About this episode

This episode discusses the events leading up to Caesar's Civil War, focusing on key political and military developments.

Part 1 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. The die is cast—Caesar crosses the Rubicon and plunges Rome into civil war. In this episode: The political crisis of 51-50 BCE as Caesar's enemies demand his recall from Gaul Curio's shocking defection and proposal that both Caesar and Pompey lay down arms The breakdown of negotiations and Pompey's fateful acceptance of command against Caesar His lightning campaign through Italy as cities surrender without a fight The siege of Corfinium and Caesar's revolutionary policy of clemency toward enemies Pompey's strategic retreat to Greece, abandoning Rome and splitting the Republic The brilliant Spanish campaign at Ilerda, showcasing Caesar's military genius The brutal siege of Marseille and Caesar's appointment as Dictator Caesar's own account reveals a man driven not by revolutionary ambition, but by wounded dignity and the desperate need to defend his honor against enemies who would destroy him through partisan prosecution. As Lucan wrote of this cosmic struggle: "Of civil wars and worse waged on Thessalian fields / Of crime made law we sing, how a powerful people / Turned on its own heart its conquering hand." The war that would transform…

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