The First Triumvirate
The First Triumvirate
The first triumvirate was and alliance between three prominent politicians, Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar. The Roman historian Livy described the First Triumvirate as 'a conspiracy against the state by its three leading citizens'. The agreement was unofficial and private. It was formed in the summer of 60-59 B.C. The first triumvirate however is a bit misleading in name. Not only was it never called that by the contemporary Romans, but it was a far more inclusive factio (faction) than the term triumvirate implies.
How and why the first triumvirate was created:
· Crassus and Pompey had been colleagues in the past, they shared consulship in 70 B.C. but never liked each other, and it was only through Julius Caesar that they came together.
· Each of members had great resources, Crassus had money, Pompey had influence and respect, and Caesar had diplomatic skills as well as the consulship in 59 B.C.
· The deal was solidified through marriage; Pompey marrying Julia, Caesars daughter and Caesar married Calpurnia whose father was a good friend of Crassus. Cato was not happy about this and as Plutarch wrote Cato exclaimed loudly against this, and protested, with a great deal of warmth, that it was intolerable the government should be prostituted by marriages'.
· It had been formed because of each member's hostility from other members in the senate, particularly from the optimtaes, who were led by Cato the younger.
Caesar:
He wanted to gain a large pro-consular command, instead of some insignificant part of the Roman Empire, which was the optimates plan.
Caesar was rapidly gaining power and influence. He had held the offices of military tribune, quaestor, aedile, pontifex maximus, and praetor. Then as propraetor he had been sent to Spain, where he laid the basis of his military fame. On his return from Spain the senate thwarted him in his desire to have a triumph. In other ways the senate embarrassed Caesar. But he was
The first triumvirate was and alliance between three prominent politicians, Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar. The Roman historian Livy described the First Triumvirate as 'a conspiracy against the state by its three leading citizens'. The agreement was unofficial and private. It was formed in the summer of 60-59 B.C. The first triumvirate however is a bit misleading in name. Not only was it never called that by the contemporary Romans, but it was a far more inclusive factio (faction) than the term triumvirate implies.
How and why the first triumvirate was created:
· Crassus and Pompey had been colleagues in the past, they shared consulship in 70 B.C. but never liked each other, and it was only through Julius Caesar that they came together.
· Each of members had great resources, Crassus had money, Pompey had influence and respect, and Caesar had diplomatic skills as well as the consulship in 59 B.C.
· The deal was solidified through marriage; Pompey marrying Julia, Caesars daughter and Caesar married Calpurnia whose father was a good friend of Crassus. Cato was not happy about this and as Plutarch wrote Cato exclaimed loudly against this, and protested, with a great deal of warmth, that it was intolerable the government should be prostituted by marriages'.
· It had been formed because of each member's hostility from other members in the senate, particularly from the optimtaes, who were led by Cato the younger.
Caesar:
He wanted to gain a large pro-consular command, instead of some insignificant part of the Roman Empire, which was the optimates plan.
Caesar was rapidly gaining power and influence. He had held the offices of military tribune, quaestor, aedile, pontifex maximus, and praetor. Then as propraetor he had been sent to Spain, where he laid the basis of his military fame. On his return from Spain the senate thwarted him in his desire to have a triumph. In other ways the senate embarrassed Caesar. But he was