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from ClassicalWisdom Website
A political squabble, very literally, could often become a matter of life and death.
And while Caesar did usher in the beginning of the end for the Roman Republic when he crossed the Rubicon and, in his own words, "cast the die", we should remember that the Republic did not go down without a fight.
Today we are talking about the man who (almost) stopped Caesar.
Along with none other than Cicero, he is often considered to have been one of the staunchest opponents of Julius Caesar's and a great advocate for the Roman Republic.
Much has been made of the struggle between Cato the Younger (from here on referred to simply as "Cato") and the soon to be dictator perpetuo.
George Washington actually coordinated a showing of the 1713 play Cato, which dramatizes the final days of Cato, for his troops at Valley Forge as a means to inspire their vigor for liberty...
Much of what we know about this man comes from the Roman author Plutarch and his aptly titled Life of Cato.
in the Louvre Museum
Plutarch tells us that as
a young man, Cato was exceptionally bright, mature beyond his years
and, even at a young age, steadfast and immovable in his
convictions. Plutarch tells us that as a young boy at a social event, Cato took part in a mock trial with other children.
It is fortunate that we so recently discussed Stoicism, because it was said that, as a young man, Cato, devoted himself to studying the Stoic philosophy and went about cultivating himself to become a great Stoic citizen.
This was not unique to Cato the Younger.
As a result of his study of Stoicism, Cato lived in a very modest way.
It was said he wore only the plainest clothing and ate only when necessary. He often subjected himself to the rain and cold in order to create a tolerance for discomfort.
This adherence to the Stoic lifestyle is made all the more remarkable when we consider that Cato came from a rather wealthy family. He could have easily lived in luxury and decadence for the rest of his life if he so chose.
Indeed I did, dear reader!
While we could easily spend days discussing the various stories surrounding Cato the Younger, and spill untold amount of editorial ink in the process, let's try to be a little more succinct and hit the highlights. Shall we...?
It was probably unavoidable that Cato would end up on a collision course with Caesar.
After all, it was said that at the age of 14 Cato offered to kill the Roman Dictator, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, with the words...
Cato first locked horns with Caesar in 59 BC when Cato was a vocal opponent of Julius Caesar, attempting to block his attempts at power for years.
attempting to block his attempts at power for years.
The Senate was at first willing to grant such a request, but Cato vehemently opposed such a proposition.
To prevent the Senate from voting on the matter, Cato filibustered on the Senate floor until nightfall.
As a result, Caesar was forced to choose between a triumph and running for the consulship.
Immediately following the election, Caesar allied himself with another influential Roman political player, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, known commonly as "Pompey".
In doing so, Caesar was currying favor with the common people and, in the words of Plutarch,
Cato regarded such legislation as politically motivated.
While the poor benefited from the subsidized land and food, it was Caesar who really won out by boosting his reputation and allure among the common people.
When Caesar proposed another piece of legislation that would divide almost all of Campania, a region in southeast Italy, amongst the poor and needy, Cato again opposed this bill with his trademark stubbornness.
Cato was by no means the only opponent of Caesar's.
However, he was undoubtedly the most vocal and most unyielding. He was, in many ways, the common thread between every opposition that stood in the way of Caesar's aspiration for power during the 1st century BC.
In the words of Plutarch,
It would seem Cato's predictions would come to pass in 49 BC when Caesar, accompanied by the 13th Roman Legion, crossed the Rubicon intent on taking power from the Senate and abolishing the Republic...
What followed was the Roman Civil War, sometimes referred to as,
While Cato and the Roman Senate, bolstered by the armies of Pompey, would struggle against Caesar, the were ultimately defeated.
What of Cato?
Caesar, now dictator perpetuo, offered to pardon Cato.
by Guillaume Guillon-Lethière
He committed suicide by
impaling himself with a dagger, one final act of rebellion against
the man who had ushered in the death of his beloved Republic...
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