Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/212

 148 General History of Europe a vast dominion to the Roman Empire, comprising in general the territory of modern France and Belgium. We should not forget that his conquest brought Latin into France, and it is from Latin that modern French has developed. Caesar believed that Rome needed an able commander with an army behind him, who should make himself the permanent master of the Roman government and subdue all other competitors. He therefore steadily pursued this aim. One of his cleverest moves was the publication of a history of his cam- paigns in Gaul, which he had found time to write in the midst of dan- gerous marches and critical battles. Although it is one of the greatest works of Latin prose, the book was really a political pamphlet, in- tended to tell the Roman people the story of the vast conquests which they owed to their governor in Gaul. At present it is the best- known Latin reading book for beginners in that language. 235. Pompey decides to support the Senate. The senators dreaded Caesar's return and probable reelec- tion as consul. So they induced Pompey to desert the people's party and support the cause of the Senate. This led to a struggle between the two commanding gen- erals, Caesar and Pompey. The Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army, but instead of obeying he led it across the little river Rubicon, which formed the southern boundary of his province, and marched on Rome. Pompey and the Senate were unprepared for this, and many of the senatorial party with their general decided to retire to Greece. Caesar was elected consul and so could become the legal defender of Rome against the Senate and Pompey 's army. BUST SAID TO BE A PORTRAIT OF JULIUS C^SAR The ancient portraits commonly accepted as those of Julius Caesar are really of uncertain identity