Caesar, Cato and the Rubicon

[@tribunateSPQR]

Why do you believe that Caesar crossed the Rubicon? Who bears the majority of the blame Caesar or Cato?

[@tehw000000t]

At this point idk

[@heck3143]

@tribunateSPQR I almost wonder if at that point Caesar had decided on civil war as a way to oust the factions against him. That feels too simple, but I can't come up with anything else. There had to be a reason civil war seemed pragmatic, despite how unpragmatic it appears given the info in the video.

[@baggelis_aikaterinis]

Q : Why do you believe that Caesar crossed the Rubicon? Who bears the majority of the blame Caesar or Cato? A : Lucius Cornelius Sulla

[@Taliesin2]

@@heck3143 I was wondering the same,... also Caesar probably wanted to make space in the Senate for all the Gallic Chiefs that were loyal to him. I had already heard that there was basically no chance Caesar was going to face any consequences but I'm not sure where. Maybe in the history of rome podcast? Apparently (I just read it in Wikipedia, when trying to find out how much older Pompeius was) Caesar himself said it was to defend his "dignitas" so basically his pride... I'm guessing the senate declaring Pompeius the defender of the republic (against Caesar) was basically the senate escalating the conflict to a point where it would have been difficult for Caesar to back down without losing a lot of his "dignitas". Because not only was he portrayed as a thread to Rome, but also then backed down from his very powerful position.

[@heck3143]

@Taliesin2 Omg dignitas has to be a huge part of this and I can't believe I didn't consider it before. That quintessential Roman pride has to have been a driving force. I also love the insight on those gaulic chiefs.

[@TaylorCourtland]

In my opinion, Caesar sending advanced troops and scouts ahead of him and his main force while waiting for nightfall to cross himself does not detract from the event's significance, its uniqueness, or his pondering of whether he should cross the Rubicon. It showcases his understanding of warfare and his talent as a commander. Surveillance and reconnaissance are part and parcel of good warfare, and if he hadn’t done these things, it would be an example of incompetence.

[@Cagliostro81]

It shows he’s not a moron. It takes nothing away from the significance of the event.

[@josephlongbone4255]

"They were THIS close to a compromise and Cato, That IDIOT, blew it up!" -Historia Civilis.

[@rocketpod1]

It’s not nice to bully autistic people

[@Jamesangstman]

I love that there's a new HC-esque channel now.

[@StanGB]

This is the only Rome channel that could open by talking about The Big Short but still have it all end up making perfect sense. Fascinating insight and a great debunking of some ideas that I had previously thought were valid.

[@spacefaringyoshi]

All Cato and his posse had to do was agree to Caesar's 'One Province, One Legion' solution. It was shameless, but it would have kept the peace. Cato showed he was willing to compromise on his staunch conservative stance when he sided with Cicero's proposal to execute Catilina's co-conspirators without trial, why wouldn't he extend the same consideration to Caesar? Was it really some grand political stance, or was it just that Caesar had been nailing Cato's sister and becoming like a father to her son?

[@MarkusAldawn]

I honestly don't know if the interpersonal drama of all that was his motivating factor. I think he probably just viewed the republic as above compromising. Which is noble in the abstract, but when the compromise is "let him spend the rest of his governorship/career pacifying Gaul and integrating it into the Roman empire, and don't prosecute him so we don't have a war," I think your idea of staunch and deeply held commitment to the Republic ironically makes you a threat to that very Republic's survival. Still Caesar's fault, obviously, and there's a place for what Cato was saying (as I understand it, the one legion, one province deal was worked out because Cato wouldn't accept the first offer), he just wasn't able to break himself free of the mindset of Caesar as an inevitable problem. If Caesar was an inevitable problem, then risking it all on disarmament was fine, because either he'd accept it or he'd put himself against Rome. But if he wasn't, then Cato needlessly made him into one by backing him into a corner.

[@fredburns6846]

@@MarkusAldawn "he (cato) probably just viewed the republic as above compromising" i dont think in a system that is so riddled with corruption anyone can seriously hold that postion unless one is lying to ones self

[@MrFakefall]

​@@fredburns6846 because the roman empire was somehow *less* corrupt than the republic? 😂 the fact of the matter is, systems are not corrupt - the people that make up a system, are. We tend to associate this with rich people because first and foremost power corrupts. What we forget is that for someone who's much lower on the social hierarchy, it takes considerably less *actual* power to get changed by it. If there is one thing Caesar's story has taught us, it's that *having* a bad leader is still considerably better than *murdering* him/her, especially if said murder triggers a civil war that will be responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths and then lead to the exact same conclusion where just accepting that bad leader would have

[@spacefaringyoshi]

​​@@MarkusAldawn I'm sure it all somehow made sense in Cato's head, but to declare Caesar an inevitable, existential threat against the Republic, and then go throw your lot in with Pompey Magnus of all people? Pompey made a bigger mockery of Rome's institutions on the very first day of his 2nd term as Consul than Caesar did in all his career pre-civil war, and was definitely also showing kingly ambitions. And let's remember, this whole rivalry got really bad when Cato tried to delay Caesar's Spanish Triumph, just so he wouldn't run for Consul, because Cato knew that his pick (his son-in-law) would never beat Caesar in an election and would, at best, have to be Consul alongside him. I dunno, it just seems like Cato was willing to go above and beyond to mess with Caesar and only Caesar.

[@kingeddiam2543]

I absolutely agree that Cato personally hated Caesar. Him going over to Pompey demonstrates that imo. Cicero was a much more reasonable republican politician than Cato and actually demonstrated eptitude.

[@nowhereman6019]

Ooooooooh, I can taste the bitter irony in that "faith in the judicial system" bit. Time is a flat circle, isn't it?

[@backalleycqc4790]

Yup, excellent comment 👍

[@bluelithium9808]

Weird how the rich do better in court today just like in Caesars time eh?

[@heck3143]

This is not what I anticipated but I feel like I've gained in a big way from this. A new way to ideate.

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thanks so much - that really was the goal for this video, I wanted to make something that required a high level of background understanding but was also able to provide a fresh perspective and get people thinking about how we interpret history.

[@MrJpc1234]

the point about Caesar not being the first to physically cross is a bit weird.....his crossing is what was significant not the scouts

[@theliato3809]

Yeah. Scouts and vanguards fjording the river to can almsot been undone without issue. Ceasar himself crossing the river is when it’s done and can’t be undone. The man’s on a mission with legions at his back

[@wouefn]

The republican system was already in an unsustainable situation. It was collapsing under its own immanent contradictions. If it wasn't Caesar, it would be something and someone else -- but the fact it was Caesar, the way he did it, was a very poetic, very textbook illustration of dialectics of History in motion.

[@ilFrancotti]

In 49 BC Caesar was declared "public enemy" by the Senate of Rome and a new governor for Gaul was appointed. Had Caesar not moved immediately against Pompey and the Senate he would have been stripped of any power, wealth and authority. It doesn't matter what Cato believed.. he was the "moral facade" of the cause but by that time all the vocal personalities of the Senate were against Caesar, fearing his ambition and the rather unconventional rise to prominence. The battle was said to be between the "Optimates" (the so-called "best of the society") for Pompey and the "Populares" (the plebeian) for Caesar but in reality it was more a battle between "Lawyers" and "Military Officers". Each side able to reach the Senate (the prize) but from two different directions. The big exception to this was Pompey as, though he was a competent General, he was also one of the most naive politicians in history.. who preferred the flattery of the other Senators rather than seeing the truth that he was just being used for their schemes. Regardless of the law or the custom they would have got rid of Caesar in one way or another. Evidence of this is the fact that after an entire civil war won by Caesar, those "lawful" senators pulled out more than a dozen daggers from under their robes and stabbed Caesar to death in broad daylight. This way forfeiting their role once and for all.

[@redanwrong]

At this point, saying a quote attributed to mark twain isn't his is is probably the better bet.

[@laisphinto6372]

caesar wouldnt only lose legal immunity but also physical immunity. remember rome was a few years before a dumbster fire with rampant gang violence that were put down by pompey who was not voted but chosen as a sole consul. he had massive power in rome and the tension was high that caesar didnt fear legal things but mob and gang violence or assasins. caesar had to lose his entire army and walk in as a free citizen in a place where pompey has ultimate power and trust the man who was very eager to remove his imperium, cato wants prosecution and others maybe were sneaky or more direct with their intentions. sure caesar had the love of the people and the plebs but so had clodius and he was killed and the pompeians cleaned house in rome

[@WorthlessWinner]

Castor and Pollux led him across the river. Suetonius never lies.

[@tehw000000t]

First you convinced me towards Caesar, now you convinced me against. Know I know… that I know nothing 😂

[@elcidleon6500]

There's so much to learn, with so little time...

[@TheBrickMasterB]

Caesar's "trump card" being populist jury intimidation hits way too hard 😭

[@tribunateSPQR]

Glad you caught that haha

[@nicholasturner7931]

I’m sure it does

[@nicholasturner7931]

Enough blame to go around, Caesar would’ve accepted immunity . There was plenty of opportunity for compromise. Both sides disregarded for various reasons. I think they were both right and wrong. Caesar was contemplating kingship and the old republican way of administering a growing empire.wasn’t working anymore

[@DmT922ha]

Trump is controlled by a lot of "interests" behind the scenes, he has nothing in common with Caesar, who was his own man..

[@colinhannah3515]

so Occums razor .. again humbling LOL

[@philipbrening433]

"In the Roman civil war, Julius Caesar knew he had to march on Rome, which no legion was permitted to do. Marcus Lucanus left us a chronicle of what happened. "How swiftly Caesar had surmounted the mighty alps and in his mind conceived immense upheavals, coming war. When he reached the water of the little Rubicon, clearly to the leader through the murky night appeared a mighty image of his country in distress, grief in her face, her white hair streaming from her tower-crowned head, with tresses torn and shoulders bare, she stood before him and sighing said, "Where further do you march? Where do you take my standards warriors? If lawfully you come, if as citizens, this far only is allowed." Then trembling struck the leader's limbs, his hair grew stiff and weakness checked his progress, holding his feet at the rivers edge. At last he speaks, "Oh Thunderer, surveying Rome's walls from the Tarpeian Rock. Oh Phrygian house gods of Iulus, Clan and Mystery of Quirinus who was carried off to heaven, Oh Jupiter of Latium seated in lofty Alda and Hearths of Vesta, Oh Rome, equal to the highest deity, favor my plans! Not with impious weapons do I pursue you. Here am I, Caesar, conqueror of land and sea, your own soldier, everywhere, now too, if I am permitted. The man who makes me your enemy, it is he who be the guilty one." Then he broke the barriers of war and through the swollen river swiftly took his standards. And Caesar crossed the flood and reached the opposite bank. From Hesperia's Forbidden Fields he took his stand and said, "Here I abandoned peace and desecrated law; fortune it is you I follow. Farewell to treaties. From now on war is our judge!" Hail Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!"

[@rhyswilliams5372]

i really appreciate this channel and the approach to discussing history. it’s a real breath of fresh air to discuss these topics and people with the nuance and subjectivity that they deserve. my love of history has always come from the complexity that comes with it. the for lack of a better word “human” side of the decisions that were made so long ago and with such different motivations that it’s hard for us to fathom. you’ve always done an excellent job at presenting these topics with the care that they deserve and i really appreciate it every time. thanks! :)

[@matthewct8167]

I think Cesar was less concerned about Cato, but more about Pompeii.

[@amk4956]

Thanks!

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thank you so much!! Appreciate the support

[@WinterWasteaway]

I'm open to being wrong but i feel like Pompey being either the first or second richest man in Rome, its most decorated general, and pretty firmly being aligned with the senate at this point is being downplayed. Even though Pompey was a lot more willing to compromise than Cato was, who's to say what happens after Caesar relinquishes command, and sure the trial may not have been on good grounds but he couldn't have been THAT confident that he'd be able to get his way out, even if it was likely. And also it would make this entire debacle about being able to run for election in absentia baffling because he could've just stood down, wriggled his way out of the trial and not risk losing a civil war

[@robincowley5823]

This was exactly my feeling, too - if it is so obvious that Caesar could have sidestepped, bluffed or bribed his way through any prosecution, then why didn't he just trot on down to Rome and seal his election victory? The implication is, of course, that he couldn't be so sure as implied here. Perhaps Cato wouldn't have bribed the jury, but he wasn't the only player in the game, and Pompey had some deep pockets, with Cicero's oratory on side as well.

[@WorthlessWinner]

The ancient sources might not mention the prosecution as causing the crossing directly.... but they do mention the way the tribunes were mistreated as being the final straw leading to the crossing.....and the tribunes were mistreated ultimately in relation to the prosecution so.... the ancient sources do say the "prosecution" led to the crossing. Just with an intermediate step; not A ->B but A->B->C The specific "prosecution" wasn't that important compared to what it implied - surrendering himself into the hands of his political enemies who controlled the courts

[@gow2ilove]

Really loved this. Happy New Year lads!

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thank you and a Happy New Year to you as well!

[@ElvingsMusings]

The phrase Caesar said wasn't "the die is cast". That's a literal rote rendering of the Latin phrase (Alea iacta est) that is a translation of the Greek play by Menander (anerriptho kybos) which is better translated as "let's roll the dice" or as Colleen McCullough put it, "Let the dice fly". The modern phrase, "let the chips fall where they may" is in the same phrase. "Let's roll the dice" emphasizes a more cautious and contingent attitude whereas 'the die is cast' is more definitive. And Caesar was always a gambler. I think the weakness of Cato's plotting and tactics doesn't devalue it from the threat it might have posed ostensibly to Caesar. Like he very likely would have feared a Gracchus-style senator driven assassination (which in any case happened anyway) and so on.

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Every new video you post, you shake something up in the best possible way. Strength and Honor, friend. ✊

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thank you so much! Appreciate the kind words

[@astrolonim2032]

The first Tribunate video since I binged all of your content!! A splendiferous day indeed

[@gabedillin2472]

I like your motives with this video but I really disagree with many parts of this. For one, imagining Caesar crossing the rubicon in the way it’s popularly thought of is still incredibly similar to reality. Secondly, the Optimate faction at this point showed they would accept no solution without Caesar being disarmed completely. Why would they demand that unless they wanted violent action against Caesar? Even the one province one legion compromise was turned down by them. If anything this video solidified the idea that Caesar crossed the Rubicon from fear of prosecution.

[@arthurshipman2826]

great approach to unwinding the motivations of historical figures

[@fredburns6846]

im glad this channel is getting more critical of caesar but im not sure what the point is of questioning caesars motivation for invading italy. of course it wasnt certain that caesar would loose the legal battles, but if you look back at all the BS that went on during the last century of the republic, its not unlikely it couldve resulted in the end of caesars career. besides that, its hard to speculate now about the nuanced political situation of 2000 years ago when 1. we lost a lot of information and 2. not even the players involved new the exact nuances of what was going on. maybe caesar and pompey both thought the other wanted to overthrow the republic when in reality neither did, resulting in a situation where neither of them feels comfortable giving up their armies and caesar feels forced to make a preemptive strike. theres many scenarios that could be true, where caesar is either the good guy, the bad guy or neither, all we know is that whatever caesars intention was, his actions paved the way for his successors to set up an autocracy. in the end we have to give caesar the benefit of the doubt, while stil remaining critical of his actions.

[@fredburns6846]

ps: calling the whole thing a "false hypothesis" is definetly wrong. you can say you have doubts, but you have absolutely no way of disproving something like that without a time maschine

[@Kululululululu]

Really like your video, although I don't know why knowing how Caesar did his invasion into Italy is somehow a lesser experience. It js still very dramatic, took a lot of consideration and done by a pragmatic general that does war, no drama. Regardless of the horrifying consequences of his actions, this act was dramatic and interesting regardless of how it was done

[@jacobYep-pi5su]

Agreed. I enjoyed the video quite a bit, but nobody will cheapen the crossing of the rubicon for me!

[@CBrace527]

Brilliant work and interpretation.

[@anthonyseta4566]

A great analysis for this topic and a great video as always. I will have to ponder these details, as the threat of impending prosecution against Caesar by the Optimates has always seemed to be the bedrock foundation analyses for Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon and the subsequent civil war. Caesar's back was against the wall and there was no other alternative..... Admittedly it's a bit hard to shake off the prevailing foundation analyses for the inception catalyst of the Civil War, but I will digest this information. Thank you. This is a wonderful channel that somehow by good fortune made it to my algorithm a few months ago. Eagerly waiting for more videos to come.

[@binbows2258]

Something I believe is that Caesar may not have been afraid of the prosecution itself, but rather the broader political climate. Sure, he could bribe the jury. But he'd have to keep doing it forever. Cato would still be doing his filibustering nonsense. Pompey would still be doing... his stuff. Who knows what random crap could spring forth from that political soup at any moment? Better to just put it to the sword and start with a clean slate. Every moment the Republic endured in its present state was a moment that could turn into a disaster for Caesar and his allies. Caesar likely knew that it was inevitable that the Republic would at some point be molded by a military dictator. Better Caesar do the job now than leave it to some unknown future Sulla, right? When the collapse of the Republic is viewed as inevitable, dealing the killing blow becomes so inconsequential..

[@Sergio1Rodrigues]

I simply loved the final sentence: I hope this video leaves you knowing less. I think every educator should aspire to that

[@BLooDCoMPleX]

First time seeing one of your videos, I really like the materialist analysis.

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thank you, very glad you found the channel! A robust materialist approach is key to how we interpret history and in my view helps Rome make sense to us despite its wildly different culture, religion and values

[@zengi7]

I don't think Caesar would simply "dance trough" the imminent legal proceedings against him and his acquittal would be far from certain. Cato, Ahenobabus and others would have never left him alone. Also, if as you say majority of the Senate was on his side, how come they voted him an enemy of the state?

[@squirtleawesome1064]

3:38 this image was so evocative (ie went so hard) that I didn't hear a word you said. I had to go back and pause the video and just stare at it for a good minute. Whoever made this image went all out and honestly I can respect that.

[@chad00012459]

HEY BABE, A NEW TRIBUNATE DROPPED #SPQR

[@cringlator]

“Let the die be cast.” -Caesar, the tabletop gamer

[@OneOnOne1162]

Why did Caesar cross the Rubicon? To get to the other side.

[@ParkerRobertson-t8m]

Boom boom tisss

[@shanetaylor5641]

Great video as always

[@C104-k5m]

Spoilers!!! I was just reading that book xD. Amazing job as always

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thanks! I hope you enjoy the book - Morstein-Marx has been a huge influence on how I view the late republic

[@colindunnigan8621]

Is the visual cacophony at the 3:47 mark a work by David? It looks like sufficiently over the top.

[@tribunateSPQR]

It's by Adolphe Yvon - I like it because while it isn't historically accurate it captures the idea that bloodshed and woe inevitably accompanied the crossing. While I think Caesar had no choice and his foes were no better than him it was a momentous decision that had profound human consequences

[@mjhzen8313]

The description of Ancient Rome's judicial system is ominously similar to a trend in modern America's judicial system.

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

Good reminder on the extent of Caesar's power by this point

[@TobyTubeS]

Well done! I had heard this quote before and always thought it was Twain

[@windwaker105]

9:00 as a modern, do we?

[@jayasuryangoral-maanyan3901]

What if Cato, in his stubbornness, gave Caesar the doubt that Pompey, Cato, Cicero and others might have organised against him somehow and were indeed confident in the charges? Hindsight is all well and good, but Caesar wouldn't necessarily risk it

[@chaffsalvo]

I think Caesars mood was more one of resignation than triumph. Politically he didnt have much choice as I understand it. How many of us would volunteer to be exiled or executed by our rivals?

[@bluelithium9808]

@@chaffsalvo especially with the largest battle tested army in our command?

[@meguemil8542]

Thank you for these new perspective. I always saw the threat of prosecution by Cato at face-value, but the more you think about, the less threatening it becomes realistically to Caesar

[@Mac-ci3py]

This channel is incredible. You don’t hide from the messiness of history which is a rarity on KZbin. I wonder, looking at your sources, how did you come to hear about the Education of Julius Caesar by Arthur Kahn? There’s a booktuber I like a lot who raves about the book calling it the best book on Caesar (and he’s read them all) but I haven’t heard anyone else ever mention it till now.

[@Cagliostro81]

Ah, Cato. The late Roman Republic equivalent of “Local man ruins everything.”

[@OokwaYikmagwa]

One might say that the Caesarian section of the elite helped give birth to the Empire…

[@Arunar80]

13:40 something to add to this point as well. As a consul Bibulus had certain religious responsibilities, and could interpret the signs/omens(usually in the form of birds). One part of this was to determine if the signs were good for the senate to meet that day. However Caesar was the Pontifex Maximus, and had been for some years by this point. The Pontifex Maximus was Romes chief priest. In addition to a lot of people thinking Bibulus was a bit of a joke, Caesar simply outranked a consul in religious decisions. Not sure if Caesar had planned for something like this, but it was a brilliant bit of political maneuvering.

[@rayner4597]

Brilliant video thanks

[@biborkiraly394]

From a broad perspective, the senate needed both caesar and pompey dead, as they both outgrew the roman political system. By not killing the surviving lieutenants, the coup eventually succeeded. The crossing of the Rubicon was, as you indirectly point out, a minor event in the clash of titans, while incidentally also being the final nail in the coffin for the “old ways”. I have no doubt in my mind that the move was tactical, not strategic, and thus in line with Caesar’s talent for momentum

[@lonnietoth5765]

Day or night , on horse or in a carriage , all that matters is he crossed with his Legion ! It does not matter how or when you get to the dance , just as long as you get there and dance ?

[@DerHeiner]

Really like your content! But on a different note: maybe it’s just me but the volume on the videos is really low. Maybe you want to crank that up in the future.

[@CupGuyDude12]

great video

[@joeyates3909]

thank you as always

[@binbows2258]

I haven't seriously gone into the play-by-play politics in the primary sources, but I suspect that Caesar became disillusioned with the political system. One can only deal with Cato's filibusters for so long, all the garbage for so long, before one just says, "Can't we do something better than this?" Of course, like every Roman of the time, Caesar was aware of the Republic's history. He had firsthand experience with the evils of Sulla, and knew the political system. He saw how it stifled progress, prevented Rome from becoming better. Non-zero chance that Caesar, at least in part, marched against the Republic because he came to realize that the Republic had to go; that it was only a matter of time. Better him to decide the course of the future than some unknown future Sulla, right? Then of course, throw all the dignitas (and perhaps kingly ambition) on top of that. Tell me if I'm wrong.

[@juanig4198]

would you make a vido on what you think was cesar true motivation for crossing

[@MacNab23]

A couple of thoughts: Even though a small cohort of troops crossed the Rubicon ahead of Caesar - in a strictly legal sense, perhaps that would not be the same as a commander with imperium crossing? And therefore Caesar crossing in person would have indeed been the moment that the die was cast? At any rate, I can't doubt that Caesar spent a great deal of time in instrospection before throwing the dice. Also, when in the consulship Caesar disregarded the omens proclaimed by Bibulus, would not his position as Pontifex Maximus override the opinions of Bibulus? We can't discount Roman piety, feigned or not, in such decisions. I'm honestly just spitballing here, and I'm going to have to watch this a couple of more times to fully formulate my questions regarding Caesar's true motives. Not that we can ever be certain, but I've entertained these ideas for a while and you have put forth some salient points well worth consideration.

[@patricknakasone9376]

I always thought it was less the prosecution and more of a knife in the back.

[@dystopianalphaomega609]

I mean, a small advance force in civilian garb still left Caesar plausible deniability if he really wanted to change his mind at the last minute. Once he’d openly crossed with his main army though, even at night, there was no going back. Even a successful trial in Rome could still have negative implications due to conviction in the court of public opinion and the underhanded tactics needed to succeed. Politicians who nominally defeated prosecutions against them still often came away with a lot of damage.

[@Kuudere-Kun]

I'm Savvy enough about these things that I pegged the Mark Twain quote as probably fake from the start.

[@alexrezina]

The search for true knowledge is (unfortunately nowadays) a effort few are willing to take.

[@baswar]

I tended to see it as Pompey being the deciding factor. Ceasar would have to trust that Pompey would either actively help him to prevent conviction or at least not actively help cato. But Pompey seems to have a poor record of helping supposed allies (according to Antony Goldsworthy as least) and Ceasar couldn't trust pompey not to tear him down

[@arthurshipman2826]

one critique: your video is very quiet! i cant hear it if im in a room with any other noise.

[@BoredRanter-oy9gg]

Will you be doing an episode reviewing the Morstein-marx book which covers this topic alongside any of your favourite Roman-themed books?

[@BoredRanter-oy9gg]

I also say the way you explore the various facets and controversies within Roman history in an essayist type format is what makes your channel unique from other Roman history channels on KZbin.

[@eronabcj1693]

Didn't bibulus get a tribune to veto some of caesars reforms, and he was utterly ignored several times? If so, that wouldve been a big deal too (feel free to correct me)

[@someoneelse293]

Bro just tell the story... don't tell us we are dumb... we already know

[@clayashford9334]

I can’t imagine Twain writing something so intentionally folksy as “knowing something that just ain’t so” unless it was coming from one of his characters.

[@yb000]

Twain self-taught his literacy and one of his first jobs was being a glorified Confederate river pirate; this is something he would definitely say in his early years

[@clayashford9334]

@@yb000 say maybe, but not write down in a published work (again unless it was a character speaking).

[@AlternativePractice]

Don’t destroy my views of glorious Caesar.

[@Kingedwardiii2003]

He was just another politician that’s all he was

[@culleybean]

What do you think would have happened to the republic had Caesar lived? Does it survive beyond him?

[@fontagnus]

I liked the conclusion because misattributed quotes are my pet peeve.

[@ericthreeman]

Your audio is coming through very weak. The ads and "like comment subscribe" bit were so much louder

[@cheese7960]

Not sure i'm jiving with this interpretation after reading the assasination of julius caesar by michael parenti

[@CatotheE]

Did someone say Cato?

[@jacksambuck67]

Couldn't a tribune's veto have stopped the prosecution?

[@randomperson6988]

So he had even less reason to start the civil war?

[@juliocesarcasaspietrini1146]

YES!

[@beaudweiser]

i got bamboozled

[@NetworkCathedral]

your voice got deeper

[@haydencrawford8552]

Cato the younger is just ben shapiro of rome.

[@sugar_walls]

my homie ooger was there and he said that caesar actually swam across it sorry

[@ricericericericericericerice]

Comment

[@estebancastellino3284]

👍

[@cr7ckd0wn]

This is just silly

[@MrDesmorto]

Comment