History Student Reacts to Caesar Marches on Rome by Historia Civilis

Today we watch Caesar Marches on Rome (49 B.C.E.) by Historia Civilis.

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[absurdist]

Romans, especially the Patrician class were expected to die rather then surrender or be pardoned, being pardoned was probably one of the greatest personal dishonors that Caesar could hand out while appearing to be magnanimous and kind. The tradition of death before dishonor was longstanding in Roman Patrician class, when Hannibal tried to ransom some 7600 prisoners including high ranking officers after Carrhae, the Romans despite being defeated, refused to even acknowledge his emissaries and essentially condemned those men to death, despite having to prop up their fighting force with freed slaves and lower class citizenry. By Caesar's time due to inclusion of Equites and rich Plebeians into the Senate and high social order this might have become less of a stigma, for a generational Patrician like Ahenobarbous it would still have felt quite shameful.

[LightxHeaven]

Mark Antony was a really good general, but unlike Caesar he was a completely inept administrator. While Caesar may have used brute force to achieve his political objectives, at least he understood how Roman politics worked and how to use it to his advantage. Antony had none of these qualities I’m afraid and his tenure as the de-facto governor of Rome was absolutely shambolic.