That’s a pretty staunch oversimplification. The republic was doing what almost all democratic republics are doing right now. The wage gap between the political elite and the common people was widening and the senate wanted status quo, but Julius Caesar was gaining popularity and large amounts of wealth by giving his soldiers better pay than most Roman commanders at the time and using there superior training to conquer Gaul and Spain.
Because of their pay, his soldiers were better trained, more loyal, and morale was kept high due in large part to his own fighting ability and tactical prowess. With each and every success on the battlefield he gained more followers. The Roman Senate grew jealous and thought he was a threat to the Roman way of life and exciled Caesar from the heart of the Roman empire. Caesar and his army could not cross the Rubicon River else he wage war with the empire itself. Caesar said, “F you guys, I’m taking over.” And installed himself as emperor of Rome after leading his army across the Rubicon and to the Roman Forum. He did alright for awhile, redistributing wealth and taking care of the Roman commonors but then the Roman elite started to do not so alright according to some conspirators and in turn decided Caesar should also not do alright, so they done killed him. Then his grand nephew Augustus took over as the “first emperor” 17 years later. And he did so alright that we collectively decided to name the month of August after him and July after his great uncle.
It’s an oversimplification for sure, however they had the very first actual republic in history (loosely based on Plato’s politeia, which translated to res publica in Latin).
The ‘ditching it for an empire’ was a gross oversimplification, I agree. Put it in there as there’s some sawing going on at the legs of the American republic, by those of nominally republican persuasion.
They kind of invented republicanism. Only to ditch it for emperors later on.
That’s a pretty staunch oversimplification. The republic was doing what almost all democratic republics are doing right now. The wage gap between the political elite and the common people was widening and the senate wanted status quo, but Julius Caesar was gaining popularity and large amounts of wealth by giving his soldiers better pay than most Roman commanders at the time and using there superior training to conquer Gaul and Spain.
Because of their pay, his soldiers were better trained, more loyal, and morale was kept high due in large part to his own fighting ability and tactical prowess. With each and every success on the battlefield he gained more followers. The Roman Senate grew jealous and thought he was a threat to the Roman way of life and exciled Caesar from the heart of the Roman empire. Caesar and his army could not cross the Rubicon River else he wage war with the empire itself. Caesar said, “F you guys, I’m taking over.” And installed himself as emperor of Rome after leading his army across the Rubicon and to the Roman Forum. He did alright for awhile, redistributing wealth and taking care of the Roman commonors but then the Roman elite started to do not so alright according to some conspirators and in turn decided Caesar should also not do alright, so they done killed him. Then his grand nephew Augustus took over as the “first emperor” 17 years later. And he did so alright that we collectively decided to name the month of August after him and July after his great uncle.
It’s an oversimplification for sure, however they had the very first actual republic in history (loosely based on Plato’s politeia, which translated to res publica in Latin).
The ‘ditching it for an empire’ was a gross oversimplification, I agree. Put it in there as there’s some sawing going on at the legs of the American republic, by those of nominally republican persuasion.
Thnx for the detailed write up, though.