07-21-2011, 03:20 PM
There has always been questions like this and numerous answers.
The main difference between Pompey and Caesar is that Pompey has always been a calculated general. He would never go into battle if the odds are against him, if on paper his situation is better than his opponent's. On the other hand, Caesar was a general 'of the moment'. All the battles he lost, he lost because he made the right move too soon or too late.
The right question for me is - what would have happened if Pompey advanced his army against Caesar's in the battle of Dyrrhachium? We all know what Caesar wrote - if Pompey had advanced, history would be writing about Pompey as victor and not Caesar. But that's the thing. Pompey didn't do the right thing (advancing his army) because he thought that it was a trap set up by Caesar. Pharsalus was already lost for him when he went into battle, even though he had supplies and a bigger army. Caesar's army was constituted
of veterans, who had 'a lot of games in their legs', and they were desperate, fighting
for their lives. Pompey wielded with recruits and a lot of mercenaries, that's why he
intensivly trained them to fight in formation.
He went into battle because the Senate was pushing him to do so. All he had to do is stay where he was and force Ceasar into surrendering his army (hunger, desease, etc.). That's it. But history depicts Caesar as victor because Pompey offered battle, and he was lost.
To answer your question - no, Pompey would have never became dictator. He could be compared with Marius - a brilliant general, but a lousy politician. Pompey was the same.
He couldn't 'play the game of politics' and that's why after the Eastern campaign he didn't succeed in giving land for his veterans. He needed Caesar for that, and he did so.
If Pompey had defeated Caesar, the Senate (mainly Cato and Cicero) would have used Pompey and outplayed him in politics, and he would have died alone as an outcast; because, in the Senate's eyes, there were two enemies of the state - Caesar, and Pompey. They were too powerfull to be let alone. Caesar was the bigger opponent then, and they used Pompey to try to destroy him. He failed. But had he won, no doubt about it - Senate would do the same to Pompey.
The main difference between Pompey and Caesar is that Pompey has always been a calculated general. He would never go into battle if the odds are against him, if on paper his situation is better than his opponent's. On the other hand, Caesar was a general 'of the moment'. All the battles he lost, he lost because he made the right move too soon or too late.
The right question for me is - what would have happened if Pompey advanced his army against Caesar's in the battle of Dyrrhachium? We all know what Caesar wrote - if Pompey had advanced, history would be writing about Pompey as victor and not Caesar. But that's the thing. Pompey didn't do the right thing (advancing his army) because he thought that it was a trap set up by Caesar. Pharsalus was already lost for him when he went into battle, even though he had supplies and a bigger army. Caesar's army was constituted
of veterans, who had 'a lot of games in their legs', and they were desperate, fighting
for their lives. Pompey wielded with recruits and a lot of mercenaries, that's why he
intensivly trained them to fight in formation.
He went into battle because the Senate was pushing him to do so. All he had to do is stay where he was and force Ceasar into surrendering his army (hunger, desease, etc.). That's it. But history depicts Caesar as victor because Pompey offered battle, and he was lost.
To answer your question - no, Pompey would have never became dictator. He could be compared with Marius - a brilliant general, but a lousy politician. Pompey was the same.
He couldn't 'play the game of politics' and that's why after the Eastern campaign he didn't succeed in giving land for his veterans. He needed Caesar for that, and he did so.
If Pompey had defeated Caesar, the Senate (mainly Cato and Cicero) would have used Pompey and outplayed him in politics, and he would have died alone as an outcast; because, in the Senate's eyes, there were two enemies of the state - Caesar, and Pompey. They were too powerfull to be let alone. Caesar was the bigger opponent then, and they used Pompey to try to destroy him. He failed. But had he won, no doubt about it - Senate would do the same to Pompey.
It is not these well-fed long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking.
Fedja.
Fedja.
