Prompt Cast
Julius Caesar's Conquest of Gaul and the Fall of the Roman Republic
TLDR Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul brought him fame, power, and wealth, but also led to the weakening of the alliance between him, Pompey, and Crassus. Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon and subsequent victory over Pompey resulted in civil war and his appointment as dictator for life before his assassination.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul, which involved killing and enslaving millions of people, was likely true and brought him fame, power, and wealth.
04:14
Crassus, a member of the triumvirate, attempts to conquer the Parthians but fails, resulting in his death, which weakens the alliance between him, Pompey, and Caesar.
08:12
Caesar sees himself as being truer to the spirit of the Republic by aligning with the army rather than the Senate, and his belief that the legions are with him gives him the feeling that he has the right to cross the Rubicon and take action.
12:01
Caesar's enemies refuse to allow him the right to run for consulship while he's in Gaul, leading to a deadlock similar to the Brexit situation, and Pompey, caught between not wanting to alienate Caesar and not wanting to lose the respect of the Senate, ultimately comes out against Caesar.
16:03
Pompey aligns himself with the Constitutionists and is charged to march against Caesar to defend the Republic, leading to an inevitable conflict between the two sides.
20:11
Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon is not well-documented, but it is likely that the famous phrase "let the die be cast" comes from Gaius Asinius Polio, who was an officer with Caesar and wrote an account of the event.
24:11
Caesar crosses the Rubicon after seeing a divine sign and declares "let the die be cast," leading to civil war, his victory over Pompey, and his appointment as dictator for life before being assassinated by those he had pardoned.
28:10
Caesar is remembered more than Augustus because he embodies the qualities of the Republic and its rise to power, while Augustus compromises his power and is seen as a greater politician but not as great of a man.
Categories:
History
