Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/269

Rh their principal stronghold. By the end of 51 he had conquered the remaining rebels. He then regulated the affairs of Gaul and conciliated the peoples in different ways.

Caesar could not fail to perceive the aim of Pompeius and the oligarchy, and in turn endeavored to fortify his own position. Above all he sought to conciliate the inhabitants of cisalpine Gaul — the chief source of his military strength. As early as 67 he had encouraged their hope of Roman citizenship; and, authorized by a Vatinian law of 59, he had sent five thousand colonists with Latin rights to Comum and conferred citizenship on some of them, perhaps on too many. In fact, it seems probable that he treated all the transpadane Latins as citizens, — for example, by enrolling them in his legions.

As a counter demonstration, the consul M. Marcellus in 51 caused a senator of Novum Comum to be scourged for some offense, in order to show that he was not a Roman citizen. This proceeding served only to attach the transpadane Latins all the more to Caesar.

Policy of Caesar. — Caesar's policy was to avoid civil war, if possible, and to obtain the consulship for 48. By making concessions with this end in view, he hoped, at any rate, to exert a favorable influence on the cautious, timid, or indifferent majority of the senate, on the capitalists, and especially on his soldiers; and he could, even as proconsul, begin war under suitable pretexts. On the other hand, as consul, he might be able to come to an agreement with Pompeius, or he would, as a decidedly superior politician, outmanœuvre him. In any case he could then probably manage the senatorial majority, and have an immense advantage, if an appeal was made to arms. His ultimate aim was to abolish the republican constitution and to establish some kind of monarchy.