Caesar

1. The Battle of Pharsalus: Caesar's Leadership Genius and Failures

The Battle of Pharsalus, as described in Caesar's The Civil War" (Book 3, Sections 84-99), tells of Julius Caesar's strong military leadership and tactical genius. A pivotal moment in this account that reflects his genius is Caesar's foresight in extending his right wing. He anticipated that Pompey would be relying on cavalry. Knowing that, Caesars brilliant tactical maneuver allowed his troops, who were considerably outnumbered, to be able to flank Pompey's cavalry and secure a critical advantage (Caesar, BC 3.94).

However, Caesar's account also reveals some of his failures as a leader. For example, even though he gained the victory, he basically had to push his men to the brink. In order to do so successfully, he had to rely on their loyalty and endurance. His troops' exhaustion and the close nature of the battle suggest that his strategic decisions were not without high risks (Caesar, BC 3.97).

Plutarchs portrayal in Life of Caesar (Sections 57-69) gives another view, and shows Caesar's charisma and leadership along with his tendency towards authoritarian style decision-making, which could possibly be seen as a failure in the light of Romes culture regarding power. Plutarch describes Caesars assumption of power and the subsequent consolidation as something that alienated some of the Roman elites and traditionalists (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 63).

2. Defining Caesarism and the Motivations of Caesar's Faction

Caesarism could be described as a form of leadership characterized by a strong, charismatic leader who wields absolute power under the appearance of emergency or...

Plutarch provides a detailed account of Caesar's rise to power and his methods of governance, which involved centralizing authority and bypassing the traditional Republican frameworks (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 59).

The motivations driving Caesar's followers stem from various factors, however. Plutarch mentions the personal loyalty to Caesar, which was cultivated through his genius use of charisma, generosity, and military...

…of a perceived slide back into monarchy.

I do not think Caesars murder was justified. Can assassination ever be justified? The conspirators certainly tried to justify it saying Caesar's assassination was necessary to restore the Republic and prevent a return to monarchic rule. They viewed their act as a liberation of Rome from the grasp of a potential dictator perpetuating his rule under the pretense of emergency powers.

However, Caesar's rule also could be said to have brought stability and necessary reforms to Rome, which was struggling with corruption and governance inefficiencies. His murder plunged the Republic into further chaos and civil wars, ultimately leading to the establishment of an even more autocratic Imperial system under Augustus. The fact is Rome like a charging horse was moving in this direction, and Caesar was the first to take the reins. Those in the coach threw him over but failed to realize they were no longer in control.

Bibliography

Plutarch's Roman Lives

Caesar The Civil…