Throughout the book, Goldsworthy presents the political and social evolution of Ancient Rome, as well as the historical contexts that permeated the life of Julius Caesar, including the civil wars and the conflicts between the Roman elites. In addition, the author addresses the personality of the Roman leader, his intelligence, sagacity and ability to negotiate and manipulate public opinion.
The work is divided into four parts, each focusing on an important phase of Caesar's life. In the first, the author describes Julius Caesar's childhood and education, as well as the political and social situation in Rome during that time. In the second, the book addresses the beginning of Caesar's military career, which led him to conquer Gaul and consolidate his power in Ancient Rome. In the third part, Goldsworthy describes Caesar's political rise, his conflict with Pompey and the civil war that followed, Caesar's stay in Egypt and his affair with Cleopatra. In the last part, the book deals with Julius Caesar's dictatorship and his tragic death at the hands of his own senators.
Indeed, Caesar's story can only be improved by its retelling, an astonishing tale of a man who combined immense personal charm, a gifted and practical intelligence, astute political sensibility, a genius for military command, and an effective and demagogic oratory into a whole which, combined with the incredible fortune that seemed to dog his steps throughout his eventful life – except for the end – inexorably propelled him from a shaky beginning as a young man from a politically average branch of a patrician tribe forced to live by his wits, evading the bounty hunters of the dictator Sulla, to the undisputed master of the Roman Republic, peerless after crushing or pardoning all his enemies and seemingly ready to lead his invincible legions on another round of conquest against the oriental impertinence of the Parthians. Unwilling to take the cruel and bloody steps of a Sulla to purge the Republic of dangerous malcontents, Caesar—our old clement master in the words of one of the chief among his assassins, Cassius—made the fatal mistake of relying too much on the efficacy of his charismatic aura and not enough on the need to maintain republican forms—while damaging many already bruised egos in the process—and was struck down just before embarking on his eastern campaign. His adopted son Octavian would learn from his forebear’s mistakes and successfully orchestrate the illusion (one gratefully embraced by a war-weary citizenry) of a republican restoration while creating the nucleus of an absolute monarchy beneath the trappings of the principate.
In some ways, Caesar’s career was fairly conventional for the period. He had no grand plans for reforming the republic, but he was still incredibly ambitious and talented, a rational statesman and a superb military leader. He was personally and politically courageous: he stood up to the notorious dictator Sulla, was known for his heroism on the battlefield, led his troops from the front and spared the lives of Catiline’s conspirators. He was a charismatic figure who commanded legendary loyalty from his troops. He was both vain and good-natured. He also never shied away from a challenge. He was both loyal to his troops and a womaniser of epic proportions, famous for his affair with the young queen Cleopatra. He was willing to fight a civil war to protect his honour, crushing the warring factions and ensuring that they answered only to him (except when they stabbed him to death).
by Ok-Confidence1784