Professor Catherine Steel

One of the interesting things about the politics at the very end of the Republic is after a period in which patricians don't seem to be disproportionately successful, if you look at who gets to the consulship in the 30 years between Sulla and the end of the Republic, there are a lot of men of patrician status.

One of the interesting things about the politics at the very end of the Republic is after a period in which patricians don't seem to be disproportionately successful, if you look at who gets to the consulship in the 30 years between Sulla and the end of the Republic, there are a lot of men of patrician status.

So something about the way that the sullen res publica felt and operated seems to have favored this particular ancient status. Anyway, there we have Caesar no longer flamandialis, having had a row with Sulla, so we're told, but actually not basically alienated from it. Because what does he do now that he's free of the obligation of being flamand? He goes off and he does some military service.

So something about the way that the sullen res publica felt and operated seems to have favored this particular ancient status. Anyway, there we have Caesar no longer flamandialis, having had a row with Sulla, so we're told, but actually not basically alienated from it. Because what does he do now that he's free of the obligation of being flamand? He goes off and he does some military service.

So something about the way that the sullen res publica felt and operated seems to have favored this particular ancient status. Anyway, there we have Caesar no longer flamandialis, having had a row with Sulla, so we're told, but actually not basically alienated from it. Because what does he do now that he's free of the obligation of being flamand? He goes off and he does some military service.

And the commanders he's serving under are all sullens, because at this point, everybody is.

And the commanders he's serving under are all sullens, because at this point, everybody is.

And the commanders he's serving under are all sullens, because at this point, everybody is.

Yes, military heroism. He gets a military decoration for rescuing a fellow citizen's life during the assault on Mytilene, which is part of the hangover of the campaigns against Mithridates. And it's at this point, isn't it, that he's captured by pirates. And so the story goes, he gets on terribly well with them and he's eventually ransomed.

Yes, military heroism. He gets a military decoration for rescuing a fellow citizen's life during the assault on Mytilene, which is part of the hangover of the campaigns against Mithridates. And it's at this point, isn't it, that he's captured by pirates. And so the story goes, he gets on terribly well with them and he's eventually ransomed.

Yes, military heroism. He gets a military decoration for rescuing a fellow citizen's life during the assault on Mytilene, which is part of the hangover of the campaigns against Mithridates. And it's at this point, isn't it, that he's captured by pirates. And so the story goes, he gets on terribly well with them and he's eventually ransomed.

And then he does what he says he was going to do, which is he comes back and he extirpates them. But as an act of charity, he has their throats slit before they are crucified. Now, this is a good story. It does various things about the Caesar myth, about the single-mindedness, the military ruthlessness, but also some strange sense that he's not actually a bloodthirsty man.

And then he does what he says he was going to do, which is he comes back and he extirpates them. But as an act of charity, he has their throats slit before they are crucified. Now, this is a good story. It does various things about the Caesar myth, about the single-mindedness, the military ruthlessness, but also some strange sense that he's not actually a bloodthirsty man.

And then he does what he says he was going to do, which is he comes back and he extirpates them. But as an act of charity, he has their throats slit before they are crucified. Now, this is a good story. It does various things about the Caesar myth, about the single-mindedness, the military ruthlessness, but also some strange sense that he's not actually a bloodthirsty man.

Because later on, when we get to the Civil War period between him and Pompey, one of the great aspects of Caesar's self-presentation is precisely his clementia, his mercy. Because when Civil War breaks out in 49, there is a real fear that the victory of either side will be accompanied by the kind of violence that accompanied Sulla's victory.

Because later on, when we get to the Civil War period between him and Pompey, one of the great aspects of Caesar's self-presentation is precisely his clementia, his mercy. Because when Civil War breaks out in 49, there is a real fear that the victory of either side will be accompanied by the kind of violence that accompanied Sulla's victory.

Because later on, when we get to the Civil War period between him and Pompey, one of the great aspects of Caesar's self-presentation is precisely his clementia, his mercy. Because when Civil War breaks out in 49, there is a real fear that the victory of either side will be accompanied by the kind of violence that accompanied Sulla's victory.

And in particular, there's real fear that if Pompey wins, he's the main military commander on the other side, he'll be a second Sulla. Because of course, Pompey really is a Sulla adherent through and through. And so Caesar definitely capitalizes on that in 49 by saying, well, I shall be merciful. My victory will not be accompanied by massive bloodshed.

And in particular, there's real fear that if Pompey wins, he's the main military commander on the other side, he'll be a second Sulla. Because of course, Pompey really is a Sulla adherent through and through. And so Caesar definitely capitalizes on that in 49 by saying, well, I shall be merciful. My victory will not be accompanied by massive bloodshed.

And in particular, there's real fear that if Pompey wins, he's the main military commander on the other side, he'll be a second Sulla. Because of course, Pompey really is a Sulla adherent through and through. And so Caesar definitely capitalizes on that in 49 by saying, well, I shall be merciful. My victory will not be accompanied by massive bloodshed.