06-04-2004, 09:37 AM
Octavian Augustus was a prudent person. More a politician than a general. Indeed he "did not feel very well" at Philippi, apparently a typical case of battle fright.<br>
He was also totally ruthless and before he became Augustus he was famous for his total lack of magnanimitas. Contrary to Caesar he did not forgive his enemies, he killed them, and their families and friends along with them.<br>
As a result, he was not murdered on the ides of march and died of old age after a very long and happy reign..<br>
Octavian Augustus was also a couple: He was Livia's husband. And Livia Augusta was definitely not the typical modest, retiring, submissive roman matrona..<br>
Rumour had it in Rome that "while Augustus rules over the Empire, Livia rules over Augustus..."<br>
Caesar was smarter than Augustus, I think. He was definitely not prudent since, contrary to Augustus, I think he genuinely believed he was of divine origin. That made him trust his legendary luck to a point that borders on the obscene..<br>
Contrary to a popular opinion, although he was a good general, he was not an exceptional one. Apart his stroke of genius at Pharsalus with his refused right flank, an analysis of his campaigns shows more often than not a lack of preparedness and an enthusiasm for the offensive that caused him some troubles, like at Gergovia. The War of the Gauls reveals also some episodes when recon was clearly absent and the british expedition not turning into total disaster is just another example of the Divine Julius' obscene luck. As for recon... He sent one galley sail around southern Britain a little while and that's it..<br>
The African wars also show some appalling examples of total disregard for reconnaissance. Caesar's tactic for a seaborne landing was apparently: "Let's sail there, then we'll find a place to land..." (See the British expedition).<br>
At some point he actually searched for his army for some time. They had landed somewhere around.. Didn't know exactly where.. Fortuna will help..<br>
Another bad case of pushing one's luck to the breaking point.<br>
The big difference with Augustus of course was Caesar's exceptional charisma. Like all great conquerors his mere presence was enough to boost the morale of the soldiers to maximum levels and the "quirites" episode with the mutinous tenth legion demonstrates that he must have had an extraordinary presence.<br>
And well, while Augustus was Livia's hubby, the Divine Julius was "the bald catamite, the husband of all wives and the wife of all husbands.."<br>
And one fine day on the ides of march, the Divine Julius pushed his luck a bit too far.<br>
...And to this day, there are still fresh flowers on the site where he was cremated on the Forum. Another difference.. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=antoninuslucretius@romanarmytalk>Antoninus Lucretius</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://lucretius.homestead.com/files/Cesar_triste.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 6/4/04 12:05 pm<br></i>
He was also totally ruthless and before he became Augustus he was famous for his total lack of magnanimitas. Contrary to Caesar he did not forgive his enemies, he killed them, and their families and friends along with them.<br>
As a result, he was not murdered on the ides of march and died of old age after a very long and happy reign..<br>
Octavian Augustus was also a couple: He was Livia's husband. And Livia Augusta was definitely not the typical modest, retiring, submissive roman matrona..<br>
Rumour had it in Rome that "while Augustus rules over the Empire, Livia rules over Augustus..."<br>
Caesar was smarter than Augustus, I think. He was definitely not prudent since, contrary to Augustus, I think he genuinely believed he was of divine origin. That made him trust his legendary luck to a point that borders on the obscene..<br>
Contrary to a popular opinion, although he was a good general, he was not an exceptional one. Apart his stroke of genius at Pharsalus with his refused right flank, an analysis of his campaigns shows more often than not a lack of preparedness and an enthusiasm for the offensive that caused him some troubles, like at Gergovia. The War of the Gauls reveals also some episodes when recon was clearly absent and the british expedition not turning into total disaster is just another example of the Divine Julius' obscene luck. As for recon... He sent one galley sail around southern Britain a little while and that's it..<br>
The African wars also show some appalling examples of total disregard for reconnaissance. Caesar's tactic for a seaborne landing was apparently: "Let's sail there, then we'll find a place to land..." (See the British expedition).<br>
At some point he actually searched for his army for some time. They had landed somewhere around.. Didn't know exactly where.. Fortuna will help..<br>
Another bad case of pushing one's luck to the breaking point.<br>
The big difference with Augustus of course was Caesar's exceptional charisma. Like all great conquerors his mere presence was enough to boost the morale of the soldiers to maximum levels and the "quirites" episode with the mutinous tenth legion demonstrates that he must have had an extraordinary presence.<br>
And well, while Augustus was Livia's hubby, the Divine Julius was "the bald catamite, the husband of all wives and the wife of all husbands.."<br>
And one fine day on the ides of march, the Divine Julius pushed his luck a bit too far.<br>
...And to this day, there are still fresh flowers on the site where he was cremated on the Forum. Another difference.. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=antoninuslucretius@romanarmytalk>Antoninus Lucretius</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://lucretius.homestead.com/files/Cesar_triste.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 6/4/04 12:05 pm<br></i>
