111 - Caesar's Civil War III: Came Saw Conquered

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Sep 11, 2025

In a gripping exploration of history, the focus turns to Caesar's dramatic shifts from triumph to turmoil. Witness Pompey's assassination and Caesar's grief, alongside Cleopatra’s seductive strategies and her chaotic takeover of power. Experience the intense urban warfare in Alexandria, including the tragic loss of the Great Library. Unpack the masterful psychological tactics during mutinies in Rome and the fierce battles in Africa, where moral dilemmas blur as Caesar confronts his enemies. The saga culminates in epic confrontations that redefine a legacy.

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ANECDOTE

Pompey’s Betrayal In Egypt

Pompey was lured ashore in Egypt and murdered by men he trusted after Pharsalus.
The Egyptians presented Pompey's head and ring to Julius Caesar upon his arrival in Alexandria.

INSIGHT

Caesar’s Motives In Egypt

Caesar sought Egyptian wealth and political legitimacy after Pompey's death to finance and secure his position.
His imperial curiosity and desire to demonstrate Roman greatness made him linger in Egypt despite risks.

ANECDOTE

Cleopatra’s Bed-Sack Entrance

Cleopatra famously entered Caesar's presence hidden inside a bed-sack carried by Apollodorus.
That clever entrance captivated Caesar and began their political and personal alliance.

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Cost of Glory Greece Retreat: https://costofglory.com/retreat

Part 3 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. From triumph to near-disaster. Caesar's Egyptian entanglement transforms him from a glorious victor to a desperate challenger. In this episode:

Pompey's assassination in Egypt and Caesar's unexpected grief over his former ally's death
Cleopatra's legendary entrance in a bed-sack and her political seduction of Caesar
The brutal urban warfare trapping Caesar in the palace quarter for six months
The burning of the Great Library during the harbor battles—400,000 volumes lost
Caesar's desperate swim to safety while clutching precious documents above water
Young King Ptolemy XIII's tragic fate and the consolidation of Cleopatra's power
The lightning campaign against Pharnaces in Asia—"Veni, Vidi, Vici"
The veterans' mutiny outside Rome and Caesar's masterful psychological manipulation
Cato's final stand in Africa and his defiant suicide
The decisive Battle of Thapsus and the strategic genius of fighting on narrow ground
The massacre of surrendering enemies as Caesar's clemency finally fails

As Caesar recounts, the Republic's future dictator came very close to destruction in the palaces and canals of Alexandria. While Rome descended into chaos under Mark Antony's drunken rule, Caesar fought for his life against war elephants and Numidian cavalry, transformed by his liaison with the living goddess Cleopatra. The man who emerged from Egypt was no longer merely a Roman general, he had consorted with divinity and fathered the son of a pharaoh.

As Cicero wrote in frantic letters to Atticus: "Where am I to look for solace?" The final campaign that would cement Caesar's supremacy began with the most dangerous gamble of his career.

Works Cited: (Affiliate links - support the show!)

Gareth Sampson, The Battle of Pharsalus
Matthias Gelzer, Caesar: Politician and Statesman
James Froude, Caesar: A Sketch,
Raaflaub (ed.) Landmark Caesar

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Also Thanks Dr. Richard Johnson, the Crassus to this Caesar series!