CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT BETWEEN CÆSAR AND POMPEY; THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA [1]
Nē cōnfectō quidem bellō Gallicō, bellum cīvīle inter Caesarem et Pompēium exortum est. Nam Pompēius, quī summum imperium petēbat, senātuī persuāserat ut Caesarem reī pūblicae hostem iūdicāret et exercitum eius dīmittī iubēret. Quibus cognitīs rēbus Caesar exercitum suum dīmittere recūsāvit, atque, hortātus mīlitēs ut ducem totiēns victōrem ab inimīcōrum iniūriīs dēfenderent, imperāvit ut sē Rōmam sequerentur. Summā cum alacritāte mīlitēs pāruērunt, et trānsitō Rubicōne initium bellī cīvīlis factum est.
Italiae urbēs quidem omnēs ferē rēbus Caesaris favēbant et eum benignē excēpērunt. Quā rē commōtus Pompēius ante Caesaris adventum Rōmā excessit et Brundisium pervēnit, inde paucīs post diēbus cum omnibus cōpiīs ad Ēpīrum mare trānsiit. Eum Caesar cum septem legiōnibus et quīngentīs equitibus secūtus est, et īnsignis inter Caesaris comitātum erat Pūblius.
- nē … quidem: not even …
Nē cōnfectō quidem bellō Gallicō | literally: not even with the Gallic war having been finished
> Even before the Gallic War had been brought to an end …
[1] “Nē cōnfectō quidem … iubēret.”
[i] What happened before the Gallic War had ended? (1)
[ii] What were the reasons for this? (4)
[2] “Quibus cognitīs … factum est.”
[i] “Quibus cognitīs rēbus Caesar exercitum suum dīmittere recūsāvit”
Why would Caesar’s refusal be a challenge to Roman authority? (1) Refer also to the previous section.
[ii] How did Caesar encourage his soldiers?
[iii] How do we know that Caesar’s men were loyal? (1)
[iv] “trānsitō Rubicōne”
Do some research. Why is this action considered to be the start of the conflict? (6)
[3] “Italiae urbēs …Pūblius.
The following statements are untrue; correct them.
[i] All the towns of Italy favoured Caesar’s cause.
[ii] Caesar was kind to them.
[iii] Pompey left Rome when Caesar arrived.
[iv] Pompey marched from Brundisium to Epirus.
[v] Caesar followed him with seven legions and five thousand infantry.
____________________
[1]
[i] civil war broke out between Caesar and Pompey
[ii] Pompey wanted supreme power (1)
He persuaded the Senate (1) to declare Caesar an enemy of the state (1), and order his army to be disbanded (1)
[2]
[i] disobeying the orders of the Senate
[ii] urged them to defend their leader (1) against the injustices of his enemies (1); referred to his frequent victories (1)
[iii] they obeyed with the greatest enthusiasm
[iv] Suggested answer:
The Rubicon is a river (1) that marked the boundary between Cisalpine Gaul (1), a Roman province under Caesar’s command (1), and Italy under the direct authority of Rome (1).
Caesar could not legally bring his troops under arms across the river into Italy (1).
In doing so, he defied the orders of the Senate (1).
[v]
[i] almost all the towns of Italy …
[ii] they (the people in the towns) received him kindly
[iii] … before Caesar arrived
[iv] Pompey sailed from Brundisium …
[v] … five hundred cavalry
