Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 1.djvu/561

Rh CAKSAR. latter, who luid bc(n Caesar's colleague in the aodijpship and praetorship, was a wami supporter of the aristocracy. Caesar's great popularity com- biucd with Pompey's interest rendered his election certain ; but that lie might have a colleague of the opposite party, the aristcxjracy used immense exer- tions, and contributed large sums of money in order to carry the election of Bibulus. And they suc- ceeded. Caesar and Bibulus were elected consuls. But to prevent Caesjir from obtaining a province in which he might distinguish himself, the senate assigned as the provinces of the consuls-elect the care of the woods and of the public pastures. It was apparently after his election, and not previously as some writers state, that he entered into that coali- tion with Pompey and M. Crassus, usually known by the name of the first triumvirate. Caesar on his return to Rome had found Pompey more estranged than ever from the aristocracy. The senate had most unwisely opposed the ratification of Pompey's acts in Asia and an assignment of lands which he had promised to his veterans. For the conqueror of the east and the greatest man in Rome to be thus thwarted in his purpose, and not to have the power of fulfilling the promises which he had made to his Asiatic clients and his veteran troops, were insults which he would not brook ; and all the less, because he might have entered Rome, as many of his enemies feared he intended, at the head of his army, and have carried all his measures by the sword. He was therefore quite ready to desert the aristocracy altogether, and to join Cae- sar, who promised to obtain the confirmation of his acts. Caesar, however, represented that they should have great difficulty in carrying their point unless they detached M. Crassus from the aris- tocracy, who by his position, connexions, and still more by his immense wealth, had great influence at Rome. Pompey and Crassus had for a long time past been deadly enemies ; but they were re- conciled by means of Caesar, and the three entered into an agreement to support one another, and to divide the power between themselves. This first triumvirate, as it is called, was therefore merely a private agreement between the three most power- ful men at Rome ; it was not a magistracy like the second ; and the agreement itself remained a secret, till the proceedings of Caesar in his consul- ship shewed, that he was supported by a power against which it was in vain for his enemies to struggle. In B. c. 59, Caesar entered upon the consulship with M. Bibulus. His first proceeding was to render the senate more amenable to public opinion, by causing all its proceedings to be taken down and published daily. His next was to bring for- ward an agrarian law, which had been long de- manded by the people, but which the senate had hitherto prevented from being carried. We have seen that the agraiian law of Rullus, introduced in B. c. 63, was dropped by its proposer; and the agrarian law of Flavius, which had been proposed in the preceding year (b. c. 60), had been success- fully opposed by the aristocracy, although it was supported by the whole power of Pompey. The provisions of Caesar's agrarian law are not expli- citly stated by the ancient writers, but its main object was to divide the rich Canipunian land which was the property of the state among the poorest citizens, especially among those who had tnree or more children; and if the domain land CAESAR. 543 was not sufficient for the object, more was to bo purchased. The execution of the law was to be entrusted to a board of twenty commissioners. The opposition of the aristocratical party was in vain. Bibulus, indeed, declared before the people, that the law should never pass while he was con- sul ; but Pompey and Crassus spoke in its favour, and the former declared, that he would bring both sword and buckler against those who used the sword. On the day on which the law was put to the vote, Bibulus, the three tribunes who opposed it, and all the other members of the aristocracy were driven out of the fonim by force of arms : the law was carried, the commissioners appointed, and about 20,000 citizens, comprising of course a great number of Pompey's veterans, received allotments subsequently. On the day after Bibulus had been driven out of the forum, he summoned the senate, narrated to them the violence which had been employed against him, and called upon them to support him, and declare the law invalid ; but the aristocracy was thoroughly frightened ; not a word was said in reply; and Bibulus, despairing of being able to offer any further resistance to Caesar, shut himself up in his own house, and did not appear again in public till the expiration of his consulship. In his retirement he published "Edicts" against Caesar, in which he protested against the legality of his measures, and bitterly attacked his private and political character. It was about this time, and before the agrarian law had been passed, that Caesar united himself still more closely to Pompey by giving him his daughter Julia in marriage, although she had been already betrothed to Servilius Caepio. Caesjir himself, at th'e same time, married Calpumia, the daughter of L. Piso, who was consul in the follow- ing year. By his agrarian law Caesar had secured to him- self more strongly than ever the favour of the peo- ple ; his next step was to gain over the equites, who had rendered efficient service to Cicero in his consulship, and had hitherto supported the aristo- cratical party. An excellent opportunity now oc- curred for accomplishing this object. In their eagerness to obtain the fanning of the public taxes in Asia, the equites, who had obtained the contract, had agreed to pay too large a sum, and had accord- ingly petitioned the senate in b. c. 61 for more favourable terras. This, however, had been op- posed by Metellus Celer, Cato, and others of the aristocracy ; and Caesar therefore now brought forward a bill in the comitia to relieve the equites from one-third of the sum which they had agreed to pay. This measure, which was also supported by Pompey, was carried. Caesar next obtained the confirmation of Pomp(»y's acts ; and having thus gratified the people, the equites, and Pompey, he was easily able to obtain for himself the provinces which he wished. The senate, as we have seen, had previously assigned him the care of the woods and the public pastures as his province, and he there- fore got the tribune Vatinius to propose a bill to the people, granting to him the provinces of Cisal- pine Gaul and lUyricura with three legions for five years. This was of course passed ; and the senate added to his government the province of Transal- pine Gaul, with another legion, for five years also, as they plainly saw that a bill would be proposed to the people for that purpose, if they did not grant the province themselves.