On This Day In Roman History, January 7
The senate convened on January 7, 49 BCE to determine the final fate of the Roman general Julius Caesar. Spurred on from the leadership and decisions of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, or simply Cato, the senate released its senatus consultum ultimum which was the final decree against Caesar. It ordered him back to Rome without his army to face trial for alleged war crimes and many forms of corruption. January 7, 49 BCE also marked the end of Marc Antony's 1-week consulship that he was stripped of via the senate. This forced him to flee Rome that day, fearing for his life.Did you know?
This was not the first time the senate had declared a Senatus consultum ultimum, or SCU, against an individual. It had happened in 121 BCE to Gaius Gracchus, during Lepidus' march on Rome in 77 BCE, and as recently as 63 BCE during the Conspiracy of Catiline. Some minor info and an image can be found below.
Depicted is Cicero addressing the senate during the Second Catilinarian conspiracy, which would lead to the controversial death of several conspirators without trial. While Cicero did receive an honorary title for his work, he was still fearful of retaliation for the execution of the mentioned Roman conspirators without trial.
Opinion
Welcome to my daily opinion. In modern history, Cato is recolonized as the republic's last hope. Being immune to not only the corruption and bribery around him, Cato attempted to end the personality cult of Caesar, which led to his rise as the sole master of Rome. I like to draw upon this time in Roman history for some political wisdom today. Not in the sense that a popular individual could rise to absolute unquestioning power in a modern western democracy, but more in a sense of how individuals can use laws and pseudo laws/decrees to further personal ambitions. The mere fact that Octavian would later create the model of the principate, or first citizen, in order to mask his true ambition as something acceptable to individuals and the public around him is very telling. I do often wonder what Cato's true intentions were. How motivated was this man by his personal ambition?
Sources
Caesar, J., & Peskett, A. G. (1961). The civil wars. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Dogerel, D. (1714). The life of Cato the censor: Humbly dedicated to R. S---le, Esq. London: Printed.
Lintott, A. W. (1999). The constitution of the Roman Republic. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Further Reading:
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