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The Roman Revolution
Reforms
Caesar was back in Rome, fresh from military victory, the darling of the mob, and no viable political opposition. What would he do next? All Romans knew what Marius had done in this position, and what Sulla had done. Caesar was, if anything, held a stronger hand than either of those two.
The first, most remarkable thing was what he did not do. Upon his return there were no reprisals, no proscription lists, no bloodbath. Caesar asked only that his enemies agree to oppose him no longer. The few who refused he did indeed prosecute, but to any who would simply agree not to be his enemy, he left them in peace. He even pardoned Cicero, his most ardent enemy.
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| Cicero |
Such clemency was unheard of, and it went far toward ending the rancor that accompanies civil war. He gave his veterans a generous settlement, founding many colonies, so that the army was not a source of unrest.
He revamped the administration of Rome itself, for corruption in the Senate had nearly ruined it. With his wealth, Caesar began a number of public works, thereby giving work to the unemployed and an alternative to the political gangs.
He won the favor of the provinces by reducing taxes there. Generations of senators, acting as provincial governors, had bled the provinces for every sheaf of wheat and ounce of gold. Caesar gave them some relief. In addition, Caesar granted Roman citizenship to certain cities, extending the franchise north of the Alps for the first time.
Most of these reforms were implemented to the detriment of the interest of the Senatorial class. Where were the Senators? Dead, many of them. Or in exile. Many of the rest were simply silent, powerless against the great man. But all Caesar's acts were approved by the Senate, including the decree that made him, like Sulla, dictator for life. With so many Senators gone, Caesar simply created new senators, doubling the size of the senate. So, even when some dared to speak against one of his proposals and to vote against it, Caesar could always be sure of a majority in his favor.
He also instituted a reform in the Roman calendar. The traditional calendar was flawed and by his day the months did not agree with the seasons at all. Everyone knew it was flawed, but no one had the authority to change it. Caesar did. The result was what is called the Julian calendar, and it served as the calendar of the West until the 16th century. Even then, the adjustment was minor; our calendar is essentially the one given us by the Romans.