Gregory Aldrete

Well, I mean, it's a love-hate because Caesar is very successful at playing to the Roman people. So he becomes their hero where he says, you know, I'll be your champion against the state who doesn't care about you. You know, so Caesar will do things where he'll put on big shows for the people. And it's cynical. I mean, he's doing this to further his own political power.

Well, I mean, it's a love-hate because Caesar is very successful at playing to the Roman people. So he becomes their hero where he says, you know, I'll be your champion against the state who doesn't care about you. You know, so Caesar will do things where he'll put on big shows for the people. And it's cynical. I mean, he's doing this to further his own political power.

But he's presenting himself as a populist in essence. Yeah. even though he aspires to be a dictator, right? But it's a way of winning the people's support because that's a tool for him and his struggle with other aristocrats.

But he's presenting himself as a populist in essence. Yeah. even though he aspires to be a dictator, right? But it's a way of winning the people's support because that's a tool for him and his struggle with other aristocrats.

But he's presenting himself as a populist in essence. Yeah. even though he aspires to be a dictator, right? But it's a way of winning the people's support because that's a tool for him and his struggle with other aristocrats.

Other times he'll play to the aristocracy.

Other times he'll play to the aristocracy.

Other times he'll play to the aristocracy.

That's an interesting moment because all these things have been leading up to Caesar, and it really is a chain of men. So it starts with this guy, Marius, who is one of the first to start making armies loyal to him rather than to the state. That's a step in the wrong direction, right? The army should be loyal to the state, not to an individual general. They shouldn't look for him to reward.

That's an interesting moment because all these things have been leading up to Caesar, and it really is a chain of men. So it starts with this guy, Marius, who is one of the first to start making armies loyal to him rather than to the state. That's a step in the wrong direction, right? The army should be loyal to the state, not to an individual general. They shouldn't look for him to reward.

That's an interesting moment because all these things have been leading up to Caesar, and it really is a chain of men. So it starts with this guy, Marius, who is one of the first to start making armies loyal to him rather than to the state. That's a step in the wrong direction, right? The army should be loyal to the state, not to an individual general. They shouldn't look for him to reward.

Marius kind of breaks that, makes a precedent. One of his protégés is a guy named Sulla. Sulla comes along, and he ends up marching on Rome with his army and taking it over. And he says, well, I'm just doing it for the good of the state. But that's another precedent. Now you've had someone attacking their own capital city, even if they say they're doing it for the right reasons.

Marius kind of breaks that, makes a precedent. One of his protégés is a guy named Sulla. Sulla comes along, and he ends up marching on Rome with his army and taking it over. And he says, well, I'm just doing it for the good of the state. But that's another precedent. Now you've had someone attacking their own capital city, even if they say they're doing it for the right reasons.

Marius kind of breaks that, makes a precedent. One of his protégés is a guy named Sulla. Sulla comes along, and he ends up marching on Rome with his army and taking it over. And he says, well, I'm just doing it for the good of the state. But that's another precedent. Now you've had someone attacking their own capital city, even if they say they're doing it for the right reasons.

Then Pompey comes along, and Pompey just breaks all kinds of things. He starts holding offices when he's too young to do so. He raises personal armies from his own wealth. He disobeys commands. He manipulates commands. He does all kinds of stuff. But in the end, he sides with the Senate when sort of forced. And finally, Caesar comes along, and Caesar's just shamelessly, no, it's about me.

Then Pompey comes along, and Pompey just breaks all kinds of things. He starts holding offices when he's too young to do so. He raises personal armies from his own wealth. He disobeys commands. He manipulates commands. He does all kinds of stuff. But in the end, he sides with the Senate when sort of forced. And finally, Caesar comes along, and Caesar's just shamelessly, no, it's about me.

Then Pompey comes along, and Pompey just breaks all kinds of things. He starts holding offices when he's too young to do so. He raises personal armies from his own wealth. He disobeys commands. He manipulates commands. He does all kinds of stuff. But in the end, he sides with the Senate when sort of forced. And finally, Caesar comes along, and Caesar's just shamelessly, no, it's about me.

I'm going to push it. And he is the one who wins a civil war against the state and Pompey, takes over Rome and says, now I'm going to be dictator. And dictator is a traditional office in the Roman state, but dictators were limited to no more than six months in power. And Caesar says, well, I'll be dictator for life, which of course is king. He gets killed for it. So Caesar

I'm going to push it. And he is the one who wins a civil war against the state and Pompey, takes over Rome and says, now I'm going to be dictator. And dictator is a traditional office in the Roman state, but dictators were limited to no more than six months in power. And Caesar says, well, I'll be dictator for life, which of course is king. He gets killed for it. So Caesar

I'm going to push it. And he is the one who wins a civil war against the state and Pompey, takes over Rome and says, now I'm going to be dictator. And dictator is a traditional office in the Roman state, but dictators were limited to no more than six months in power. And Caesar says, well, I'll be dictator for life, which of course is king. He gets killed for it. So Caesar