What Role Did Caesar Play In The First Triumvirate Analysis

CAESARS ROLE IN THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE

Caesar was the instigator behind the first triumvirate. He was the one that realised the potential behind an alliance with Pompey and Crassus to fill his political ambitions. He resolved the differences between the two in order to be elected consul in 59BC. The alliance combined Caesar’s enormous popularity and legal reputation with Crassus’s fantastic wealth as well as Pompey and his wealth and military reputation. Caesar started the first triumvirate due to the fact that he wished to gain the support of the two largest men in Rome (other than himself). The carrot that Caesar offered was designed to convince Pompey and Crassus to join him. Crassus wanted tax concessions for the equites after tax returns in the eastern parts of the roman republic had not returned as much profit as expected (the senate was loath to hand out money to the equites). Pompey wanted confirmations of his eastern settlements as well

as land for his veterans who had fought in Asia Minor.
‘The optimates refused to support Caesar’s application.

They believed that they could prevent Caesar’s possible election success by making him choose between a triumph and the consulship, predicting he would not give up the honour of a triumph. Caesar surprised them by returning to Rome to present himself for election’

-Toni Hurley

During his consulship, in 59 (elections were held before the year in office), Caesar pushed through Pompey's land settlements, which were to be administered by Crassus and Pompey. This was also when Caesar ensured that the workings of the Senate were published for public reading. Julius Caesar obtained the provinces he had wanted to take charge of after his term as consul ended and finagled his desired five year-term as proconsul. These provinces were Cisalpine Gaul and Illyricum- not what the Senate had wished for him.

Caesar therefore played a role as a consul in enabling the first triumvirate to achieve its political goals.

Cicero described Caesar’s consulship as ‘disgraceful’ and

‘scandalous’
By 56 BC the arrangement between the three had become strained, during Caesar’s absence in Gaul Pompey and Crassus’s old enmity. Caesar recognising the importance of this alliance to his own cause called a meeting at Luca near the border between Italy and Gaul. Pompey, Crassus, several hundred notable governors and 200 senators attended. ‘The result was the renewal of the Triumvirate and an agreement to make Pompey and Crassus consuls in the following year, after which they would take Spain and Syria as their provinces. Caesar’s command in Gaul was extended for a further five years. In 55 BC Pompey and Crassus became consuls and the triumvirate was reinsured.
Caesar in a macro sense played the role of glue in the first triumvirate, helping to form and maintain the first triumvirate.