Why Caesar Had to Cross the Rubicon

[@HistoriaMoneta]

Very well said, great work! I think it is a crime how Caesar is looked on by many as a tyrant with nothing but pure self-interest as motivation, while Cato is commonly held as some selfless paradigm of Republican virtue. If I had to pick one man who deserved most of the blame for the violence Cato is an easy choice. As you mentioned, Caesar exhaustively tried to come to a compromise despite his firm legal standing and popular support, while Cato and his zealous uncompromising delusion is the most significant reason no agreement was reached. Caesar's offer to solely retain governorship of Illyria with one measly legion was more than fair and clearly removed any real or perceived threat to the Republic Caesar represented. I think it evidently shows that Caesar was never a true threat to the Republic until Cato and his faction forced him to be. Also side note: I own an example of the same Caesar coin type you showed! Would love some content on Roman coinage. I am dedicated collector from the Imperatorial period and would be happy to give you guys some ideas. Keep up the great work!

[@tribunateSPQR]

Glad you enjoyed the video, your praise means a lot coming from someone who clearly knows the subject matter very well! I highly recommend "Julius Caesar and the Roman People" by Robert Morstein-Marx as he takes each demonstrates each of the above points in exhaustive detail. All ideas are welcome, drop any suggestions you have! Given what you said above, I think you'll really enjoy our video scheduled for Sunday which is on Cato's obstruction and his unearned reputation as a man of principle.

[@pragatisupakar4858]

I always do my own research and come to my own conclusion or deduction… then peoples opinion prolly never even reach there hahahaha

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

It is easy from our far remove to look back and see moments like this in isolation. Important to remember they were part of the living, breathing past and put them into context, like you do so well here in just a few minutes. Keep up the good work, hopefully the algorithm will catch on soon!

[@tribunateSPQR]

Many thanks!

[@pena.3302]

Bravo..what a well informed piece you put up..More like this I'd love to see n Read..think..et..So kp up your Good work.too..So well put..in those times..love❤ it..cheers !@

[@nicolasclermont893]

Incredibly based and triumviratepilled. Subbed

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thanks! Be sure to check our most recent video for more pro-Triumvirate propaganda

[@katmannsson]

Yes but he did not see if Tribune Aquila Approved :(

[@tribunateSPQR]

hahaha - I need to do a video on that little exchange, one of the most petty exchanges from the ancient world

[@RibbyCribby]

10/10 copious amount of notes taken by me

[@tribunateSPQR]

Glad you enjoyed it! We take a partisan stance here, but the facts all check out. “The Education of Julius Caesar” by Arthur Kahn goes into more detail on the optimate effort to crush negotiations

[@jaca2899]

As a certified Cato hater, I approve this video

[@tribunateSPQR]

We are also certified Cato haters here - we even did a whole video on how much we despise the man: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epinZJKbd6eha9E

[@GrantUsEyesenhower]

Option 1: Be declared an enemy of the people and be put on a show trial Option 2: Be declared an enemy of the people with an army at your back Not much of a choice, is it?

[@UnironicMonarchist]

Two things, 1 I always thought Shakespeare added "the die is cast" learn something new every day. 2 I recently got Caesar in Gaul and the amount of anti Julius Caesar in it made me sick.

[@tribunateSPQR]

"The die is cast" is attested in Suetonius and Plutarch so there is every reason to believe it was a genuine quote. I'd recommend "The Education of Julius Caesar" by Arthur Kahn for a more sympathetic portrayal of Caesar and his career.

[@tomdumb6937]

To this day they beat on him. Great man...

[@justinstrong9595]

No he wasn't. ​@tomdumb6937 a great strategist, but a great man? No.

[@bill9989]

​@tomdumb6937 I may trigger you, but have you ever pondered the similarities of Julius Caesar and Donald Trump? Both were despised by the established elites, both threatened with prosecutions and even death. So Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and Trump declared himself a candidate. Both won their "wars." We just witnessed the modern "Battle of Pharsalus" on election day 2024.

[@y11971alex]

Hi your content makes a good complement to Historia Civilis and deserves at least as many subs :3

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thank you! We also love his work and it was a big inspiration for our channel

[@y11971alex]

@@tribunateSPQR In saying so I don't mean to subordinate or restrict your content to theirs, but to say that it is an alternative approach that is of peer quality with plenty of potential of its own. However, unlike most historians of Rome I am not entirely enthralled by the end of the Republic but the start of it. XD

[@westernbloed]

This channel is at the same time both the antithesis and the spiritual descendant of Historia Civilis. I'd love to see a collab.

[@w014prc7]

holy shit i sort of assumed this is the kind of video that would get tons of views, i was shocked to see how little subscribers this channel has

[@iworkharvey4103]

💯❗️Great video. Finally, it’s refreshing to see a great depiction of Caesar’s and the Popularian’s perspectives based on the facts and evidence that exist. Love this

[@bobbiemiles-foremaniii8747]

This is killer content! Instant subscribe from the first video. I guarantee I will get through all of your videos

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thank you! It’s very niche content so we’re always Glad to hear that it resonates. Appreciate the kind feedback

[@meguemil8542]

I am really glad that I found your channel. I really like in depth videos about this period in roman history, but I always find it annoying how people are so bias against Caesar calling him a tyrant and a destroyer of democracy when they fail to paint the whole picture and context in which Caesar had to act and also ignoring the fact that the republic was a tool for the aristocrats. I don't like when they use our current morals to judge characters of antiquity while ignoring the context of that age

[@Robert-s3o3k]

Working on my history class, watched this video to get a quick understanding of this topic. I will still do my reading but this a great start to my journey into Ancient Rome. Thanks!

[@matthewct8167]

According to Adrian Goldsworthy, Optimates and Populares where not really parties or organized factions but a distinction between people with specific political tactics (which does also influence political decision). The former preferring backroom politics of the aristocrats and the latter been more populistic.

[@tribunateSPQR]

I think that by and large this is accurate - for the most part Roman politicans adopted optimate or populare posturing as a means to an end, doing whichever would position them for success in that specific context and never being shy about shifting later. However, I do think that there were some clear ideological differences between Caesar and some of his optimate rivals like Cato. It doesn't evenly map onto modern left-right politics but Caesar was highly influenced by epicurean philosophy while Cato was a staunch stoic. These commitments resulted in radically different views about what Rome should be and how it should operate

[@jonholland9042]

Excellent background info

[@tribunateSPQR]

Thank you!

[@Tinil0]

Is it just me or does Pompeii's bust look a bit like Gene Wilder?

[@tribunateSPQR]

I can see that!

[@Mactrizel]

He did the right thing

[@bbangssaem8781]

Is this a guest narrator?

[@tribunateSPQR]

Yes, the Tribunate team is growing, and we'll be featuring new narrators on some content.

[@BC-lj9wd]

It's my son!

[@skeeterhoney]

Marcus Aurelius thumbnail? Bruh.

[@arnatar2086]

Hey, Cato was a man of principle. That principle being: Maximise short term gain for me, no thought for the future, every action is allowed.

[@Xizor15]

Would you happen to remember what music track you used in the first half of this video?

[@tribunateSPQR]

Sure! here is The drum intro: Music: Fólkvangr by Alexander Nakarada Free download: filmmusic.io/song/4762-folkvangr And the guitar segment: Music: Fantasy Motion [loop ready] by Alexander Nakarada Free download: filmmusic.io/song/8059-fantas...

[@Xizor15]

@@tribunateSPQR amazing, thank you!!!

[@ianmorrison9480]

The background music was distracting and unnecessary.

[@lorisperfetto6021]

Marcus aurelius on the thumbnail? Really?

[@langdonowen161]

Living relative of Gaius Asinius Pollio here o7

[@amendingamerica]

Alea iacta est!

[@tribunateSPQR]

The man certainly had a way with words. It’s crazy that this phrase “vini, vidi, vici” and “et tu brute” are all still part of the lexicon 2000 years later

[@Nellis202]

….. by refusing to allow him to run for election in absentia . Sounds vaguely familiar.

[@WorthlessWinner]

Marius died a violent death in class war? Er...

[@M0rmagil]

Sulla vr Marius would have been a hell of a war.

[@N0TYALC]

This channel is kinda filled with obvious errors, which is surprising given how opinionated and invested the guy seems to be. The thumbnail he chose for his video about Caesar crossing the Rubicon is actually an extremely well-known statue of Marcus Aurelius. I get the feeling that he’s way less knowledgeable than he pretends, and this channel is basically just highlight reels of stuff he says in midwit flame wars.

[@RenStrive]

Fitmc

[@Atlantaco]

Because if he didn't, none of would've been born.

[@charloschalvan141]

THE MUSIC AT THE END IS LIKE AN AUDIO JUMP SCARE!!! It was so awful, it ruined the whole 🤬 thing for me.

[@samright4661]

History repeats itself. You can see the same thing happening today with Trump!

[@waltonsmith7210]

Tehe Republicans are more like Cato's faction.

[@willl7780]

@@waltonsmith7210 ya right..working people love trump...the left owns the establishment..the attack trump at every turn...

[@iloveshrek3591]

Caesar was very left wing

[@rob6927]

​@iloveshrek3591 Yeah, but the point is he had popular support and it was the established political class that tried to hinder him, mostly through procedure as well. The last years of the Roman Republic seem quite a bit similar to the US of today.

[@VeritasAmantesVocat]

Just because the Senate ignored the cries of the poor does not automatically make Caesar a man of the people. Roman politics had become a shitshow, and he found a way to win, and consolidate his power, as supreme ruler. And handed this power to an heir, just like a King would.

[@iloveshrek3591]

Ahahah this shit is so fucking funny, it is like listening to 2000 year old propaganda! I literally do not now if it is satire or not, but it is genius no matter what.

[@urban_housecleaner9454]

Donald Trump

[@blank_3768]

is cato

[@jcavs9847]

caesarian propaganda is wild