Caesar Civil War

When reading Caesar, please consult the notes at the back of the book and the introduction to the work. Commentary below is by section numbers within each of the books. Remember that there is a brief chronology of persons and events for the period covered by this course. The book has maps right before the narrative. At the back of the book there is a Glossary that explains not only terms such as consul, but has a whole lot of people's names, gives a brief description of each person's activities, and cites the places where the person appears in the narrative.

Important people in this work in addition to Caesar and Pompey (in order of appearance, with C or P indicating adherence):
Lucius Lentulus (L. Cornelius Lentulus Crus, one of the consuls of 49) 1.1 (P)
Scipio (Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica, usually called Metellus Scipio, one of the consuls of 52 and Pompey's father-in-law) 1.1 (P)
Marcus Marcellus (M. Claudius Marcellus, one of the consuls of 51) 1.2 (P)
Marcus Antonius [also Antonius without praenomen] (M. Antonius, tr. pl. in 49, the later triumvir) (C) 1.2
Cato (M. Porcius Cato Uticensis aka Cato the Suicide) 1.4 (P)
Juba (Juba I, king of Numidia) 1.6 (P)
Lucius Domitius (L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, an ancestor of the emperor Nero) 1.6 (P)
Lucius Caesar (L. Iulius Caesar, two people, father and son, distant relatives of Caesar) 1.8 (son: P)
Curio (C. Scribonius Curio, one of the tr. pl. in 50) 1.12 (C)
Lentulus Spinther (P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, one of the consuls of 57) 1.15 (P)
Trebonius (C. Trebonius, will be one of the praetors in 48, see 3.20) 1.36 (C)
Decimus Brutus (D. Iunius Brutus Albinus, will be one of the praetors in 45) 1.36 (C)
Afranius (L. Afranius, one of the consuls of 60) 1.37 (P)
Petreius (M. Petreius, a commander in Spain along with Afranius and Varro) 1.38 (P)
Varro (M. Terentius Varro, the polymath) 1.38 (P)
Lucius Plancus (L. Munatius Plancus, will be one of the praetors in 45) 1.40 (C)
Marcus Bibulus (M. Calpurnius Bibulus, Caesar's colleague in the consulship of 59 and also in the offices of aedile and praetor: see 3.16 and editor's note) 3.5 (P)
Labienus (T. Labienus, first mentioned 1.15, tr. pl. in 63, worked with Caesar until beginning of civil war) 3.13 (P)
Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus (one of the consuls of 53) 3.34 (C)
Gaius Sallustius (C. Sallustius Crispus, the historian), African War (C)

Books 1 and 2

What it is useful to know before beginning to read the first book of Caesar's Civil War: can be found in the introduction to the work.

What to note especially: Caesar's self-justification, his account of negotiations and the number and variety of these (NB that these negotiations took place is corroborated by the evidence of Cicero's letters), the behavior and threats of Pompey and his supporters, the intransigence and/or lack of honor apparent in the behavior of Caesar's opponents.

Main areas of operations: Italy outside of Rome, Rome, Spain, Massilia, North Africa

Book 3

What to note especially: Caesar's and his supporters' adherence to legal actions, often supported by Roman citizens and others abroad (e.g., 3.1, 3.11, 3.20); Caesar's and his supporters' fairness and honorable dealing, clemency and constant offers to negotiate, and the opposite behavior from Pompey and his supporters (passim - the squabbling in Pompey's camp [3.82-83] is especially repugnant, and not contradicted by Cicero); appearances, propaganda, rumor (e.g., 3.46, 3.55, 3.72, 3.79); the attitude of soldiers on both sides (e.g., 3.19, 3.31), especially Caesar's (3.47, 3.64, 3.74); the many and severe difficulties of Caesar's crossing to Greece, wintering there, and fending off Pompey's forces while trying to keep his soldiers supplied: it seems as if he ought not to win, yet after the battle of Pharsalus (starts at 3.84) there is no question. Not explicit in Caesar's account is what Plutarch says (Life of Caesar 45 about where Caesar told his infantry to aim when they took on Pompey's cavalry).

African War

After events narrated at the end of book 3, the conflict kept Caesar in Alexandria until he had successfully arranged matters in Egypt (Alexandrian War). Caesar returned to Rome and at the end of 47 BCE went to Africa, where many of the remnants of Pompey's forces had gathered under leaders whose names will be familiar (Labienus, Afranius, Scipio, Juba). The next great battle of the war will take place at Thapsus in North Africa in 46 (sections 83-86). One does not need to be a very attentive reader to note the poor quality of this narrative compared to that written by Caesar.

What to note especially: Caesar seems perennially to be looking for grain and/or water for his army, although he was supposed to be especially good at logistics. There is more indiscriminate slaughter, whether because there really was more or Caesar is not the author and therefore not suppressing what was done by those on his side (see, e.g., sections 76 and 85). Scipio's cavalry, retreating to Utica, perpetrates atrocities at Parada and then at Utica (note what Cato and Faustus Sulla do).

A final note: the password given to Caesar's soldiers before the battle of Thapsus is Success: Felicitas - the word recalls Sulla the dictator.

Last updated: 28 September 2009
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