| Description |
Gaius Julius Caesar’s meteoric rise to power in Late-Republican Rome was arguably one of the most successful bids for power in the history of politics. His commanding use of the Forum, the political system, rhetoric, and propaganda stands unparalleled in history. The strategies that would one day allow him to take up the dictatorship and usher in the age of the Emperors were initiated very early in his career, some even appearing before his entry into politics. While it can be said that the end results of Caesar’s methods were radical, can the same be said with regards to the means he employed to achieve those ends? Focusing on the early stages of his political career with an eye to how he campaigned and conducted his extra-legislative affairs, it is possible to determine the extent to which his actions in this arena would be perceived by Romans of the time. Due to the fact that the majority of written accounts contemporaneous with Caesar’s career are negative, a thorough investigation requires the introduction of source material that does not hinge upon the biases of the day. For this, the Commentariolum Petitionis is uniquely suited. The Commentariolum provides a unique lens through which an understanding of the important questions regarding the methods and means used in Late-Republican politics might be reached. |
