulting in their deaths at the hand of the Senate. Caesar, however, had learned from their example.
His proposal to the Senate would provide landfor 20,000 of Rome’s poor, without any financial cost to the Senate or the wealthy landowners. The riches Pompey had taken from the Eastwould be used to fund the reform, and land would be bought from the owners at the priceit had been assessed at in the tax lists, ensuring fairness. A board of 20 would oversee the redistribution,with Caesar exempting himself from the board to ensure it would not be biased. When the bill was put to the Senate, it wasapparently so watertight that none could criticise it.
Nevertheless, they did not pass it with stiffopposition coming from influential men such as Cato, Cicero, and Caesar’s consular colleague,Bibulus. Caesar read the bill to the people, whereit received huge public approval. Still, the Senate refused to pass the bill,obfuscating and delaying constantly. Eventually, Caesar requested the help of Pompeyand Crassus, both of who publicly supported the bill. With their support assured, Caesar decidedto bypass the Senate officially proposing the bill to the comitia, an assembly of citizens. Bibulus tried to use all the political tricksin the book to stop the assembly but was assaulted by the people and forced to retreat to hishouse.
The bill, finally, was passed and all Senatorswere bound by oaths to uphold it. Shortly after the passing of this bill, accordingto both Appian and Cassius Dio, a man called Lucius Vettius attempted to assassinate bothCaesar and Pompey. He was caught and when interrogated said hehad been put up to it by either Bibulus, Cicero, and Cato, or Cicero and Lucullus (dependingon the source) all of whom were adamant Optimates. Vettius was then killed in the night whilein prison before any more could be learned from him. Roman historians were extremely critical ofCaesar for this bill.
Dio claims that Caesar only proposed it asa favour to Pompey and Crassus, to help win the public support and so lay the groundworkfor the First Triumvirate, while Plutarch says the law was “becoming, not for a consul,but for a most radical tribune of the plebs”. They both see the bill as being designed purelyto win popular approval. Caesar certainly did want to assure his supportersthat he was a man of action and in control, and so the ancient historians are right inpart.
The bill did indeed win Caesar and his co-Triumviratesa lot of popular support, thus helping Caesar settle political debts with Pompey and Crassus. It is also important to note that Caesar didabuse the Republican system in order to get the bill passed, overruling both the Senateand a fellow consul. However, it is also true that this kind ofland reform was badly needed in Rome and did benefit thousands of its poorer citizens.
Furthermore, Caesar already had a historyof supporting land reform, having supported a similar but failed bill, in 63BC. Caesar was also playing a seriously riskygame by proposing the legislation. Similar laws had resulted in the deaths ofthe Gracchi and would result in an attempt on his own life, and one is forced to wonderif there was not a less risky way of winning public support if that was the only motivation.
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