From Caesar to Octavian,
45 to 42 BC
- Caesar's
position in 46 --formally. By this time Caesar has defeated all his opponents
and stands in complete control of the City and of the Empire. His position
in the state is based on mixture of legal, religious and social ratifications
or sanctions.
- Religious
authority = pontifex maximus
- Legal:
Becomes dictator (RC I §110) for life, his powers are superior to those of all other magistrates
and assemblies. His edicts have power of laws. He handles the affairs of
and acts in the name of the Senate.
- The people extend
to him the sacrosanctitas of a tribune for life;
that is they swear to defend his life with their own.
- In 46, he receives
a praefectura morum, complete censorial powers.
- Note that he is not directly overthrowing the traditional constitution, but the accumulation of honors was unprecedented and appeared to by monarchical.
- His position informally:
ultimately the true basis of his power.
- The acquisition of
the above legal and religious functions was a reflection of the fact that
the legions owe their loyalty to him alone. That is, he exercised his powers
as the head of a personal army ("...to
each and every foot soldier of his veteran legions he gave 24,000 sesterces
(approx = ten years wages)...He also assigned to them
lands...Suet. Caes. 38 = RC I p. 307). The personal oath: "I
willingly and freely swear by the gods of the state to protect the safety,
honor and victory of ...... I will take up arms, and I will hold
as friends and allies the same ones I understand are his. And I will consider
those to be my enemies, those whom I observe to be his. And if anyone does
or plans anything against him or his family, I will pursue them to the death
by land and by sea…and if I do anything contrary to this oath…I
myself call down upon myself and property utter ruin and utter destruction
unto all my issue and all my descendants, and may neither earth nor sea
receive the bodies of my family or descendants, or yield fruits to them." Note by contrast the oath taken my American soldiers;
and the oath to Hitler.
- One man cannot rule
alone; he is also the head of a party, of a body of clients,
who perceived that their personal power, wealth, ambitions to depended upon the continuity
of Caesar's rule. There is only one party in the state. Caesar's patronage is all-pervasive.
- The
Plot Against Caesar
- There was genuine
concern about his power and position. Even enduring reforms like the calendar and the forum Julium were construed as acts of a tyrant.
- Personal feuds among
his party members; some felt that they had not been adequately rewarded.
- The implications of
clementia, Caesar's special virtue. A royal virtue.
- The example of tyrannicide. Another. The propaganda of Brutus. Some reflection on tyrannicide...one and two
