Introduction

Last week we followed Julius Caesar's rise up the Cursus honorum, capped by a successful election of the Consulship for a term to be served in 59 BC. The elections that saw Caesar emerge triumphant was a dirty affair, one that saw rampant bribery on all sides. In anticipation of the struggle with the Senate, Caesar had been lining up support across the Roman world. Some because they genuinely believed in Caesar's programs, some simply out of craft self-interest.