Please skim through Plutarch's Life of Caesar. Pick out a section that particularly well shows Caesar's ability and his versatility or a section that shows particularly well why Caesar is such a controversial figure. Explain your choice.Some of you might find particularly interesting the accounts of Caesar's battles, something I don't talk about in class much. Note Sections 15-20, for instance, a summary of Caesar's campaign in Gaul.
Caesar had many accomplishments, but was often scrutinized because of the controversial path he took to achieve them. One such act was his war in Gaul, where he was essentially massacring it's people while proclaiming glory for Rome. While this campaign was widely critical, Plutarch gives a wonderful account of Caesar's bravery during an ambush on Caesar by saying " 'This horse," said he, "I will use for the pursuit after my victory; but now let us go against the enemy,' " and accordingly led the charge on foot"
ReplyDeleteThis to me shows a leader who is not afraid to take on a challenge, even if it means leading by example. Caesar doesn't retreat, but rather he stays with his men and pulls a win where others would have been overpowered. Plutarch gives an excellent example of how Caesar was able to rally his men and win their confidence, and that to me is one of Caesar's greatest abilities.
-Zack Krage
Caesar was really a man among boys in Rome. Really nobody could rival him as a general or later as a politician. Caesar had a lot of guts and did things that most people wouldn't have done this is evident in the funeral of his aunt Julia. Julia was the wife of Marius and when she died, Caesar gave an elaborate funeral oration. During this speech he displayed pictures of Marius. Marius was at this time an enemy of the state in Rome, and not many people, if any, wanted anything to do with him. Caesar had guts and displayed these pictures of Marius proudly.
ReplyDeleteCaesar also had immense guts militarily we can see this with his crossing of the Rubicon. After basically committing genocide in Gaul he wanted to go back to Rome and confront Pompey. The Rubicon river was extent of the territory that Caesar controlled and when he reached it he crossed it an entered a point of no return. At that point Caesar couldn't turn back and continued his march to Rome.
Caesar was truly a man among boys in Rome. He did things that most other men in Rome wouldn't had done and in a few cases broke the law to do what he needed.
While Caesar was know as a tyrant for much of his executive career, he showed in his military life great versatility and tactical thought. "He demanded, namely, that if he himself laid down his arms, Pompey should do the same, and that both, thus become private men, should find what favour they could with their fellow citizens; arguing that if they took away his forces from him, but confirmed Pompey in the possession of his, they would be accusing one of seeking a tyranny and making the other a tyrant."
ReplyDeleteThis move of tactical leniency may not have translated well into his political life, but it did show his capacity for it. Sean M.
The explots of Caesar in the Galic Wars are according to Plutarch the greatest in all of Romes history. Plutarch says "... he fought the most battles and killed the most enemies. For although it was not full ten years that he waged war in Gaul, he took by storm more than eight hundred cities, subdued three hundred nations, and fought pitched battles at different times with three million men, of whom he slew one million in hand to hand fighting and took as many more prisoners." That was just Caesar himself. The other great thing about the way Caesar commanded was the way he inspired his men. to do great things too. Men taking arrows to the shoulder and knees but still fighting on. My personal favorite is when Caesar was fighting in Britian. Plutarch states that, "....when the enemy had fallen upon the foremost centurions, who had plunged into a watery marsh, a soldier, while Caesar in person was watching the battle, dashed into the midst of the fight, displayed many conspicuous deeds of daring, and rescued the centurions, after the Barbarians had been routed. 6 Then he himself, making his way with difficulty after all the rest, plunged into the muddy current, and at last, without his shield, partly swimming and partly wading, got across. 7 Caesar and his company were amazed and came to meet the soldier with cries of joy; but he, in great dejection, and with a burst of tears, cast himself at Caesar's feet, begging pardon for the loss of his shield. " Now thats hardcore. -Trent Dean
ReplyDeleteCaesar was definitely a great leader and knew what it took to get what he wanted and he didn't let anything get in his way. He was very talented in many ways as we can see throughout this piece, he was an accomplished politician, speaker and many other things ...but one thing that is very evident is that he was a very accomplished military leader. Throughout his campaigns we see that he is a great leader and will do what has to be done and sometimes more to bring honor to Rome, we can see this with his campaign in Gaul and how he dealt with the people also we see that he was a good horseman along with his other qualities. Caesar was a great influential leader but didn't always take the most agreed upon route to reach his goals.
ReplyDelete"Nevertheless, he did not make his feeble health an excuse for soft living, but rather his military service a cure for his feeble health, since by wearisome journeys, simple diet, continuously sleeping in the open air, and enduring hardships, he fought off his trouble and kept his body strong against its attacks."
ReplyDeleteTo me this shows how capable he was by not letting his health get to him. that his service to the military was the perfect cure. That nothing would keep him down.
In Caesar's first campain in Gaul, he encounters a major baggage train of the enemy. Not only does he destroy the defending army, he slaughters the women and children too. This is ruthless and a move of total dominance. Maybe this move foreshadows Caesar's ambition more than any. Caesar would then completely destroy the remaining Gauls then turn his sights to Rome to start a civil war.
ReplyDelete-Jackson Pasco
Section 19 was a very good example of how resourceful and smart he was when engaging in war. When he found out that some of the German oracles had predicted their demise if they went into battle he enticed them to come. He would attack their entrenchments and encampments until he coaxed them out to the battlefield where he did end up defeating them. It just shows how resourceful he was to take that opportunity to exploit his enemy in every way he possibly could. Manipulative, yes but it goes along with the saying "all is fair in love and war."
ReplyDeleteBut this could also lean on the side of him being a controversial figure. Romans are supposed to be fair and march into a just and righteous battlefield. Well I think exploiting your enemy like this goes against this Roman code. He exploited his enemy to give him an unfair advantage. This seems very un-Roman to me.
Matthew Remmich
Caesar was not afraid to go after what he wanted. He took risks in battle that most other generals and leaders would have never even attempted. Instead of retreating he stayed with his soldiers and he came out with a win. Caesar had a great talent in getting people rallied up to fight with him and for him. He knew what he wanted and he was never going to let anything stop him from getting it.
ReplyDeleteKaycee Teppo