What if Caesar Survived? - The Parthian Invasion (43 BC) DOCUMENTARY

What if Caesar had survived? We recreate the opening moves of the great Parthian invasion planned prior to the Ides of March. You can learn more about his period from our sponsor. Signup for your FREE trial to Wondrium here: ow.ly/QkYO30sfm8H
The Assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in 44 BC cut short a fascinating alternate history. Thankfully we can piece together clues from various records and later events to recreate the scenario of what if Caesar had lived. Part 1 in our series explored his first initiative, the Dacian war. This climaxed with the siege of Sarmizegetusa and ultimately resulted in the creation of a new Moesian province up to the Danube. Part 2 then looked at Julius Caesar's return to Rome where he would celebrate a Triumph and put into many planned reforms, construction projects, and initiatives attested to by our ancient sources. But finally, he will have tired of politics and again made ready for war.
In this episode we bring to life Caesar's invasion of Parthia. We begin by looking at what preparations would have involved, ranging from mustering troops, preparing logistics, and sending out scouts. We explore how the key players were involved in these affairs in the runup to this planned campaign. However Caesar was not the only ambitious man and King Orodes the Second of Parthia will also play a role in the initial battleground of the Kingdom of Armenia.
Stay tunes for more episodes on what if Caesar had survived and be sure to participate in community discussions and dialog which will set the trajectory for this series.
Credits:
Research = Chris Das Neves
Writing = Invicta
Narration = Invicta
Artwork = Penta Limited
#History
#WhatIf
#Documentary

[@InvictaHistory]

An episode a long time in the making and extremely fun to produce! I'd love to make this ongoing series a collaborative effort where you all can help guide the trajectory of the narrative. Keep an eye out for community polls and join us on Patreon for discussions: www.patreon.com/InvictaHistory

[@vytkoicaro]

Humble bow and warm blessings ☯️

[@MrFlatage]

What should happen next? Caesar challenges the Prince to ... a dance off. Dunno though he did like Alexander who actually invaded there before. Which route to pick? Both ofcourse ...

[@tando6266]

You have to do a what if Alexander lived or what if boudicca had won next

[@ancienthistorytube1921]

Great job, as always. Also, the illustrations in your videos keep improving. Congrats!

[@ParallelPain]

19:27 One correction: 30 km a day is not moderate. It is too fast for an active campaign and would be a forced march. The marching distance talked about by Vegetius is for training purposes, when the men marched out from a fort and then marched back, without the need to construct a new camp or forage for supplies. Based on Caesar's own writings and archeology of the camps left behind by Agricola in Scotland, collaborated by other marches by other armies in history, the standard pace of march on campaign was 16~25 km a day.

[@bigbadseed7665]

"The legions began to build a wall." Nice to see Caesar sticking to his guns.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@akeel_1701]

they gonna get Parthia to pay for it?

[@smithyMcjoe]

Man I'd love a fully fledged mini series of if Caesar had survived another 10-15 years!

[@InvictaHistory]

That's sort of what we are attempting with this series although I'm not sure how long he would last. One of the more fascinating aspects I look forward to exploring is the republic/empire fate

[@smithyMcjoe]

@@InvictaHistory Oh hell yes! And that is a very good point he may not have had many natural years left in him honestly. Sometimes it slips me by just how much modern medicine has helped us survive beyond 50. I can't wait see what this brings about, thanks for the content Invicta!

[@user-uy1rg8td1v]

@@InvictaHistory Could you do a What if Alexander the Great didn't die? Or What if Ögedei Khan didn't die and the Mongols went full invasion of Europe? Or anything really, I really like alternate history.

[@robertbodell55]

People back then could live a long time on occasions Antigonus I the one eyed one of Alexanders generals and one of the diodaochi in the Macedonian succession wars died at age 81 in battle in 301BC

[@craig3642]

You know what Ceasar would be doing in 10-15 years? Still being bald..........

[@Juanhop]

Caesar was, at first, defeated in battle by his major enemies... Only to retreat in time, rise, rinse and clean off foes... All of them. No matter if the campaign had started with a defeat, he would have regrouped, analysed and found how to. That is why I consider him the best general of all times: In the end, he always found a way. PS: As far as I recall, he was killed while starting preps for the Parthian campaign. Even now is discussed about the possible participation of Parthian gold in his assasination.

[@tatrankaska2305]

4:31 yes, Caesar was ambitious, but Brutus was an honorable man.

[@SasoriZert]

Brutus should of had his head mounted on a pike for even thinking his plans... man literally derailed an entire empire for personal reasons. So don't try saying he was honorable if Brutus was killed, I can almost guarantee we'd still have a Roman Empire in some form or another in probaly even our time period.

[@GuiNehls]

Subtle. I like it!

[@tatrankaska2305]

@@SasoriZert it was reference on Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, more specific the speech Mark Anthony had during Caesar's funeral.

[@anglowarrior7970]

@@ModernandVintageWatches he would have found a way to defeat them because Caesar was a military genius, amazing tactician and strategist

[@jtgd]

WAS

[@DudeMan2805]

Super Excited to see this after that unholy April fools video

[@InvictaHistory]

I must atone for my sins

[@Apollo1989V]

I found it funny because it was so cheesy.

[@mwfp1987]

Loved the D&D hate though

[@litoteh]

I agree. T'was heresy.

[@flackstar007]

@@ModernandVintageWatches It comes down to the tactic used and experience both in leadership and in the soldiers themselves. A slow and steady march protected by a moving shield formation would of protected the foot soldiers and made the ranged attacks by mounted Parthians mostly ineffective. Also it would be more taxing to rush in for an attack only to pull back and repeat this manoeuvre in the hopes of Roman soldiers breaking ranks to peruse. Lastly there were still archers in Caesar's ranks and protected by the legions in front they could of struck anytime the Parthians got too close at great effect. Tie this to Roman inclination to build defensive positions on a regular basis and rest as not to over exert themselves and this advance would be very hard to check without a direct confrontation of combined forces.

[@patriot5514]

The true nature of Parthian sphere of influence all over Armenia , Pontus and Anatolia have been underestimated. Also the rider king with a huge ball above heads plus soldiers above are Sassanid era , but Parthian cataphracts have been represented historically accurate. Thank you very much! We waiting for the next stage!

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@asinimali]

Armenia was crucial to both Rome and Persia. 1) It was very mountainous and controlled the passes -- difficult and expensive to occupy and easy to invade. Better to have Armenia as a client, 2) They were the bulwark against the Scythians and other steppe nomads invading both Roman and the Persian territories -- and when they did break through, they tended to turn left and invade Persia. 3) No invasion of either could be successful if the control of Armenia was not assured.

[@josephlongbone4255]

Alright, but if we're living in the timeline where Caesar survives we should also have Surena survive, to lead the Parthians. Surena is the man who beat Crassus at Carhye with an army half the size (20,000 vs 40,000) he became so popular and successful as such a competent and capable commander that the king of kings had him assassinated as he was a threat to the throne. Serena vs Caesar would truly be a battle for the ages.

[@timurthelamest5630]

*10,000 vs 40,000

[@josephlongbone4255]

@@timurthelamest5630 those are even better statistics for Surena, but ancient army sizes are usually debatable.

[@RWNetworkEX]

Please do more of this. These what ifs are really fun to watch!

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@bluewatson4341]

The greatest history series on KZbin continues!

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@ushikucrisafulli]

Waited a long time for this and it doesn’t disappoint, thank you.

[@PtolemyCeasar]

Often played this out in my head, nicely done!

[@flashstreamer]

A very intelligent and well produced episode. To me, this is the reason why Caesar was assassinated by the senators of the Republic. They were horrified at the thought of another disastrous Crassus-like defeat. Even though Caesar was a much more capable commander than Crassus ever could be, the likelihood of a failed 2nd invasion was still possible and probably would of had the same consequences as the battle of Adrianople. Which spelled the beginning of the end for the Roman Empire. This wasn’t Gaul. The distance between the two empires made the fighting too unpredictable.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@carlcramer9269]

As Parthia, the obvious move would be to strike at Cesar's route to Antocia, his base of operations. The city itself is likely invilnerable, but it is a long and perilous way to and through Armenia. Much would then depend on the neutral states along the way. These owed their freedom from Armenia to Rome, but might also want to strike back at an Armenia that supports Rome. If Cesar's route of reinforcements is broken, he might not mind too much as Armenia could still supply his army. Still, Cesar might have tried to create a second supply route through Pontus - who was likely still smarting from earlier defeats. The war is likely to escalate if it goes this way. Cesar was not a general of immediate and grand attacks, he like things piecemeal, and that would likely be a good strategy here - contain the escalation, defeat one army and one nation at a time. If he could counter Parthian moves without involving minors, or just one minor at a time, the development here may mirror that in Gaul, and the whole of Anatolia fall under Roman domination piece by piece. But to conquer the Parthian homeland on the Iranian Plateau would likely have been impossible. Parthia as a nation may fall, but a successor state would rise in Persia. And the Iraki river delta would then constantly be open to raids, as it had been for centuries. The romans may well win the war but lose the peace.

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

*May. The Parthians may also win.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014]

Caesar could also promises rewards to Kingdoms like Pontus for joining even if there had been conflict decades before with Pharnakes II

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

@@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014 Really? Isn't it conventional wisdom at this point to presume that Rome was financially teetering to bankruptcy and that Caesar had no financial muscle to make any such promises, nor was likely to ever be able to fulfill them with the war still raging against the Optimates. Furthermore, it would also be contrary to his character - He was a backstabber, after all.

[@RedRocket4000]

@@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512 Considering Caesars track record that very unlikely he really was a genus at this stuff.

[@fyeahusa]

I think the justification for having Parthans actively invading Armenia to preemptively cut off the Romans is a bit shaky, since they didn't do this during Antony's invasion, and his build up would have been apparent as well.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@asinimali]

As I recall, the Armenians didn't support Persia per se, but they made the Roman army's logistics hell.

[@colliwer]

Man I’ve been salivating for this video for so long! So glad to finally see it!

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@ktheterkuceder6825]

He would have had a much tougher opponent. And a more formidable commander if Surena had been spared.

[@KingGayCockroach]

Or just another commander whose tactics Caesar would have figured out; unfortunately horse archers don't contend well with stationary archers; especially if they are hidden within a shield wall.

[@ktheterkuceder6825]

@@velstadtvonausterlitz2338 Not the best but medium and competent.

[@ryansmith8345]

@@velstadtvonausterlitz2338 butthurted are we ? Lol He's not overrated nor was Crassus a bad general ! Remember: *Ceaser gained his reputation by fighting angry barbarians with no tactics & weak weapons & armors !!! Lol 😆 😂 , Crassus was an already more experienced general & THE MOST INFLUENTIAL senator who was seen as the owner of the heavens throughout the entirety of Rome ; This is not to mention that he defeated Spartacus* 😉

[@ryansmith8345]

@@ModernandVintageWatches Ceaser might have faired no better than Crassus !!! (Ceasar gained his reputation by defeating angry barbarians with bad weapons & almost no armor..... *Not by defeating any disciplined unified army of a mobile cavalry Cataphracts who were highly trained archers & literally invented the term "Partizan warfare" ; not to mention that they were being led by an equally skilled General & commander , Surena* ) Also don't take Crassus for granted , he won many dire battles & was a senior General & senator compared to ceaser & also defeated Spartacus.....

[@anglowarrior7970]

@@ryansmith8345 Are u mad??? Caesar was a amazing general he could have died at alesia but his superior tactics, the cavalry and the roman discipline saved the day. He was a far more capable general than Crassus and Gauls were good soldiers they had good armour and equipment and were led by good generals. Caesar defeated army after army during his campaign and only lost 2 pitched battles during his military career one being at bibracte and the other at dyrrachium

[@alexorellana1632]

Amazing what if’s. I could listen to this all day. Great work on the content

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@BattleHistories]

Love the artwork in your videos. Well done as always!

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@huntclanhunt9697]

The best part about this series is that Caesar would have probably lived had he been armed or carried a sword to the Senate meeting, which apparently was not uncommon for consuls to do.

[@ChrisZukowski88]

Sadly he was too forgiving and trusting, ironic isn't It causeaftrr all those years of being a master politician, he still made the amateur mistake of completely trusting his closest "friends".

[@lasalboyagama6242]

Wait wasn't there a whole thing about not crossing the inner sanctum of Rome with weapons unless you wanted to declare war against Rome.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@RedRocket4000]

@@lasalboyagama6242 as stated consuls could cary a sword just not common. He also had enough clues to not go I figure he had a bad day maybe a light cold after all that got Lee at Getesburg and Nepolion in his last battle from what I have read the speculation is it robed each of normal brilliance. Lee and Napolion trying to win with frontal assaults something was off.

[@HistoricalWeapons]

fascinating content! alternate history is always fun to speculate

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@lexdad1193]

A very nice gift, thank you.

[@roryokane5907]

Particularly enjoying the Rome reference with the rather generously proportioned town crier at 2:30.

[@Duke_of_Lorraine]

True roman bread for true Romans

[@FrostwhitePhoenyx]

Finally! I love your work here, and this series is fascinating. Wasn't it supposed to be a 4 part series in th beginning? Never mind I'm really happy, thats going on an I can't wait for the next part! :D

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@jimejohns4988]

I love this mini series of videos, I find it so interesting.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@sgauden02]

At last! After the Aprils Fools joke, I couldn't help but wonder if something REAL was coming soon, and it looks like I was right!

[@sgauden02]

@@ModernandVintageWatches I think he could. Caesar had experience with horse archers, and probably was working on ways to counter them. I think he planned on taking more cavalry with him to keep the horse archers at bay.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@aidanmagill6769]

Much as I rate Caesar as a general, he had a bad habit of getting too far ahead of his supply lines. It may have cost him dearly in Parthia.

[@neutralfellow9736]

> he had a bad habit of getting too far ahead of his supply lines No, he did so only once really, and still roflstomped Jubba and Labienus twice when they tried to exploit it, using mere two legions of green inexperienced troops. Dude was simply comical level op.

[@aidanmagill6769]

@@neutralfellow9736 4 times that I can think of, off the top of my head.

[@neutralfellow9736]

@@aidanmagill6769 name a few?

[@aidanmagill6769]

@@neutralfellow9736 Greece. North Africa (a whole winter). Unsupported landing in Britain. Once in Gaul, I'd have to dig a bit for specifics. He was more than comfortable having his men forage. Which is fine, until it isn't.

[@aidanmagill6769]

@@neutralfellow9736 I agree that Caesar was "comical level OP", I'd put him in top 3 all time.

[@Uzair_Of_Babylon465]

Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@terryhughes7349]

Well done! Speculative history is fascinating.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@Anaris10]

Enjoyed that but was surprised that there was no mention of Agrippa and Maecenas. Octavian wouldn't go near a battlefield without Agrippa and Maecenas' connections to Greece and the East would have been considerable.

[@neutralfellow9736]

...those dudes were young and irrelevant in 44BC

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@caesarshotdogchampion8738]

You are a good man and a scholar of the highest order

[@blazejdrazkowski1608]

Great video , waiting for more

[@ionutpaun9828]

The art is fantastic!

[@napolien1310]

Knowing Caesar, with a huge force like this he will split his forces into 2 the main one goes within the Armenian routes which consists the majority of the infantry and 5000 cavalry the rest will be sent through the Euphrates as a divergence force, he might send them early to trick the Parthians he will go in that route but his objective to free Armenia.

[@napolien1310]

@@ModernandVintageWatches that's true but not for Caesar he already knew the value of Cavalry in Gaul as he used a lot of German cavalry as auxiliaries in Gaul, and in the civil war he used them plus Iberians, so he knew their value unlike Crassus.

[@Natogoon]

lol copied straight from Monsieur Z but ok

[@allmightlionthunder5515]

Parthians was in fact in way eastern romans

[@titisuteu]

@@ModernandVintageWatches Ventidius Bassus defeated them at the Cilician gates, Amanus pass and Cyrrhestica in years 40 and 39 BC

[@titisuteu]

@@allmightlionthunder5515 Are you for real?

[@XxAverageJoexX]

Good stuff man.

[@JB-ue6lf]

I love the little animated artwork. It seems so small but little things like that really help with the immersion. At least for me

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@Tiger1AuasfE]

very nice, well done.

[@percy3993]

Awesome, like always

[@percy3993]

@@ModernandVintageWatches I think they could do it. Espially with a General like Ceaser. The heavy Roman infantry is hard to break even with Catapracs( super heavy elite horse unit). The Roman throw spear would decimate every oncoming cavalerie charge and the horses would be instantly cut down by the veteran Legionäres after the schock effect from the charge has faded away. I think the best strategie against the romans would be hit and run tactics. Also it would be good to target there supplies so the romans run out off food and water. I think otherwise it would be impossible to defeat that veteran Roman army with such a good genearl. I know Crassus lost with a roman army against the Partisans, but he got into a trap and after that it was easy.

[@greg5775]

Excellent!!!

[@artinrahideh1229]

Fun fact : in the Persian epic poem "Shāhnameh" written c.1010 AD most of the warriors and heroes are based on Parthian figures. Also "Pahlevān" means a honorable wrestler( something like a samurai but in wrestling) in modern persian which derives from the name of the language of Parthians, the Pahelvānig language

[@persianguy1524]

Parthians claimed ancestry from Cyrus the great, Achaemenids and were Persian.

[@user-cg2tw8pw7j]

​@@persianguy1524But according to the epic, Shashanah, the Parthians were Bedouins in the northern region, and they were fighting the Seleucids (kings of sects).

[@s3phaeus520]

I just wanna say I remember seeing you in The Halo Forge Epidemic. I loved Halo growing up, but with Halo I loved Rome too. I always found it hard to tell if you were the same person, but I think you are. It's awesome to see this transition you did!

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@Potatobowmaster27]

Great video

[@aceofspades7988]

Can’t wait for part 2

[@TheGetout04]

This channel is surprisingly underrated

[@CharleyBrown69]

I’ve never watched one of these videos and wondered the consequences for the future till this one. GJ.

[@danielcarroll1193]

Finally after years of waiting!!!!

[@luffyseyepatch7952]

Amazinn video love it

[@dawnsparrow4477]

Most wonderful attractive introductory history episodes thanks (Invicta) channel ...

[@ebi6544]

I kinda think that Caesar would have used his political tactic and influence to make alliances with Persians in the south. After Surena was killed, a lot of his followers stopped fighting for the Parthians. Caesar had a lot of Gallic allies in his campaigns in Gaul, and I kinda want to say that he would have done the same thing in his campaign against the Parthians. During that time, Persians and Parthians were different groups and fought civil wars against each other. Persia was more of a client state during that time and they could have been a potential ally knowing that Caesar was a good statesman and politician. Invading Parthian is a logistical nightmare and Persia could have been a gateway for the Romans to explore.

[@thalmoragent9344]

True, better to divide and conquer, instead of just Conquer the Middle East

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

Persians as junior allies and clients of Rome? 🤣 You know nothing about the ancient Iranian mentality or their sense of self. The royalty saw themselves as divinely appointed and their legitimacy derived from Farr/Xwarenah invested into them by Ohrmazd. The massive rock reliefs at Bisotun/Bagastana, Naghsheh Rostam, Khong Ashdar and the numerous coinage all attest to the religious underpinnings of ancient Iranian monarchy. They would never have subordinated themselves to Romans, who most certainly were seen as Aneranian (hence a race to be ruled) and as Khrafstar who usurped part of the "East" which belonged to the kings of old - This notion was even recorded by the Romans as the sum of interactions they had with Ardashir and his son Shapur. آخرینش رومیها گه خوردند با ایرانیها درگیری کردند 🤡

[@ebi6544]

@@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512 where did I write anything about Persia being Rome’s client state?, and secondly, the two kings that you mentions are from Sassanids which is centuries after Caesar was alive. The video is about what would have happened if Caesar wasn’t assassinated. Third, I’m pretty sure Persians hated Greeks a lot more, yet Alexander was able to conquer Persia and avoiding mass rebellions by having a better relationship with Persians, which is why he choose to Marry the Persian princess instead of Greeks. Lastly, it seems like you are the type of guy who’s only interested in his own nation’s side of history (which I’m not against) and is extremely biased when it comes to history. I try my best to be unbiased when it comes to history, and always interested in knowing what really happened during that time, instead of just listening to some history propaganda. We all know that propagandas push us away from the truth.

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

@@ebi6544 برو کشکتو بساب, کونبچه

[@vazak11]

Oooh intriguing!

[@axelkarlsson9578]

When is part 2 coming? This was so good!

[@dwarvenminer3329]

2:30 glad to see whoever made the Graphics for this watched Rome (the tv series),

[@simulationcollapse7768]

Good catch haha

[@davidhughes8357]

I have contemplated this scenario for years. Finally a very thoughtful and well grounded approach is here. Your work is exemplary and I am thoroughly absorbed in your excellent detailed narrative of all plausible possibilities. Thank you so much. Your work on this subject is in my mind literally the very best ever. Please continue.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@manooxi327]

Fantastic art

[@-RONNIE]

It's a really interesting video and it makes you think what if he didn't die and kept on running the empire

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@erinaltstadt4234]

Thank you

[@althesian9741]

Crassus didn’t choose the direct syrian route. He blundered straight through the desert without any plan whatsoever. The standard route would be to march with the euphrates or the tigris to their left/right. This allows them to have access to water and prevent flanking maneuvers.

[@madavarams268]

he did follow the river at first. When he heard scout reports that there was an army in the desert, he made the rash decision of running into the exposed desert to confront it.

[@dariusghodsi2570]

@@madavarams268 it wasnt so rash really, made perfect sense to engage and disrupt the organized force early rather than being subjected to drawn out hit and run attacks on their logistics like what happened a bit later to marc antony and then have an unharrassed and direct route to get there faster before Shah Orodes could catch up from Armenia.

[@dariusghodsi2570]

@@madavarams268 We must first assume that we arent likely better and smarter or would have made wiser decisions than our ancient ancestors without this extreme benefit of hindsight.

[@ShapurTheWise]

He lose because he was arrogant and fool he underestimate Iranian power. This cause he failed on strategy this’s happened to many generals when they invasion to Iranshahr

[@dariusghodsi2570]

@@CETGale No, Crassus was an excellent commander, look at his record. What he did for the Sulla Marius war was nothing short of a miracle. Im not going into his victory in the third servile war, but that too was a supreme demonstration of command. And his son Publius was a rising star having just come back from conquering Gaul as one of Caesars most significant officers.

[@bikilone]

Thank you.

[@Armorius2199]

Finally here!!!

[@schoolproject6634]

Happy Easter, guys

[@Akeraton]

Marvelous.

[@ramtin5152]

How to make a what if Caesar survived series : Just imagine somehow he would have won against everyone based on his previous victories even against the Parthians who had formidable armies and were different than the previous enemies of Rome and fought on the fields that they were more familiar with than the Romans

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

Bravo, you finally found out what this really is all about. Coping mechanism for losing at Carrhae :-)))))

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@kadenelijah9329]

I’d really love to see you cover Caesar’s plan to invade Germania on his way back from Parthia

[@phyoishere]

One of the few things I can imagine the Big C to do is to employ a mixed-up composition of his units, be they marching or deployed on the field. I'm thinking archers/sligers, javelinmen, in the middle of your typical legionary centuries, this way, countering some of the hardhitting heavy calvary that parthians are particular to (pun intended). Furthermore, I believe he will also make full use of his artillery in the field, deploying scorpions and the like to take out huge chunks of the enemy. The man was innovative as heck and prone to experiment. Although I doubt it will change Rome's history, especially in the later centuries, maybe calvary forces would have begun its transition and influence into Roman Legions much earlier? Maybe, just maybe, this could have given them more military experience against the migrating barbarians and huns in the 3rd and 4th century AD, who knows...

[@RedRocket4000]

As one expert on Eastern Rome Byzantine, but wrote a fantisy book on a unit from Ceasars gaul transported to anouther world that is like later Eastern Roman Empire, pointed out Rome still had the knowlage writen down on how to do Pike/Spear Phalanx like they did in Greece and so most likely part of each Legion would be converted to Pike alowing the Legion to stop even heavy Knights once the struip was invented. The decline of quality of the troops, equipment by the time a late Legion was defeated by heavy struip calvery the wrong leason was learned then and later as Rome did have an answer the one that came later in the Renaissance the Phalanx of Pike it was the fact the governments were so poor and primitive after Romes decline that they could not form that Armys that Rome could earlier or were fielded in the Renaissance. For these though yes lots of foot archers and bring forward the huge amount of light field weapons the Legions had. They move slower but can out fire horse bow. And Rome it self could do decent calvery it self when it had to as shown in the wars with the Jews. Most likely result Ceasar adds this to the Empire.

[@ktheterkuceder6825]

Oh man persia is soo underrated. From Cyrus the great 500 bc to khomeni in modern day. Its a hell of a long history.

[@adrianbundy3249]

True, but you should really understand a lot of those were different kingdoms entirely, even with different centers of power, and ethnicities, and religions that moved in and out of Iran in those long periods. You might as well say the same thing about Russia from like 1000bc to today. A lot of great people had power that other people felt from the steppes there that Russia has now, but they weren't always the same ones, and the powers did shift, a LOT. But it's very difficult to say "russia" as a whole did it, because it simply isn't the same russia as we know it, they were different peoples. Ergo, very much like Iran to me. There are a few countries this is less true of, but I don't think these two at all.

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

@@adrianbundy3249 Patently false assessment. If you knew anything about Iran, you would understand that the name of Iran itself is the creation of a political compact taken from both Avestan religious precepts, particularly from the Vendidad/Widewdad and from the Achaemenid proclamation as recorded at Bagastana from the inscriptions of Darius I the Great - This compact was refined and revised throughout the ages (but never discarded), first under the Parthians as Aryānšahr (Aryana acc. Strabo and Arianōn ethnōus in the Greek transcript from Res Gestae of Šāpūr I) and then under Sasanians as Ērānšahr. Iran has since remained. It is dynamic, but to claim that today's Iran has no relationship or relevance to its ancient forebears is not only incredibly insulting but ignorant.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@nuralibolataev4474]

I believe Caesar would use the same strategy that Heraclius later used. Using the Armenian mountains as a shield so that he'd be able to march down to Ctesiphon. It wouldn't be easy by any means but its Ceasar

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

Yeah because Caesar is an infallible super-human and the enemy has only one purpose and that's to roll over and die 🤡

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@MrAwrsomeness]

@@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512 yes that's true

[@RedRocket4000]

@@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512 Well he's very close to an infallible super-human in the field. Could he lose yes would he lose very unlikely. Only in area of political infighting was he only very good not super human. And his enemies often did very smart things. And he did have a huge luck factor a fair number of times he got into hand to hand combat even and survived. Him being the rear gaurd for his raid in Alexander port when he was stuck there and letting his men row off while he held the dock by himself before swiming the harbor back to the palace is one tale of him I love.

[@MrAaaaazzzzz00009999]

Can you make a playlist for this series or at least link the other videos in the series?

[@fenrir4446]

Now we have to another couple of years for this saga to continue oh Joy

[@jaredlamontagne9425]

Nice

[@dimz2916]

OMG FINALLY, After years waiting for this

[@ktheterkuceder6825]

We need a topic on almogavars. Their beginnings and evolution.

[@kevinkeegan4817]

Part 2 please?

[@voodoochild7778]

Bang up job. I have often thought of how the world would be if Caesar would have lived. Would the empire of thrived and lasted? or would the same decline happen but at a slower pace? Could a Roman Empire evolve into a country? back to a republic? Or go full democracy? How would technology and science have been helped or hurt by a modern Rome? Anyway love the content and thanks

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@renatodutrarangel112]

21:55 yeah, that is Ceaser we knew

[@HammerOn-bu7gx]

You should also add in the people needed to repair and maintain his weaponry and troops. Cooks, flock tenders, etc.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@jothegreek]

GREAT

[@freedombro6502]

Let's go! Released 14 min ago and I have a freshly rolled joint . Let's learn something!

[@yaboyed5779]

Brooo, I’m still tryna believe after THAT trick🤣🤣🤣

[@MM22966]

Ian McNiece herald at 2:40. HBO Rome, you are gone but not forgotten!

[@Paulius01]

Hey your affiliate link doesn't work, gives me an "access denied" error

[@Lsd911]

theres a game called great conqueror rome has a lot of generals from throughout roman history and nations its fun made by easytech although spartacus cleopatra ceaser and attila you have to pay for its pretty fun im certainly having fun camping for it is challenging suggesting it think you might like it

[@suissemhabite.2098]

At last. Yay!

[@axelhens7831]

I like this what if idea. And of you have fun at or that alles it even bether.

[@mhameedi7184]

16:32 "Freedom and liberation is their cause, certainly not greed and glory.." This reminds me of America somehow lmao

[@notthefbi7932]

Probably one of the greatest what if's. Right up there if Wellington was beaten in Portugal and stopped by the French, would England sued for peace 🤔

[@westrim]

He'd probably get the boot.

[@andrewgrasham4604]

Please tell me that part 4 is out already.... If this is The siege of Jerusalem all over again I'm going to cry....

[@RedRocket4000]

They need to at least add in the huge amount of light artilery the legions had and the heavy stuff in the background as well of something like this. Almost certainly the light stuff got deployed for field battles whenever they could use it and explains even better how the legions beat such huge odds.

[@bryanperalta740]

The Parthians have clearly learned from their Achaemenid ancestors

[@christosramolli6347]

- Phone rings. - Me: opens the phone. - KZbin notification"Invicta: What if Caesar Survived?- Part3" . . . . THE END IS NEAR meme playing in my mind.

[@ardensvirens]

2:27 Capitoline Guild of Millers CONFIRMED in this AU. “True Roman bread, for true Romans.”

[@ramtin5152]

It would've been great if general Surena was also considered alive in this what if Caesar survived series of yours

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

He can't do that, because that would interrupt the fantasy of Romans winning :-) We're dealing with the very fragile Roman fanboy ego where ancient Iranians can never win, only lose and never devise their own strategy for appropriate defense - You see, the battle of Carrhae still stings their asses so much that they have to dig up Caesar's bones to imagine a victory as a coping mechanism :-))))) Furthermore, general Surenas would have won.

[@warna1244]

@@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512 at first i thought he might give parthian empire a chance to survive but after looking carefully at the thumbnail and watching the video i understood that te only possible scenario is that this guy is going to give Cesar an easy win

[@ramtin5152]

@@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512 Yeah and to think that the Parthians would have had a disadvantage in Armenia or mountainous fields is wrong Both the Parthians and the Sassanids had quite great victories in those fields Like : 1- When Mithridates II the great conquered Armenia 2- When Orodes II invaded it and won against the Armenians 3- When the Parthians defeated Mark Antony 4- When the Parthians won the battle of Rhandeia in Armenia 5- When the Parthian army under Mirian II of Iberia, defeated an Iberian army to take back the throne from a usurper 6- The Parthians initial success in Armenia in defeating a Roman army in Roman Parthian war 161-166 7- When the Parthians successfuly raided Armenia before Trajan's Invasion 8- When the Sassanids conquered Armenia 9- When Shapur II the great won the battle of Singara 10- When the Sassanids won at the battle of Avarayr 11- When the Sassanids won the Iberian war 12- When the Sassanids won the Lazic war 13- When the Sassanids gained victories during their first years of the last Sassanid Byzantine war in Iberia and Lazica

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

@@ramtin5152 Indeed. And why is that? Because the battle of Carrhae had one deeply unfortunate side effect - Surenas' all-cavalry army was mistaken for a "typical" Parthian army. It never was. Gareth Sampson spends some time in his book "Defeat of Rome" which is dedicated to the study of the campaign and battle of Carrhae, explaining why the army of Surenas was an army crafted for intercepting the Roman army in the flats of Harran and to fight it using tactics that entirely negate Roman tactics. This unfortunately had the side effect of ignorant amateurs suddenly believing Parthian doctrine of warfare revolved around all-cavalry armies. The biggest sin of this channel was not in consulting anyone in Parthian Studies or even anyone engaged in Iranian Studies at large before making this video. Not even elementary lessons of the geography or seasonal cycles of the South Caucasus were appreciated. Anyone who knows anything about the region knows that a campaign in the month of March in the South Caucasus is an early suicide with winters not only still being bitter but passes being more accessibly circumnavigated from the East through the northern Van corridor and passes that connect the Qandil mountains to the plateau of Baghesh/Bitlis. These routes were exceedingly well-charted by the Parthians who in fact would use them in occasions to split off forces from a counter-attack in Armenia and raid Roman Syria. The greatest offense that this video commits isn't simply that Caesar is given an automatic victory (for absolutely no reason) - It is that it wrongly imagines the Parthians to be so feeble and incompetent that they can only lose and implement absolutely no strategy.

[@pooroldman5089]

@@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512 the parthians won one battle against a terrible roman general. How about you mention the time that a literal roman slave lead a roman army and destroyed the parthians and put their generals head on a spike or the why don't you mention the 3 times Rome sacked the parthian capital?

[@ramtin5152]

To think that the Parthians would have had a disadvantage in Armenia or mountainous fields isn't quite right Both them and the Sassanids had their fair share of victories in those fields Like : 1- Mithridates II the great conquered Armenia 2- When Orodes II invaded Armenia and won a battle against the Armenians 3- When the Parthian army under Mirian II of Iberia, defeated an Iberian army to take back the throne from a usurper 4- When the Parthians defeated Mark Antony 5- When the Parthians won the battle of Rhandeia in Armenia 6- The Parthians initial success in Armenia in defeating a Roman army in Roman Parthian war 161-166 7- When the Parthians successfuly raided Armenia before Trajan's Invasion 8- When the Sassanids conquered Armenia 9- When Shapur II the great won the battle of Singara 10- When the Sassanids won at the battle of Avarayr 11- When the Sassanids won the Iberian war 12- When the Sassanids won the Lazic war 13- When the Sassanids gained victories during their first years of the last Sassanid Byzantine war in Iberia and Lazica

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF

[@aquila4228]

Will there be a part 2?

[@InvictaHistory]

Yup, working on a series

[@NoBudjetFilms]

I hope Caesar wins, but that might be predictable? Also I have read that Caesar may have been having medical issues by the time of his assassination. Some of them may have been affecting his mind a judgment too. Have those facts been taken into consideration in this alternate history? Or disregarded for the sake of entertainment?

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

Realism is disregarded because the channel engages in cheap speculation without knowing a single thing about the Parthians.

[@PlanetOcean]

What history and world now would have looked liked if he would not have been assassinated. We can only wonder at if, big IF...

[@ComradeArthur]

19:28 "assuming a steady pace of 30 kilometers a day." That's an impressive assumption!

[@Pandadude-eg9li]

The Average human walks 3 miles an hour. Shouldn't be implausible for a forced march of 30 KM/day.

[@lorisperfetto6021]

Can't watch it without crying

[@lorisperfetto6021]

@@ModernandVintageWatches good point. Who knows...maybe he would have come up with some strange cunning plan on how to keep the cavalry occupied, but he would have surely taken allied cavalry with him and not repeat the same error of crassus

[@sterlingsimmons2212]

@@lorisperfetto6021 Yeah, Crassus underestimated the Parthians. After defeating Spartacus he was a little to full of himself. The same thing happened to Napoleon when he invaded Russia. Never underestimate your enemy no matter how much stronger you look on paper.

[@rhogerian2295]

roma enterna, also just noticed they added the news guy from the HBO series in the visuals

[@mi2000ty]

Did you forget surena the greatest general of that time?

[@warna1244]

داداش کل ویدیو فقط واسه اینه که روم بیاد دهن ایرانیا رو صاف کنه

[@lachlanhains1197]

Surena was dead by this time

[@warna1244]

@@lachlanhains1197 also Cesar

[@mi2000ty]

@@lachlanhains1197 Firstly, it is not clear when and how Surena was killed Secondly, when you bring Julius Caesar to life, then why shouldn't Surena be alive?

[@krushnaji4940]

He was dead

[@morgunlenghiem1786]

Excuse me, I'm looking for the pronunciation of a term used in the video? Can anyone help? Carcus beli ? When he was speaking about the pre-invasion into Parthia ? I want to look up the latin spelling and it's meanings

[@thedripkingofangmar6778]

It's Casus belli, it's pronounced something like casus belly in english I guess

[@TheColombiano89]

Fun fact the Three Kings from the East are Persian Zoroastrian Magi priest....you can thank them every Christmas.