Tracing the extraordinary trajectory of the great Roman emperor’s life, Goldsworthy covers not only the great Roman emperor’s accomplishments as charismatic orator, conquering general, and powerful dictator but also lesser-known chapters during which he was high priest of an exotic cult, captive of pirates, seducer not only of Cleopatra but also of the wives of his two main political rivals, and rebel condemned by his own country. Ultimately, Goldsworthy realizes the full complexity of Caesar’s character and shows why his political and military leadership continues to resonate some two thousand years later.
In the introduction to his biography of the great Roman emperor, Adrian Goldsworthy writes, “Caesar was at times many things, including a fugitive, prisoner, rising politician, army leader, legal advocate, rebel, dictator . . . as well as husband, father, lover and adulterer.” In this landmark biography, Goldsworthy examines Caesar as military leader, all of these roles and places his subject firmly within the context of Roman society in the first century B.C.
Chapter 10. Migrants and Mercenaries:The first campaigns, 58 BC
Chapter 11. ‘The Bravest of the Gaulish Peoples’: The Belgae, 57 BC
Chapter 12. Politics and War: The Conference of Luca
Chapter 13. ‘Over the Waters’: The British and German Expeditions, 55–54 BC
Chapter 14. Rebellion, Disaster and Vengeance
Chapter 15. The Man and the Hour: Vercingetorix and the Great Revolt, 52 BC
Chapter 16. ‘All Gaul is Conquered’
Chapter 17. The Road to the Rubicon
Chapter 18. Blitzkrieg: Italy and Spain, Winter–Autumn, 49 BC
Chapter 19. Macedonia, November 49–August 48 BC
Chapter 20. Cleopatra, Egypt and the East, Autumn 48–Summer 47 BC
Chapter 21. Africa, September 47–June 46 BC
Chapter 22. Dictator, 46–44 BC