Rubicon River: The Victory and Tragedy of the Roman Republic

Author: (English) Holland, translated by Yang Jun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Rubicon River was the boundary between Cisalpine Gaul and Italy during the Roman Republic. In 49 BC, Caesar crossed the river, breaking the law that prohibited him from leaving his province, to declare a decisive battle against Pompey, the Roman consul. Tom Holland, relying on materials such as Cicero's memoirs, letters, and fragments of speeches, vividly depicts the heyday of the Roman Republic—a dramatic century in which the Romans, once proud of their rebellious tradition, willingly abandoned personal freedom and bowed to the emperor. —China Reading News The Rubicon River was the boundary between Cisalpine Gaul and Italy during the Roman Republic. In 49 BC, Caesar crossed the river, breaking the law that prohibited him from leaving his province, to declare a decisive battle against Pompey, the Roman consul. The Rubicon portrays the vibrant scene of the Roman Republic at its peak. This was the century of Caesar the Great, the ambitious conqueror who crossed the Rubicon and achieved greatness; this was the century of Cicero, whose eloquence for freedom made him the embodiment of the orator; this was the century of Spartacus, who dared to challenge tyranny; and of course, this was also the century of the legendary Cleopatra. It was a dramatic century. Rome evolved from a regional power into a superpower, and the Roman elite, once proud of their rebellious tradition, willingly abandoned their past responsibilities and personal freedom to bow to the emperor. Political intrigue, the assertion of individuality, and dramatic reversals all converged in the blood of this century. However, since little material from this period remains, it is not easy to faithfully recreate this history with vivid language. Tom Holland had to rely on Cicero's memoirs, letters, and fragments of speeches. In fact, Holland brings to life the great Roman figures—Sulla, Pompey, Caesar, and others—through the perspective of Cicero, a "supporting character." Based on existing books, speeches, memoirs, and correspondence, and through the statement of many facts, this book narrates the victories and failures of the Roman Republic. In 49 BC, Caesar, the governor of Gaul, led his army across the Rubicon River in northern Italy, advancing toward Rome. This was a high-stakes gamble. Caesar risked not only his personal fortune but also the fate of the Republic. What political situation prompted Caesar to make this decision? What was the "First Triumvirate," which included Caesar? Why could military strongmen dominate the "democratic politics" of the Republic in that era? How did the power and role of the Senate manifest? In the late Republic, Rome had already controlled vast regions beyond Italy, and the prospect of turning the Mediterranean into an inland sea was becoming increasingly clear. What impact did this fact have on the Republic? What happened after Caesar crossed the Rubicon? With this book in hand, a century of turbulent events in the late Roman Republic comes to life.