Ilinca Hartman Humanities 1101 CRN: 14004 Monday, Wednesday 03/20/2020 The First Triumvirate Combining two words has never produced a notion as powerful and meaningful as the word “Triumvirate”. Extracted from the prefix “-tri”, this word is always referring to a group of three people that work together for mutual benefits. The “First Triumvirate” is the most famous of unions, and, while lasting a whole seven years, according to Henry Freeman’s “Julius Caesar: A Life From Beginning to End,” by 58 BCE, Caesar’s triumvirate began showing cracks. This triumvirate consisted of Marcus Licinius Crassus, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, and Julius Caesar. Proclaimed Pontifex Maximus, Julius Caesar was not the wealthiest of the threesome, but he made up for it with charisma and persuasion. His education and culture combined, made him a very skilled politician. He came to power by uniting Crassus and Pompei in a mutual beneficial deal. Having his soldiers’ undying loyalties, Julius only lacked the political position that Crassus had to offer, in addition to the alliance with Pompei. The soldiers offered him the muscle that he needed to seize power, and once the triumvirate was made, he was selected as a member of the consul. Pompey the Great, was also a military commander and once Caesar decided upon the alliance with him, married his daughter, to Pompey. His relationship with his father in law took a turn for the worse after Julia’s death, when Pompey fell into the orbit of the Roman Optimates, these ultimately using Pompey to start a civil war. The battle was lost by Pompey after he retreated to Egypt, but unfortunately was executed by the Pharaoh. Crassus, being one of the richest men in Rome during the time Caesar was climbing the cursus honorum, decided to invest in the latter. This resulting in Caesar rising in power and winning a seat in the consul. Both Crassus and Pompey being wealthy, their relationship was very strained, but maintained integrity, as long as all three benefited from it. After his young protégé gained more power and wealth, Caesar started posing a threat to his investor. This made it possible for Caesar to not follow the consul’s orders, and pressure it to make him a forever ruler, which started the plotting to assassinate him. The assassination took place with all the senators stabbing Caesar, including Crassus, Caesar’s last words being "Kai su, teknon?”, bringing the triumvirate to a bitter and ironic end. This started with these three men working together, and ended the same – with Crassus murdering Caesar, at the base of the Curia in the Theatre of Pompey.
