5018. Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, came to Caesar to complain to him about his father's misfortune. For, by siding with Caesar he was poisoned by Pompey's side. His brother was beheaded by Scipio. Antigonus wanted Caesar to have pity on him since he was expelled from his father's kingdom. He likewise accused Hyrcanus and Antipater that they by force had taken over the government. They did not hold back from wronging him. He also accused them that they sent help into Egypt to Caesar not so much for good will but for fear of the ancient animosity and that they might be freed from punishment for their loyalty to Pompey. However, Antipater pleaded his own cause and justified himself and accused Antigonus. He recalled what work he had taken for Caesar in the last wars. He showed the number of his wounds and made them the witness of the truth of his words. When Caesar heard this, he made Hyrcanus the high priest and offered Antipater any government he asked and made him governor of Judea. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 8., Antiq. l. 14. c. 15.}
5019. Caesar also decreed that Hyrcanus and his children should in perpetuity retain the government and high priesthood of the Jews, according to the custom of the country and he was taken into the number of his friends and allies. If there arose any controversy concerning the discipline of the Jews, Hyrcanus should decide it. Moreover, he would not be forced to quarter soldiers in winter nor would he pay taxes. A brazen table containing these things was to be erected in the capitol and in the temples at Tyre, Sidon and Askelon. It was engraved in Latin and Greek. These decrees were to be sent into all places. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 14. c. 17.}
5020. After Caesar had stayed in almost all the cities of Syria that were of any note, he distributed both publicly and privately rewards to them that deserved them. He was made aware of and settled old controversies. Also kings and tyrants, governors of the provinces and borders, (who all came to him) he took under his protection on conditions he imposed on them for the keeping and defending of the provinces. He dismissed his friends and the friends of the people of Rome. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
5021. Caesar took away at Tyre all the things that were dedicated to Hercules, because they had entertained Pompey and his wife in their flight. {Dio, l. 42.}
5022. After some days had been spent in the province of Syria, he gave the command of the legions and Syria to Sextus Caesar, his friend and relative. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} Dio wrote that he committed all things to the charge of Sextus, his treasurer and cousin. {Dio, l. 47.} Appian stated that there was a legion left in Syria by him even when he was thinking of the Parthian war. The honour of governor was granted to his relative, Sextus Julius who was a young man. {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 573., l. 4. p. 923.}
5023. After Caesar had ordered the affairs in Syria, he went to Cilicia in the same fleet that he came in. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.} {Josephus, Antiq. l. 14. c. 16.} He called all the cities of which province to him to Tarsus. There he ordered all things concerning the province and the neighbouring cities. He did not stay there long because he wanted to settle the war in Pontus. {Hirtius, de bell. Alexandrin.}
5024. Here he pardoned Tarcondimotus (of whom mention is made formerly, {Cicero, Letters to his Friends, l. 15.}) who had a part of Cilicia under him and had greatly helped Pompey by sea. {Dio, l. 41.}
5025. After Antipater had followed Caesar from Syria, he returned into Judea. As he was making his rounds through the province, he repressed by threats and advice those who were rebellious. He told them that if they would be content with their prince Hyrcanus, they would live happily in their own land. If they thought they could do better by rebelling, they would have him as master instead of a governor and Hyrcanus a tyrant instead of a king and Caesar and the Romans would be most bitter enemies instead of princes. Because of this they would not at all allow anything to be changed from what they had settled. When as Antipater knew that Hyrcanus was dull and idle, he settled the state of the province as he pleased and truly made Phasaclus, his older son, the governor of Jerusalem and the neighbouring countries. He gave the care of Galilee to Herod who was his second oldest son and a very young man. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 8., Antiq., l. 14. c. 16, 17.}
5026. Josephus stated that Herod was only 15 years old at that time. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 14. c. 17.} The following references retain the same number. {Rusinus in his translation of Josephus} {Photius, Bibliotheca, cod. 258.} {Pseudogoronides the Hebrew, l. 5. c. 3.} {Nicephorus Calistus, Ecclesiast. Histor. l. 1. c. 6.} However, the first historians, Ptolemy and Nicholas Damascenus, who wrote of Herod, from whom Josephus took his information, wrote 25 instead of 15. It is an easy mistake for the transcribers to confuse kefor ie. It was 43 and an half years from this time to the death of Herod. If we add 25 years to this we get his age at death of 68 and an half years. If he had lived six months longer, he would have been in his 70th year. Josephus himself acknowledges, that when he was dying that he was almost in his 70th year.
5027. Phasaclus had a son born whom was called also Phasaclus by his wife Salampsio, the daughter of Herod and Mariame. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 7.} He was only 7 years old when his father died. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 14. c. 25.}
5028. Pharnaces planned an expedition against Asander who had revolted from him in the Bosphorus. When he heard that Caesar was coming quickly into Armenia, he was terrified and more afraid of Caesar who led the invasion than of his army. He sent many ambassadors to treat for peace before Caesar marched too close to him. He hoped that by any means, he might avoid this immediate danger. He made this his main pretence that he had never helped Pompey. He also hoped that he might induce Caesar to some peace terms because he was hurrying into Italy and Africa. Then after his departure, he might renew his planned war. Caesar suspected as much and courteously entertained his first and second ambassadors so that he might take him by surprise while he was still hoping for peace. {Dio, l. 42.}
5029. Caesar made long marches through Cappadocia and stayed two days at Mazace. Then he came to Comana, the most ancient temple of Bellona (goddess of war) in Cappadocia. She was worshipped with such great devotion that her priest was considered by the whole country second only to the king in majesty, command and power. {Strabo, l. 12. p. 535.} Caesar decreed this priesthood on Nicomedes of Bithynia who was a most noble man and of the family of the Cappadocian kings. He recovered the right that was undoubtedly his, although it was long interrupted. {Hirtius} Although Caesar confirmed the commands which they had received from Pompey to others who had taken part with Pompey against him, he transferred the priesthood of the Comanians from Archelaus to Nicomedes. {Appian, in Mithridaticus, p. 254.} Pompey had given it to his father Archelaus, the husband of Cleopatra's elder sister, who was killed in Egypt by Gabinius. {Strabo, l. 12. p. 558.}
5030. When Caesar came close to Pontus and the borders of Galatia, Dejotarus the tetrarch of Galatia came to Caesar. He claimed the state of Armenia the Less which the senate had granted to him but was disputed by the rest of the tetrarchs who said it never belonged to him by law or custom. Dejotarus set aside his royal robes and dressed like a common man who was guilty. He fell prostrate at Caesar's feet and begged his pardon in that he had served in Cn. Pompey's army. He made the excuse that he did not know what was happening in Italy and that he was forced to do this because he was surrounded by Pompey's armies. Caesar rejected his excuse but he said he would grant him his request for his former benefit, for his old acquaintance and friendship's sake, for the dignity and age of the man and at the intreaty of many of Dejotarus' friends and acquaintances who came to intercede on his behalf. Caesar said that he would later decide the controversies of the tetrarchs and he restored his royal robes to him. However, he ordered the Dejotarus' legion brought to him. Dejotarus had formed it from his own men who were trained up in the Roman discipline. Caesar also wanted all his cavalry to be brought to him to serve him in the Pontic war. {Appian, in Mithridaticus, p. 254.} Caesar fined his old acquaintance Dejotarus a sum of money and gave Armenia the Less, that was given to Dejotarus by the senate and currently occupied by Pharnaces, to Ariobarzanes, the king of Cappadocia. {Cicero, in Orat. Philippic. 2. de divination. l. 1. & 2.} {Dio, l. 41.}
5031. Cicero made a speech for that king that Domitius paid his fine by two or three times selling his own private goods at a public sale. Caesar could then use the money in the war. Also to gain Caesar's favour, he told Caesar this about the matter:
``What he keeps by your means, he keeps in memory, not what he lost. Neither does he think that he was punished by you but since he thought that many things were to be given by you to many men, he did not refuse but that you might take some from him who was on the other side. &c. Oh Caesar, you have given all things to Dejotarus since you have granted the name of king even to his son. As long as he retains and keeps this name, he thinks that no favour of the people of Rome nor any sentence of the senate made in his favour, is diminished.''
5032. When Caesar was come into Pontus, he made a rendezvous of all his forces into one place. They were varied in number and in martial discipline except the 6th legion which was a veteran legion that he had brought with him from Alexandria. (However, through the labours and hazards they had undergone, they were so undermanned because of difficulties both by sea and land and partly by frequent skirmishes that they were under a thousand men.) The rest were three legions, one was from Dejotarus and two were in the battle that Cnidius Domitius had with Pharnaces. {Hirtius}
5033. Pharnaces was frightened by the approach of Caesar and sent ambassadors to treat for peace. They brought a golden crown to him when he was 25 miles away and very foolishly offered him their king's daughter in marriage. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 484.} First of all, they begged that he would not come as an enemy for Pharnaces would do whatever he would order him to. They especially reminded him that Pharnaces had sent no forces to Pompey against Caesar whereas Dejotarus who had sent some troops, was received into Caesar's favour. Caesar replied that he would be very favourable to Pharnaces if he would do all things as he promised. However, he advised the ambassadors in mild terms as was his custom that they should neither object about Dejotarus to him or too much brag of that favour that they had not sent help to Pompey. {Hirtius} He also accused Pharnaces for this very thing that he had been wicked and ungrateful toward his benefactor. {Dio. l. 41, 42.} In summing up, he ordered him to get out of Pontus and that he should send back the families of the publicans. He should restore to him the allies and citizens of Rome who were in his possession. If he would do this, Caesar said that he would then accept those presents which the generals were accustomed to receive from their friends after a war was happily ended. {Hirtius}
5034. Pharnaces liberally promised all things and he hoped that Caesar would want to hurry to Rome and that he would more willingly believe his promises. He began to go more slowly about his business and to ask for more time for his departure and to interpose new conditions and in short to disappoint Caesar. Caesar knew his craft and hurried his business so much the more so that he would come to fight with him sooner than anyone would think. {Hirtius}
5035. As soon as Caesar came to Pharnaces' camp, he said, "Shall not now this parricide (murderer of parents) be punished?" He mounted his horse and at the first shout that was given, he routed the enemy and made a great slaughter. Caesar was helped by 1000 cavalry that followed him when he first rushed into the battle. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 485.} {Dio, l. 42} The same day that Caesar came to the enemy after his march, he went to fight with the enemy. He was sometimes troubled with the enemy's cavalry and their chariots armed with scythes. Caesar finally obtained the victory. Julius Frontinus {Julius Frontinus, Stratagemat. l. 2. c. 2.} noted that Caesar marshalled his army on an hill and this made for an easier victory. The arrows that were shot from above on the barbarians below, made them quickly flee. Dejotarus was in the battle with Caesar against Pharnaces and risked his life. {Cicero, pro Dejotarus}
5036. This battle was fought around the mountain Scotium which is not more than three miles from the city of Zela. It was near here that Mithridates, the father of Pharnaces, defeated Triarius and the Roman army with a great slaughter. {Hirtius} {Plutarch, in Caesar} {Appian, in Mithridatic. p. 254} {Dio, l. 42.} In this mountain, Pharnaces (that we many represent the story of this fight more accurately from Hirtius) had repaired the old works of his father's camp five miles from the enemy so that he might control the valleys that were next to the king's camp. The next night in the fourth watch, Caesar left his camp with all his legions but without any baggage and captured that very place where Mithridates had fought against Triarius.
5037. As soon as it was day and Pharnaces knew this, he drew out all his forces before his camp. They were encouraged either by the good fortune Mithridates had in that place or were persuaded by tokens and ceremonies (which we later heard he did obey, stated Hirtius) or through contempt of the fewness of the Roman forces. Many of these had already been defeated under Domitius. Pharnaces, of his own accord in an uneven place attacked the Romans as they were fortifying their camp and terrified them. They were suddenly called from their work and not set in battle array. The king's chariots that were armed with scythes created chaos among the soldiers. However, the chariots were quickly overcome by a huge number of arrows. The main body of the enemy followed these chariots and fought hand to hand. They were overcome first in the right wing where the 6th old veteran legion was placed. Then the left wing and the main body were the whole forces of the king were routed. Many of the soldiers were either killed or trampled by their own men. Those who thought to escape by their swiftness, threw away their arms and crossed the valley. They were met by the Romans coming from the higher ground and perished. The Romans were encouraged by this victory and did not hesitate to climb up that steep place and attacked their works and quickly captured the enemy's camp from those cohorts whom Pharnaces had left to defend it. {Idem}
5038. By this, Caesar ground into the dust Pharnaces in one (and as I may say) not a whole battle like lightning which in one moment, came, hit and departed. Neither was it a vain boast of Caesar's that he had overcome the enemy before he set eyes on him. {Florus, l. 4. c. 2.} Caesar bragged also that the same day he came to the enemy that he saw him and overcame him. {Dio, l. 42.} He wrote in his letters sent to Rome to his friend Aminitius or Anitius, these three words: "VENI, VIDI, VICI," "I came, I saw, I conquered." {Plutarch, in Caesar} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 485.} Within five days after his arrival and within four hours after he came in sight of him, he had vanquished Pharnaces in only one battle. {Suetonius, Julio, Caesar., c. 35.} He often recounted the good luck of Pompey, who happened to get his most honour in the Mithridatic war over so cowardly a kind of enemy. {Plutarch, in Caesar} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 485.}
5039. Pharnaces fled with a few cavalry after the whole multitude of his army was either killed or captured. When the Romans invaded his camp, it gave him an opportunity to escape. Otherwise he would have been brought alive into Caesar's hands. {Hirtius} He fled to Sinope with 1000 cavalry. {Appian, Mithridatic., p. 254.}
5040. Caesar was overjoyed that he had ended so major a war in so short a time. In recalling the sudden danger, he was the more joyous because the victory came so easily after many difficulties. {Hirtius} Caesar gave the soldiers, all the king's baggage and the spoils even though they were considerable. {Appian, Mithridatic., p. 254.} {Dio, l. 42} In that place, Mithridates had set up a monument for the victory he had over Triarius. Since it was consecrated to the gods, it was not lawful for Caesar to pull it down. He set up one opposite it for his victory over Pharnaces and so obscured it and in a way threw down that monument which Mithridates had set up. After this, he recovered all the things that Pharnaces had taken from the Romans or their allies. He restored to everyone the things they had lost except a part of Armenia which he gave to Ariobarzanes and requited the calamity that the Amiseni endured by giving them their liberty. {Dio, l. 42} He ordered the sixth legion to go to Italy to receive the rewards and honours due to them. He sent home the supplies that Dejotarus had brought. He left the two other legions in Pontus with Coelius Vinicianus. He passed through Galatia and Bithynia into Asia. He took notice and settled all the controversies of all those provinces and gave laws to tetrarchs, kings and cities. {Hirtius}
5041. As he passed through Asia, he collected the money which raised great anger against the publicans who secretly exacted it among all the people. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 485.} (P. Servilius Isauricus the colleague of Caesar and Cicero in the Augurship, was proconsul there. {Cicero, Letters to his Friends, l. 13. epist. 68.})
5042. Brithagoras was a man of great authority among the Heracleenses in Pontus and had followed Caesar wherever he went. He even went to this place again for a matter that concerned his countrymen. When Caesar was preparing to return to Rome, Brithagoras died being worn out with old age and continual labours to the great sorrow of his countrymen. {Memnon, in excerptis Photii., c. 62.}
5043. Caesar made Mithridates Pergamenus, the king of Bosphorus, (who had carried on the war in Egypt to a good conclusion and very quickly.) He was of the family of the kings and had a royal education. Mithridates, the king of all Asia, had taken him away from Pergamos when he was only a child and carried him into his camp and kept him for many years. By Caesar's action, he so strengthened the provinces of the people of Rome against the barbarians and enemy kings by putting in a king over them that was most friendly to them. {Hirtius} Concerning this man see {Strabo, l. 13. p. 625.} {Causabon's notes} {Appian, in Mithridatic. p. 254.}
5044. He ordered Mithridates to make war upon Asander and become the master of Bosphorus so that he might revenge Asander's treachery against his friend. {Dio, l. 42.} Caesar also granted him the tetrarchy of the Trochmans, in Galatia, who bordered on Pontus and Cappadocia. This belonged to him by his mother's right but was seized and in the possession for some years previously by Dejotarus. {Cicero, in Philip, 2., de divinat. 2.} {Hirtius, de bell. Alexand.} {Strabo. l. 12. p. 567., l. 13. p. 625.} {Dio, l. 42.}
5045. After this, Caesar sailed into Greece and Italy. He raised large sums of money under any pretence whatever as he had done previously. He exacted some money that had previously been promised to Pompey. He feigned other excuses to raise money also. He also received from the princes and kings, many golden crowns, as it were in honour of the victories he had achieved. He declared that there were two things by which empires were obtained, retained and increased: soldiers and money. One helped the other and that if one of them failed the other must also fail. {Dio. l. 42.}
``It does not seem that he was at Athens on the first of September, (Julian June 17th) for many things were reported to detain him in Asia, especially Pharnaces. {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 11. epist. 24.} However, Pharnaces was so suddenly conquered, (as it is in the epitome of {Livy, l. 115.}) and all things so quickly settled, that he came to Italy sooner than anyone imagined.''
5046. as Hirtius observes. {Hirtius, Alexandrian war, fin}
5047. Caesar came to Rome just at the end of the year when he was made dictator. (This office had never been an annual office.) He was declared consul for the next year. {Plutarch, in Caesar}
5048. Pharnaces turned over Synope to Domitius Calvinus who was left by Caesar to continue the war against him. He accepted the peace terms and dismissed him with his 1000 cavalry. Calvinus killed their horses which grieved their owners. From their Pharnaces sailed {Appian, in Mithridatic, p. 254.} and fled into Pontus. Appian {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 485.} stated that Pharnaces fled back into the kingdom of Bosphorus that was given to him by Pompey.
5049. Herod, the prefect of Galilee, captured Hezekiah, a Jew, with many accomplices of his thievery, who were accustomed to invade Syria with his bands. Herod put him to death and this gained him much favour with the Syrians. Then he governed the province of Syria. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 8., Antiq. l. 14. c. 17.}
5050. Phasaelus, was jealous of his brother's glory, and got himself into the favour of the inhabitants of Jerusalem by doing all public business personally and not abusing his power to harm anyone. By this, it came to pass that Antipater, his father, was reverenced by the whole country as if he had been the king. However his fidelity and goodwill which he owed to Hyrcanus, was maintained. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 8., Antiq. l. 14. c. 17.}
3958a AM, 4667 JP, 47 BC
5051. Caesar undertook an expedition against P. Scipio, the father-in-law of Pompey the Great, M. Cato, and Juba, the king of Mauritania. On the 13th day before January, he came to Lilybaeum. From there, on the 5th day before January, he sailed and after four days came within sight of Africa. {Hirtius, de Bell. African., l. 1.} The 13th day before January was on the Julian September 30th. This was the year before the institution of the new calendar, as the counting backwards from the long following year of 445 days made in the month of January, the first Julian year. (as will be shown later) Plutarch and Dio did not note this fact. Plutarch stated that Caesar crossed into Sicilia about the winter solstice, {Plutarch, in Caesar} and Dio said that he went into Africa in the middle of winter. {Dio, l. 43.} However, that he went into Africa before winter was clearly affirmed by Cicero. {Cicero, de divination., l. 2.}
``When Caesar was advised that he should not go into Africa before winter, did he not go? No, if he had not gone, all the forces of his adversaries would have made their rendezvous in one place.''
5052. On the first of January, (Julian October 13th) Caesar camped at a town called Ruspina. On January 4th, (Julian October 16th) the third day that he landed in Africa, there was a most fierce battle which lasted from five o'clock in the morning until sunset. Caesar defeated Labienus and Petreius. On the 5th day before February, (Julian November 6th) he again defeated the enemy's army under the command of Labienus and Scipio. {Hirtius, de Bell. African., l. 1.}
5053. Dio {Dio, l. 42.} noted that Pharnaces tried by force to enter into Bosphorus and was cast into prison and put to death by Asander. Appian gives more details. {Appian, Mithridatics, p. 254.} Thus Pharnaces had gathered together a band of Scythians and Sarmatians and captured Theudocia and Panticapeum. When he made war on Asander, his cavalry men who had no horses and were not used to fighting on foot, were defeated. Pharnaces fought valiantly even though he was now 50 years old. He was wounded and killed. He had reigned fifteen years in Bosphorus, as Appian has it, or rather seventeen years. That time is the time from the murder of his father Mithridates.
5054. Caecilius Bassus was an equestrian who fled from the battle of Pharsalus after Pompey was defeated. He lived as a private citizen at Tyre, where some of his own side came to him. He won the favour of these men and the soldiers of Sextus, the governor of Syria. These came at various times to guard the city. Since there was much news brought of Caesar's ill fortune in Africa, he became discontent and tried to instigate a revolt. Sextus arrested him for this before he was completely ready. Bassus excused himself by saying that he only raised forces to help Mithridates Pergamenus to capture Bosphorus. So Sextus believed him and let him go. {Dio, l. 47.}
5055. The noble men of the Jews began to detest Antipater and his sons because they were so highly honoured by the Jewish nation and became rich by the money from Hyrcanus and by the revenues from Judea. Antipater made friendship with the Roman generals and by persuaded Hyrcanus to send money to them. He got the credit for this gift as if he had sent it from his own treasury and had not received it from Hyrcanus. When Hyrcanus heard about this, he was not angry but rather contented. However the violence and bold nature of Herod, who was desirous of the government, terrified the princes of the Jews the most. For this reason, they went to Hyrcanus and publicly accused Antipater. They complained most of all of Herod because he had put to death Hezekiah along with many others without any order received from Hyrcanus. This was in contempt of the laws by which no man was punished no matter how wicked unless he was first condemned by the judges. Everyday the mothers also of those who were killed, did not stop complaining and crying in the temple and persuaded both the king and the people that Herod should give an account of his actions before the Sanhedrim. Therefore Hyrcanus yielded to their requests and ordered that Herod be summoned before the council and to plead his own case. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.}
5056. When Herod had arranged the affairs of Galilee as he thought best for himself, he was warned by his father that he should not go into the counsel alone. He should take with him a moderate but sufficient guard, lest he should terrify Hyrcanus if he brought too many. Neither should he leave himself exposed to any danger from the judgment. When Herod presented himself before the Sanhedrim in his royal robes with his guard in arms, they were all astonished. Neither dared anyone who accused him when he was absent, speak a word against him when he was present. All kept silence not knowing what to do. Then Sameas spoke who was one of the council. He was a just man and for this reason not afraid for that old proverb of the Hebrews showed that he was no hot spirited man.
``Be thou humble as Hillel, and not !dpq angry as Sameas''
5057. He accused Herod of presumption and violence but laid the blame on the judges and the king himself, who had granted him such great liberty. He said later that by the just judgment of God, they would be punished by Herod himself. This actually happened for the judges of that council and Hyrcanus were put to death by Herod when he was king. When Hyrcanus saw that the judges were inclined to condemn Herod, he deferred the business until the next day. He privately advised him to take care of himself. So Herod left for Damascus as though he fled from the king. He presented himself before Sextus Caesar. After he had secured his own affairs, Herod professed publicly that if he were again cited before the judges, he would not appear. The judges took this with great disdain and tried to persuade Hyrcanus that all these things would be his downfall. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.}
3958b AM, 4668 JP, 46 BC
5058. When Caesar was in Africa, 11 days before April (Julian October 21st) he mustered his army. The next day he brought out all his forces and set them in battle array. After he had waited long enough for his enemies to come to battle, he knew they were not willing to fight, so he brought his forces into their camp again. {Hirtius, de bell. Afric.}
5059. Caecilius Bassus stated from the letters that he forged that he had received news from Scipio that Caesar was defeated and dead in Africa and that the government of Syria was committed to his charge. Therefore with those soldiers he had secured for that purpose, he seized Tyre and from there marched toward Sextus' forces. He was wounded and defeated and after that did not try to take Sextus by force. {Dio, l. 47.}
5060. On the 4th of April, (Julian February 4th) in the third watch of the night, Caesar left the town Agar and marched 16 miles that night. He began to fortify Thapsus that day. Here he had a famous battle and defeated Juba and Scipio. After this battle, Cato committed suicide in Utica. {Hirtius, de bell. Afric.}
5061. When Sextus Caesar had been bribed by Herod, he made him the governor of Coelosyria. Herod was quite upset that he was called before the council and led an army against Hyrcanus. However, by the meeting and intreaties of his father Antipater and brother Phasaelus, he was prevented from invading Jerusalem. They tried to appease him and desired that he should be content with giving them a good fright and do them no harm. He should do no more and obey his father who had given him his power and government. Herod obeyed this advice and thought that he had done sufficient for his future plans and that he had shown the country he was a force to be reckoned with. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.}
5062. In Africa, Caesar is reported to have seen in his sleep, a great army calling to him and weeping. He was so moved by this dream that he immediately recorded it into his books of remembrances concerning the building of Carthage and Corinth. {Appian, in Lybicus. p. 85.}
5063. Hyrcanus, through his ambassadors, desired that Julius Caesar would confirm the alliance and friendship that was between them. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.}
5064. Caecilius Bassus sent some of his party to Sextus Caesar's soldiers who should raise their hopes and so ally themselves to him. After they had killed Sextus, they had his own legion come over to his side. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.} {Livy, l. 114.} {Libo. apud Appian, Civil Wars, l. 3. p. 576.} {Dio, l. 47.} However, this story is reported by others like this. Sextus was a young man and liked pleasure. He poorly treated the legion that Julius Caesar had left in Syria for him. Bassus, to whom the care of the legion was committed, reprehended him for this. Sometimes Sextus reproachfully rejected this advice. One time later when Sextus ordered Bassus to come, he slowly obeyed. Sextus ordered him to be brought by head and shoulders. In this tumult, the two started fighting. When the army could not endure this insolence any longer, they killed Sextus with their arrows. They were soon sorry for what they had done and were afraid of Caesar. They made a conspiracy that if they received no pardon and good assurance of it, they would fight it out to the last man. They also forced Bassus to join the conspiracy. After this, they raised a new company and trained them in the same discipline that they kept. {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 575, 576., l. 4. p. 613.}
5065. Bassus took over all the army, except a few who had wintered at Apamea who had left for Cilicia before his arrival. He in vain followed them there. When he returned to Syria, he was nominated praetor and fortified Apamea that he might make that the seat of the war. He enlisted all for the war who were of full age both freemen and servants. He minted money and made arms. {Dio, l. 47.}
5066. When Caesar had finished the African war on June 13th (Julian April 14th), he sailed from Utica. After the third day he came to Carales into Sardinia. Two days before July, (Julian April 29th) he went by ship near the shore. On the 28th day after (Julian May 26th) because he was hindered by storms, he came to the city of Rome. {Hirtius, in bell. Africa, in fin.}
5067. Caesar triumphed at Rome four times in the same month with a few days between each triumph. Each one displayed different equipment and provisions. {Suetonius, in Julio, c. 37.} The chariot for Gaul, was made of the citron tree, for Pontus, of brazel, for Alexandria, of tortoise shell, and for Africa, ivory. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 56.} In the Pontic triumph among the pageants and shows, he carried before him the title of these three words, "VENI, VIDI, VICI." "I came, I saw, I conquered" This did not signify the acts achieved by him like other conquerors, but the quick execution of this war. {Suetonius, in Julio, c. 37.} In this, the flight of Pharnaces made the people laugh. The Alexandrian triumph for Egypt was held between the Gallic and the Pontic ones. In it the actions of Achillas and Photinus were very plausibly presented. (??) {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 491.} Arsinoe, the Egyptian woman and at that time considered a queen, was led among the captives. (This had never happened at Rome before.) This raised much pity in the people for her. After the triumph as a favour to her relatives, she was released. {Dio. l. 43.}
5068. Her family, that is her older sister Cleopatra and younger brother Ptolemy, the husband of Cleopatra, came to Rome this year when Caesar invited them. Caesar appointed Cleopatra her lodging in his own house, and sent her away with great honours and rewards and did not care at all for the gossip he created by this. {Dio, l. 43.} {Suetonius, in Julio. c. 52.} Also in the temple of Venus Genetrix, which he built for a vow he made as the battle of Pharsalus was being fought (Dio confirmed it was dedicated this year by him), Caesar set up an image of Cleopatra beside Venus. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 492.}
5069. In Syria, C. Antistius (Vetus) and others from Caesar's captains, came against Caecilius Bassus with cavalry and foot soldiers. He besieged him in Apamea. The neighbouring countries that favoured Caesar's party sent forces to help. Antipater sent forces by his sons as well for the sake of Sextus Caesar who was killed and Julius Caesar who was alive because he was a friend to both of them. They fought for a long time to no ones' advantage. A truce was made with no articles or covenants. They suspended the war to bring in more auxiliaries. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1 c. 8. fin., Antiq., l. 14. c. 17. fin.} {Dio, l. 47.}
5070. Mithridates Pergamenus again plundered the temple of Lencothea (in the country of the Moschi near the Phases River) which was previously plundered by Pharnaces. {Strabo, l. 11. p, 498.} Like Pharnaces before him, he tried to seize Bosphorus. Asander (referred to by Strabo as Calander and Lysander) defeated him and so when he had eliminated both of them, Asander quietly enjoyed the kingdom of Bosphorus. {Strabo, l. 11. p. 495., l. 13. p. 625.}
5071. When Julius Caesar was high priest in his third year and in the consulship of M. Aemihus Lepidus, he ordered the amendment of the Roman year. He had the help of Sosigenes in astronomical matters and of Flarius, a scribe, in arranging the calendar. There were 23 days intercalated in the month of February. He interposed between November and December, two other intercalary months of 67 days. So that this year had 15 months or 445 days. {Censorinus de dic. natali. c. 8.} {Suetonius, in Julio. c. 40.} {Pliny l. 18. c. 25.} {Dio, l. 43.} {Macrob., Saturnal. l. 1. c. 14.}
3959a AM, 4668 JP, 46 BC
5072. The day before the former intercalary months (Julian September 26th), Cicero made a speech before Caesar for Q. Ligarius. {Cicero, Letters to his Friends, l. 6. epist. 14.}
3959b AM, 4669 JP, 45 BC
5073. From the month of January, when Caesar started his fourth consulship, the year is reckoned as the first of the new Julian year. From this time, he appointed the beginning of the year as decreed by him. {Censorin., de dic. natali. c. 8.}
5074. Caesar made war in Spain with Pompey's sons, 10 days before March and captured the town of Aregna. He was called emperor when the Liberalia (as it is called by {Plutarch, in Caesar}) were celebrated fifteen days before the month of April (as is shown from the old calendar.) He achieved a memorable victory at the city Munda when in the battle 30,000 men on Pompey's side along with the two generals, Labienus and Atius Varus and almost 3000 equestrians were killed. Caesar lost about 1000 men and had about 500 wounded. After his young Cn. Pompey was killed who assumed the ensigns of the consul and the government, his head was presented to Caesar as he was marching to Hispales. This was on April 12th and the head was publicly shown to the people. {Author, commentaries de bell. Hispaniensi.}
5075. The day before the Palilia, (11 days before May) about evening the news of this victory came to Rome. (Dio. l. 43.) The day before May, Caesar wrote a consolatory letter from Hispalis to M. Cicero {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 23. epist. 20.} for the death of his daughter, Tullia. After the divorce of her mother Terentia, she died at P. Lentulus' house in childbirth {Ascon. Pedian. in orat. Pisonian} {Plutarch, in Cicero} when her husband, P. Cornilius Dolabella, was in Spain with Caesar. {Cicero, ad Attic., Philippic. 2. l. 13.}
5076. Caius Octavian, the grandchild of his sister, Julia, accompanied Caesar in this war. He was 18 years old and always stayed in the same house with Caesar and always rode in the same coach with him. Caesar honoured this lad with the high priesthood. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 59.}
5077. When King Dejotarus was in some trouble, he sent Blesanius, his ambassador, to Spain to Caesar. Caesar, by letters sent to him from Tarracon, bid him be of good hope and good courage. {Cicero, pro Dejotarus}
5078. While the war in Syria with Caecilius Bassus was going on, L. Statius (in Velleius he was called, Staius, and in Appian, Sextius) Murcus (incorrectly called by Josephus, Marcus) who was a former praetor was sent by Julius Caesar as the successor to Sextus. He left Italy with three companies and was valiantly defeated by Bassus. (Velleius Patercius, l. 2. c. 69.} {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 8. fin., Antiq. l. 14. c. 17. fin.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 576., l. 4. p. 623.} The country had well furnished the army of Bassus. He also had many Arabian princes who were allied with him in this war. These controlled many fortified places that were near by. Among these places, was Lysias which was located beyond the lake which is near to Apamea and Arethusa, the country of Sampseranus and of his Iamblycus. {of whom Cicero mentioned in {Cicero, Letters to his Friends, l. 15. epist. 1.}) These princes governed the countries of the Emisseni, Heliopolis and Chalcis. Also there were near those who were under the command of Ptolemy, the son of Mennaeus, who also governed Marsya and the mountainous places of the Ituraeans. {Strabo, l. 26, p. 753.}
5079. Alchaudonius, the Arabian (called Alchaedamus by Strabo) was the king of the Rhambaean nomads who lived near the Euphrates River. They had formerly made a league with Lucullus but later had sent forces to the Parthians against Crassus. Both Bassus and his enemies appealed to them for help. Alchaudonius went into Mesopotamia. When he came to a place that was between Apamea and the camp of Caesar's supporters, before he would answer either side, he proposed that he would help those who gave him the most. In the battle he greatly over powered the enemy by his archery. {Strabo, l. 26, p. 753.} {Dio, l. 47.}
5080. On the 13th of September, Caesar made his last will and testament in his own house at Laticum and committed it to the keeping of the head vestal virgin. In it he appointed three grandchildren of his sister's, as his heirs. C. Octavian received 75% (not 50% as it is in {Livy, l. 116.}), Lucius Pinarius and Q. Pedius received 25%. He also adopted C. Octavian into his name and family. He named also many of his murderers as tutors to his sons if he should happen to have any. He appointed also Decimus Brutus to be one of his second heirs in remainder {Suetonius, in Julio. c. 83.} and M. Antony {Dio, l. 44.} {Florus, l. 4. c. 4.} if those formerly appointed could not take the inheritance. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 518.}
3960a AM, 4669 JP, 45 BC
5081. In the month of October, Caesar who had now conquered all, entered Rome and pardoned all who fought against him. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 56.} After he had performed the triumph for Spain, in the beginning of this month, he retired from the consulship. He instituted a new order by substituting honourary consuls. He made Q. Fabius Maximus and C. Trebonius the consuls for three months. {Dio, l. 43.} {Gruteri, cum inscript. p. 298. init.} The former of whom had been consul and triumphed for Spain on October 13th. {Gruteri, p. 297.} Thereupon, when Chrysippus had seen in the triumph of Caesar, the ivory towns carried before him and a few days later the wooden ones of Fabius Maximus, he said they were but the cases for Caesar's towns. {Quintilian, l. 6. c. 4.}
5082. Very many and great honours were decreed by the senate to Caesar. He was declared to be the perpetual dictator {Livy, l. 116.} and he was called emperor. {Suetonius, in Julius, c. 76.} This was not in the sense in which both before and after, it was given to generals for any victory they had obtained in the wars. This signified the highest power and authority in the state {Dio, l. 43.} for it was granted to him that he alone should have soldiers and the command of the militia. He alone should take charge of the public money and that it should be lawful for no other to make use of either of these. All the magistrates should be subject to him, including the magistrates of the common people. They should swear that they would never infringe on any of his decrees. {Dio, l. 43.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 194.} From this time to his last return to the city, Velleius declared: {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 56.}
``His five months of his principal office.''
5083. Caesar thought of repressing the Getae or Daci who had made a large invasion into Pontus and Thracia. {Suetonius, in Julius, c. 44.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 497.} To prepare for this expedition, he sent ahead Octavian, the son of Atiae by his sister Julia's daughter, to Apollonia. He was to study there and learn martial discipline. He intended later to make him his fellow soldier in the Getic and Pontic war. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 59.} {Suetonius, in Octavian c. 8.} {Plutarch, in M. Brutus} {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 531.} {Dio, l. 45.} Some squadrons from Pergamos came there. They were now very old, and he took them along from the city to there. {Suetonius, in Octavian c. 89.} {Strabone, l. 13. p. 625.} To that place came some squadrons of cavalry from Macedonia with whom he was exercised. By entertaining them courteously, he became very gracious with the army. {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 531.}
5084. Castor, a young man, was incited by his father, Suocondarius, (as Strabo calls him) and his mother, the daughter of King Dejotarus. He went to Rome to accuse his grandfather. After he corrupted Philip, the king's servant and a Phisitian, with hopes and promises that he should accuse his master falsely of treason. The king would have killed Caesar when he entertained him in his tetrarchy. The king's ambassadors, Hieras, Blescenius, Antigonus and Dorylaus opposed this and offered to Caesar their own lives for the safety of the two kings. (The father and son then reigned together.) Cicero made a speech in Caesar's house for him in memory of their old friendship and familiarity. He prefaced his remarks with the statement that it was so unusual for a king to be guilty of treason that it was never heard of before. However, for this accusation, Dejotarus had killed his daughter, together with her husband Castor or Suocondarius (that noble Chronographer) in Garbrius the palace of Castor himself. {Strabo, l. 13. p. 568.} Concerning all this business Vessius (alas! our dear friend for sometime) is to be consulted in the last chapter of his first book of Greek Historians.
5085. On December 13th (ides), Q. Pedius triumphed for Spain, (the third time within three months,) {Gruter, Inscript. p. 197) in which (as Fabius had done before him) he used wooden pageants instead of ivory ones which caused much laughter. {Dio, l. 43.}
5086. The Parthians came to help Caecilius Bassus but did not stay long because it was winter and did not do anything outstanding for him. Dio {Dio, l. 47.} stated that by their arrival, Bassus was freed from that close siege by Antistius Velus, as Velus himself confirms in his letters to Balbus. Concerning this, Cicero wrote, {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 14. epist. 9.}
``Balbus was here with me to whom letters were delivered on the day before the month of January from Balbus when as Caecilius was besieged by him and was almost taken. Pacorus, the Parthian came with numerous forces and so he escaped from him with the loss of many of his men. He blamed Volcatius for this. So it seems to me that war is near but let Nelcias and Dollabella take care of it.''
5087. That is to whom the care of the province of Syria and of the Parthian war was committed after the death of Caesar when Cicero wrote this letter.
5088. At Rome, the day before the month of January, after Q. Fabius Maximus, the consul, was dead, C. Caninins Rebilus demanded the consulship of a few towns. {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 14. epist. 9.} {Pliny, l. 7. c. 53.} {Suetonius, in Claudius, c. 15.} {Trebell Pallion., in 30. Tyrannis.} Concerning whom, Cicero wrote to Curtius. {Cicero, Letter to his Friends, l. 7. epist. 30.}
``Know that all the time that Caninius was consul, there no one dined. However, there was no harm done all the time that he was consul for he was very vigilant as one who never slept in his consulship.'' {Macrob., Saturnal, l. 2. c. 3., l. 7. c. 3.}
5089. The next day Caesar assumed his fifth and last consulship. He made an edict that thanks should be returned to Hyrcanus, the high priest and prince of the Jews and to the country of the Jews for their affection to him and the people of Rome. Caesar also decreed that Hyrcanus should have the city of Jerusalem and should rebuild its walls and govern it after his own will. He also granted to the Jews that every second year there should be a deduction in their rents and that they should be free from impositions and tributes. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 14. c. 17.} Josephus seems to be mistaken when in the previous chapter he said that Caesar was in Syria and sent letters to Rome to the consuls. The letters said that authority should be given to Hyrcanus to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that Pompey had thrown down. Josephus said that shortly after this, Caesar left Syria, and Antipater started to rebuild the walls. That decree of the senate that Josephus recorded did not apply to Hyrcanus, nor to the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. We have seen this in 3877 AM <<>> concerning which also Salianus is to be consulted with at the year 4007 AM num. 36, 37.
5090. In the same fifth consulship, in the second Julian year, the month Quintilis was renamed to July in honour of Julius Caesar. M. Antony, his colleague in the consulship, proposed this law because Julius was born on the fourth of ides of Quintilis in this month. (July 12th) {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 494.} {Dio, l. 44.} {Censorin, de die natali, c. 9.} {Mucrabins, Saturnal, l. 2. c. 12.} Thereupon, in the following term of Serceilis, M. Brutus, who was the city's praetor and was to hold the Apollinanian plays after Caesar was murdered by him, wrote "Nonis Julio" the "Nones of July." Cicero wrote to his friend Atticus, {Cicero, ad Atticus, l. 16. epist. 1.}
``I could be angry an whole day. Could anything be more base, than for Brutus to write Julio?''
5091. After Brutus was admonished for this by him, he said that he would write that the hunting that was to be the day after the Apollinanian Plays, should be on the 3rd ides of Quintilis. (July 13th) {Cicero, ad Atticus, l. 16. epist. 4.}
5092. Caesar rebuilt Carthage and Corinth which were both demolished at one time, (See note on 3858 AM) by bringing Roman colonies there. {Dio. l. 43.} {Strabo, l. 8. p. 381., l. 17. p. 833.} Concerning Corinth, the writers {Pausanias, in Corinthianis} {Solinus, de Carthage, c. 30.} {Appian, Lybicorum, fin.} agree that between the overthrow and rebuilding of Carthage, 102 years elapsed. This would brings us to this year when M. Antony and P. Dolabella were consuls whom Solinus named. Appian wrote that these cities were again rebuilt by Augustus Caesar.
5093. At this time, the people of Rome were in a mood to revenge the death of Crassus and the army that he lost and hoped to utterly conquer the Parthians. Thereupon this war, by general consent, was decreed to be headed by Caesar. They very earnestly made preparations for it. The following action was taken for the execution of that war so that both Caesar might have officers enough with him and that in his absence that the city should not be left without magistrates. So the city would not choose them and cause problems for Caesar when he was away, they intended to appoint magistrates before hand for the whole three years. (This was how long they thought that the war might last.) Half of these Caesar chose as indeed was by the law granted to him, (concerning this law consult Suetonius) In truth he chose all the rest too. {Dio, l. 43.}
5094. Caesar planned to attack the Cetae or Daci first. He sent ahead of him over the Adriatic Sea, sixteen legions and 10,000 cavalry. Then he planned to make war on the Parthians by going through Armenia the Less. He did not want to come to a pitched battle, until he had tried his troops. (Suetonius, in Julius, c. 44.} {Appian, l. 2. p. 497.}
5095. Caesar sent Cornisicius to make war in Syria against Caecilius Bassus, and gave him the province of Syria. {Cicero, Letters to his Friends, l. 12., epist. 18. 19.} While the legions were to be brought to him, Caesar was murdered. After that the province was assigned to P. Cornelius Dolabella, the consul and (as we shall see) old Africa was given to Cornisicius. {Cicero, Letters to his Friends, l. 12. epist. 19. 21.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 4. p. 620. 621.}
5096. Caesar committed the charge and command of three legions that he had left in Alexandria to Rufinus, the son of a freed man of his who was an old catamite (boy kept for homosexual purposes) of his own. {Suetonius, in Julius, c. 76.}
5097. Six days (7th of calends) before February, Caesar entered the city. In a speech from the Albana Mount, {Gruters, Inscript. p. 297.} it was decreed that in the performance of the Latin Feria, he should be thus brought into the city. {Dio, l. 44.}
5098. Some had greeted him as king, as he was returning from the sacrifice of the Latin Feria and going into the city from the mount Albanus. He was offended that the people took it poorly and told them that he was Caesar and not a king. When they all held their peace, he went along by them very sad and melancholy. One of the company put a laurel crown tied with a white ribbon, (which was what they used to do to their kings,) on his statue. Epidius Marcellus and Coesilius Flavus ordered that the crown to be untied and the man to be put into prison. Caesar was grieved that the mention of a kingdom was not well received or that the glory of denying it was taken from him. He severely chided the tribunes and deprived them of their office. {Suetonius, in Julius, c. 79.} {Plutarch. in codem} {Dio. l. 41.} {Livy. l. 116.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 495. 496.}
5099. On the Lupercalia (which the old calendar showed were celebrated on the 15th day of February) M. Antony, his colleague in the consulship, came running stark naked among those who celebrated the feast. He fell down before Caesar, who sat in the rostrum on his golden chair clothed in purple and crowned. He presented him with a diadem in the name of the people of Rome. This was twice put on his head by Antony, but Caesar took it off again and laid on his golden chair. He said that only Jupiter was the king of the Romans and sent the diadem into the Capitol to Jupiter. He ordered that it should be written in the records:
``That at the Lupercalia, Marcus Antony the consul, offered a kingdom to Caesar the dictator, but he would not take it.''
5100. Thereupon Caesar was suspected that this was only a trick between them and that indeed he did desire the name of king but he would pretend to be forced to take it. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 495. 496.} {Cicero, in Philip, 2. 3. 8. 13.} {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 56.} {Plutarch, in Antony} {Cassador., in Chronico.}
5101. After this a rumour circulated which was either true or false, (as fables used to be made) that the priest called Quindecimviri found in the Sybil's book that the Parthians would be overcome by the Romans if a king were general. Otherwise they were unconquerable. Thereupon L. Cotta, one of the Quindecimviri, would in the next senate propose a law that Caesar should be called king. Some thought that he ought to be called either dictator or emperor of the Romans or any other name that sounded more agreeable than the name of king. Since all other nations were under the command of the Romans, he should positively be called king. {Suetonius} {Plutarch} {Dio, l. 41} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 497.} Cicero also refers to this: {Cicero, de divinat., l. 2.}
``We observe in the Sybil's verses which she is reported in a fury to have spoken which were interpreted by L. Cotta. These were recently thought to be man's fabrications as though it is that the one we have now already for a king, must be called a king, if we will be secure.''
5102. Caesar prepared to leave the city as soon as he could and he had not thought of where to go. Four days before he intended to go, he was stabbed in the senate. {Appian, Civil War, p. 497.} Sixty senators and equestrians were in this conspiracy. {Suetonius, in Julius. c. 80.} {Eutropius, l. 6. fin.} {Orosius, l. 6. c. 17.} M. Brutus, C. Tribonius and C. Cassius and of Caesar's party, Decimus Brutus, where the leaders in the conspiracy. {Livy, l. 116.} Caesar came into the senate house with the intention of advocating the Parthian war. The senators stabbed him as he sat in the ivory chair and he received twenty three wounds. {Livy, l. 116} {Florus, History of Rome, l. 4. c. 2. fin.} on the ides of March (March 15th). He was 56 years old. {Suetonius, in Julius, c. 81, 88, 91.} {Plutarch, in codem.} {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 522.}
5103. Thus he who had fought in fifty battles, {Pliny, l. 7. c. 25.} was killed in that senate by a number of the senators he had chosen himself. He was killed in Pompey's court before the image of Pompey. Many of his own centurions witnessed this. He so fell by the hands of the most noble citizens and those too, most of them he had promoted himself. None of his friends and none of his servants could come near his body. {Cicero, de divinatione, l. 2.}
5104. P. Cornelius Dolabella, was twenty five years old and was appointed by Caesar to be consul for the rest of Caesar's term when Caesar left the city. He snatched up the fasces and the consular ensigns. Before them all, he vilely reproached the author of his honour. Some state that he purposed a law that that day might be reckoned as the birthday of the city. {Appian, Civil War, l. 2. p. 505, 506.} {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 58.}
5105. The third day after the murder of Caesar, {Cicero, Philippic} when the Liberalia were celebrated, {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 14. epist. 10.& 16.} that is fifteen days before April (16th of calends), the senate convened in the temple of Tellus. The consul Antonius, Plancos and Cicero spoke for an act of oblivion and a peace. It was decreed that the memory of all wrongs should be blotted out, a firm peace should be established among the citizens and Caesar's acts should be ratified. {Cicero. Philippic. 1.} {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 58.} {Plutarch, in Cicero, Brutus, Antony} {Appian, Civil Wars, l. 2.} {Dio, l. 44.}
5106. On the very day first of all {Cicero, Philippic 1.} M. Antony set aside all hostility and was willing that Dolabella should be his colleague in the consulship. Although, as Caesar previously showed, that he planned before he left the city that Dolabella should be consul and Antony strongly opposed it. {Cicero, Philippic 2.} {Plutarch, in Antony} At the first he had determined not to allow him to be consul since he was still too young. However, from fear lest he should cause a riot, he allowed it to happen. {Dio, l. 44.}
5107. The next day the senate met again and assigned provinces to the murderers of Caesar. Crete went to M. Brutus, Africa to Cassius, Asia to Trebonius, Bithynia to Cimber and Gallia Circumpana to Decimus Brutus. {Plutarch, in M. Brutus}
5108. Of these, the last two were former praetors of the city. They did not think it wise to enter the provinces before their term of office as praetors had expired in Rome. When they also saw it was not safe for them to exercise any authority in the city, they planned to spend the rest of the year in Italy as private citizens. When the senate understood this, they appointed them to be overseers of the grain shipments to Rome. {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 550.} Brutus was in charge of the grain shipments from Asia and Cassius from Sicily. Cassius scorned this office. {Cicero, ad Attic. l. 15. epist. 9, 11, 12.}
5109. Some had a plan that there should be a private bank established for those who killed Caesar from the Roman equestrians. They thought that this might be easily brought about if the leaders of them would bring in their money. Thereupon, Atticus was called upon by Flavius, a close friend of Brutus, that he would be the leader in this business. Atticus always thought of doing his friend a favour without causing any friction. He replied that if Brutus had any mind to make use of his estate, let him use as much as his estate would allow. He would not so much as speak with anyone about this matter nor join with them in it. So the whole plot of them was spoiled by one man's dissent. {Cornel. Nipos, Life of Atticus}
5110. In the temple of Castor, some letters of the names of the consuls Antony and Dolabella were struck down with lightning. Julius {Julius Obsequens, de Prodigiis} stated that this portended their alienation from their country.
5111. The consul Antony persuaded his colleague Dolabella, since he was an ambitious young man, that he should request to be sent into Syria and to the army that was raised against the Parthians. He brought it to pass that the province of Syria was allocated to Dolabella by the votes of the people along with the Parthian war and the legions that were assigned by Caesar for that purpose. Also those that were sent ahead into Macedonia were given to him. Antony then obtained Macedonia from the senate which was not defended by an an army. {Appian, l. 3. p. 530, 531, & 550.}
5112. Cicero feared Antony's power and determined at first to go with Dolabella into Syria as his lieutenant. {Plutarch, in Cicero} On the 4th of April (4th of nones), Cicero was given the lieutenancy so that he might enter the position when he wanted to. {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 15. epist. 12.} He was persuaded by Hirtius and Pausa who were designed consuls for the next year and he changed his mind. He left Dolabella and planned to spend the summer at Athens. {Plutarch, in Cicero} He would journey into Greece before the time that the Olympian games were celebrated. {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 15. epist. 24., l. 16. epist. 7.} The 184th Olympiad was celebrated in this year.
5113. In the sixth month after Octavian came to Apollonia, he received the news of his uncle's death. He left Epirus for Italy and at Brundusium he was received by the army that went to meet him as Caesar's son. Without any further delay, he immediately assumed the name of Caesar and took upon him to be his heir. (So much the rather, since he had brought with him a great amount of money and the large forces that were sent him by Caesar.) At Brundusium, he was adopted into the Julian family and after this called himself Caius Julius Caesar Octavian instead of Caius Octavian. {Livy, l. 117.} {Julius Obsequens, de Prodigiis} {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 531, 532.} {Dio, l. 45.}
5114. For this very name, just as if he had been a true son, a large number of friends, both freed men and slaves, came to him. They brought soldiers also, who either carried provision and money into Macedonia or brought the tributes and other money that they had exacted from the provinces to Brundusium. He was strengthened and emboldened by the number of them that flocked to him. By the authority of the name of Caesar, he was held in high esteem with the common people. He journeyed toward Rome with a considerable following which daily increased like a flood. {Appian, Civil War, l. 3. p. 532, 535.}
5115. Thirteen days before May (14th of calends), Octavian came to Naples and the next day at Cumae he visited Cicero. {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 14. epist. 10.} Cicero wrote a letter to Atticus twelve days before May (13th of calends). {Cicero, ad Attic., l. 14. epist. 12.}
``Octavian was with us and was very noble and friendly. His own followers greeted him by the name of Caesar, but Philip would not.''
5116. His mother Atia, and his father-in-law Philip did not approve that he should take the name of the envied fortune of Caesar. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 60.} {Suetonius, Octavia, c. 8.} {Appian., Civil War, l. 3. p. 532, 533.}