Julius Caesar’s Commentaries

The Commentaries are two of my favorite works. I did not expect to enjoy them and have pulled many lessons from them over the years. Julius Caesar’s Commentaries, specifically Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War) and Commentarii de Bello Civili (Commentaries on the Civil War), are remarkable works of ancient literature, blending history with propaganda.

What first shines through is the turbulent political landscape of the late Roman Republic. By the 50s BC, Rome was plagued by factionalism, with powerful figures like Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar vying for supremacy. Caesar, as proconsul of Gaul, faced the challenge of maintaining influence in Rome while campaigning abroad. The Commentaries were written to address this challenge, serving as dispatches to the Roman Senate and people. Unlike traditional Roman histories, which were often written by senators or historians, Caesar’s works are unique as firsthand accounts by a military commander and political figure actively shaping his legacy.

The primary purpose of the Commentaries was political. Caesar aimed to justify his military actions, particularly his conquest of Gaul and his controversial crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BC, which sparked the civil war. By presenting himself as a competent leader acting in Rome’s interest, Caesar sought to counter criticisms from rivals like Cato and Cicero, who accused him of overstepping his authority. The Commentaries also served to cultivate popular support among the Roman masses and the army, whose loyalty was crucial to his political survival as his enemies were the richest in Rome.

Caesar’s Commentaries are renowned for their clear, concise, and unembellished prose, a style that contrasts with the ornate rhetoric of contemporaries like Cicero. Written in the third person, the texts create an illusion of objectivity, distancing Caesar the author from Caesar the protagonist. This narrative choice enhances the appearance of impartiality, as if the events are being recorded by an unbiased observer.

The Commentarii de Bello Gallico is divided into seven books, each covering a year of Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul, with an eighth book added by his lieutenant, Aulus Hirtius, to cover the final campaigns. The Commentarii de Bello Civili comprises three books, detailing the civil war up to the Battle of Thapsus in 46 BC. Both works follow a chronological structure, with vivid descriptions of battles, geography, and ethnography, interspersed with speeches and strategic analyses. Caesar’s attention to detail, such as his descriptions of Gallic tribes or the engineering feats of his legions, lends credibility to his accounts while showcasing his intellectual and military prowess.

Caesar’s prose is marked by its economy and precision, a style known as genus tenue (plain style) in Roman rhetoric. Sentences are straightforward, with minimal adornment, yet they convey a sense of authority and inevitability. For example, in De Bello Gallico, Caesar describes the Battle of the Sambre (57 BC) with clinical precision, emphasizing his quick thinking and the discipline of his legions. This style not only makes the text accessible to a broad audience but also reinforces Caesar’s image as a rational and capable leader.

While the Commentaries are valuable historical sources, they are equally works of propaganda. Caesar carefully curates the narrative to present himself as a heroic figure, acting in the service of Rome. In De Bello Gallico, he portrays the Gauls as both formidable adversaries and barbaric threats, justifying his conquests as a defense of Roman interests. His victories, such as the defeat of Vercingetorix at Alesia in 52 BC, are depicted as triumphs of Roman discipline and ingenuity over chaos and savagery.

Caesar’s portrayal of his enemies is strategic. He acknowledges the bravery of figures like Vercingetorix or Ariovistus to elevate the significance of his victories, yet he consistently frames their resistance as doomed against Roman superiority. Similarly, in De Bello Civili, Caesar depicts Pompey and the Senate as betrayers of Roman values, positioning himself as the defender of the Republic’s ideals, despite his own role in undermining its institutions.

Caesar’s use of the third person is a key propagandistic tool. By referring to himself as “Caesar” he creates a mythic persona, elevating his actions to the level of legend. This technique also allows him to deflect blame for setbacks. For instance, defeats or logistical challenges are often attributed to subordinates or external factors, while victories are credited to Caesar’s leadership. In De Bello Civili, he downplays his role in initiating the civil war, framing his crossing of the Rubicon as a necessary response to senatorial overreach.

As historical documents, the Commentaries are both invaluable and problematic. They provide detailed accounts of military campaigns, Roman administration, and the cultures of Gaul and Britain, offering insights unavailable in other sources. Caesar’s ethnographic descriptions, such as his account of the Druids or Germanic tribes, are among the earliest written records of these societies colored by Roman biases.

However, the Commentaries are not impartial histories. Caesar omits or distorts events that might tarnish his image. For example, he downplays the scale of Roman losses and rarely acknowledges the political motivations behind his actions. In De Bello Civili, his portrayal of Pompey and the Senate is one-sided, ignoring their legitimate grievances. Modern historians, note that while the Commentaries are broadly accurate in their chronology and geography, they require cross-referencing with other sources, such as Cicero’s letters or Suetonius’ Lives of the Caesars, to correct for bias.

The Commentaries have left an indelible mark on literature, history, and political communication. In antiquity, they were widely read and admired for their clarity and narrative power. Cicero, despite his political differences with Caesar, praised the Commentaries for their “naked, straightforward, and graceful” style. The texts influenced later Roman historians like Livy and Tacitus, who adopted similar narrative techniques. Today, they should be read for their clarity and narrative power.

Julius Caesar’s Commentaries are a masterful blend of history, literature, and propaganda. Through their clear prose, strategic narrative, and selective presentation, they immortalize Caesar as a brilliant general and statesman while serving his immediate political needs. The texts offer a window into the late Roman Republic, revealing the interplay of power, ambition, and rhetoric that defined the era. While not overlooking the bias, this work is a captivating work on leadership, determination and communication.