{"id":8842,"date":"2023-10-19T01:05:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T00:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=8842"},"modified":"2023-10-19T01:05:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T00:05:10","slug":"when-was-the-first-civil-war-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/when-was-the-first-civil-war-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"When Was The First Civil War In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ancient Rome: The First Civil War<\/h2>\n

The first recorded Roman civil war began in 49 BC between Julius Caesar, a former dictator and general for the Roman Empire, and the Roman senate. Led by Pompey the Great, the senate defended the Republic against Caesar’s desire to become the absolute ruler of its people. Julius Caesar and his supporters, known as the Populares, had the support of the people, while the Optimates, led by Pompey had the majority of senators on their side. This conflict tore apart the already weakened Roman Republic, making way for an empire that would rule much of the western world.<\/p>\n

The year before the war began, Julius Caesar had crossed the Rubicon River in northern Italy and marched his army toward Rome. This was an illegal act and prompted the senate to issue an ultimatum to Caesar, ordering him to disband his army or be declared a public enemy of the Republic. Caesar chose to ignore the demand and continued south, eventually laying siege to the city of Corfinium, where a loyalist stronghold had been established. This was the beginning of open civil war. <\/p>\n

For the next three years, Caesar and Pompey fought for control of the Roman Empire. They clashed in numerous battles, most notably in Dyrrhachium (48 BC) and Pharsalus (48 BC), until Pompey and his forces were defeated in 47 BC. Caesar achieved magnificent victories against great odds, gaining the admiration of the Roman people, who declared him the victor of the civil war and dictator thereafter. <\/p>\n

The first civil war in Ancient Rome is seen as a major event in world history, as it marks the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. It was the culmination of a long standing political struggle between two factions, the Optimates, who sought to maintain the status quo of the Republic, and the Populares, who sought to challenge the Optimates and extend the peoples’ power in the Roman government. It was a battle between two leaders who were already deeply ingrained in Roman history, and it came to signify a shift in the way that Rome operated going forward. <\/p>\n