Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic

by Tom Holland

As he sat down, murmurs of unease, swelling steadily. The leaders of the Senate began to protest. Why, having rescued the Roman people from otherwise certain ruin, was Caesar planning to abandon them now? Yes, he had announced the restoration of constitutional proprieties, and the Senate was duly grateful. But why, just because the traditions of the Republic were set to flourish again, did this mean that Caesar had to resign his guardianship of the state? Did he wish to condemn his people to eternal anarchy and civil war? For this, without him, would surely be their fate! Perhaps, rather than abandon the Republic to disaster, he would therefore listen to a counterproposal? Caesar had declared illegal any of his acts or honors that were contrary to the constitution; very well, then let him, just like any consul, be awarded a province. One that would bring with it twenty-odd legions, true, and include Spain, Gaul, Syria, Cyprus, and Egypt—but a province nonetheless. And let him hold it for ten years, not an unheard of length of time, after all—for had not Caesar’s father, the great Julius, held office for a decade in Gaul? Nothing to offend precedent there. The Republic would flourish and Caesar would fulfill his responsibilities to Rome, and the gods would smile on both. Throughout the Senate there rose a roar of assent.