On The Alexandrian War. Caesar Gaius Julius

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СКАЧАТЬ despising the current state of disgrace and the fate of Pompeo. They responded to his messengers with apparent courtesy, inviting him to present himself confidently to the king, showing himself falsely friends, as often happens in misfortune when friends become treacherous enemies. The Egyptians held a secret council in which they chose how to act, then sent Achilla, a man of singular audacity, with Lucius Septimius, a military tribune who had some confidence with Pompeo since during the war against pirates he had led a department of his army ; they, treating him with courtesy, invited him to board with a few companions on a small ship where he was killed by Achilla and Lucius Septimius. The same fate happened with Lucio Cornelio Lentulo Crure, who was first captured by order of the king and then killed in prison.

      105.

      Caesar, arriving in Asia, discovered that Tito Ampio had tried once again to take away the treasure of the Temple of Diana in Ephesus, so much so that he had called to assist all the Senators of the province to witness the amount of money withdrawn, but warned of the impending arrival or Caesar fled leaving everything in its place. Curiously, it was the second time that Caesar unwittingly saved the treasure of the Temple of Ephesus ... Another extraordinary event occurred in the Temple of Minerva in Elis; making the necessary calculations, it was understood that, on the same day in which Caesar won in Thessaly, a statue of Victory placed in that temple in front of that of Minerva and turned to it, turned towards the doors of the temple threshold. On that same day there was also an extraordinary event in Antioch in Syria: two times there was the outcry of an army and the sound of trumpets so loud as to make citizens flock to the walls with weapons ready from everywhere. The same thing happened in Tolemaide, while in Pergamum, in the most secret rooms of temples where access is allowed only to priests and which the Greeks use to call Adyta, the eardrums rang. Also in Tralli, in the temple dedicated to Victory where a statue of Caesar had been consecrated, a palm was shown that had sprung up between the joints of the stones.

      106.

      Caesar stayed only a few days in Asia; having leaoned that Pompey had been sighted in Cyprus, speculating on the possible final destination of Pompeo and considering that he was going to Egypt, a kingdom with which he had relations of some importance and the many comforts he offered, with a legion to which he had ordered already in Thessaly to follow him and a second conducted by the lieutenant Quinto Fufio Caleno left from Achaia and with 800 knights, escorted by 10 warships of Rhodes and few others from Asia, he arrived in Alexandria in Egypt. These legions were made up of 3200 men as many were injured in battle or fatigued from the long journey, so many were unable to follow him. But Caesar did not worry much about this, trusting in the fame obtained with his victory that made every place safe for him. But when he landed in Alexandria he realized that the soldiers left in the city by the king as a garrison were shouting at him and that even the population showed hostility towards him and that this was caused by the bundles that preceded him. The problem was that this was considered lese majesty towards their pharaoh. Once this misunderstanding was quelled, the problems did not end because in the following days there were many seditious gatherings and many soldiers were killed on the streets in various parts of the city.

      107.

      Considering the situation quite dangerous, he ordered that other legions from Asia be sent to him, units that he himself had set up to be formed with the veterans of the Pompeian legions. Besides, he was forced into Alexandria by those winds called Etesii that prevented him from sailing from his port. But in addition to the weather hindrances, Caesar believed it was pertaining to the Roman people and his as consul, to resolve the dispute between Ptolemy XIII (13) and his sister, also in consideration of the fact that during his previous consulate he had proposed a law, then which became a Senate Decree, which entered into an alliance with Ptolemy XII (12) father of the current pharaoh. He then let the Egyptians know that it would be to his liking that Ptolemy XIII (13) and Cleopatra would dissolve their respective armies and settle their disputes before him, following the legal and not the arms routes.

      108.

      But due to the young age of the boy pharaoh, one of his eunuch pedagogues named Potinus was in fact the ruler of the Kingdom. The eunuch at first complained to his helpers, he was indignant that a king was called to defend himself in court. Subsequently, following his complaints, he found among the collaborators of the king who could help him implement his plans; thus he managed to secretly bring the army from Pelusio to Alexandria and put in charge the Achilla already mentioned. Achilla was instigated and made proud by promises of both Potino and the king; through letters to ambassadors, Potino made him aware of his plans.

      In the testament of Ptolemy XII (12) the eldest of the two sons and the eldest of the two daughters were indicated as heirs. Still in the same testament, in the name of the Gods and of the alliance made with Rome, Ptolemy XII (12) called the Roman people to be witness and guarantor of its dispositions. A copy of this testament had been sent to Rome to be kept in the public treasury archive; this copy, however, could not be deposited due to the ongoing political upheavals and remained among Pompeo's documents; the other copy was kept in Alexandria and was published with the royal seal.

      109.

      While Caesar was busy acting as arbiter to settle the matter by acting as a friend of both and the various issues were dealt with before him, the sudden news came that the royal army with all the cavalry was heading towards Alexandria. The soldiers at Caesar's disposal were not such as to be able to face a battle outside the city, so he could not help but remain on his positions in the city and understand what Achilla's intentions were. Caesar ordered his men to remain in arms and asked the king to send ambassadors to Achilla choosing among his family those who had a greater prestige, so that he could ask him what he intended. The king chose Dioscorides and Serapion, former ambassadors to Rome and known for their great authority over Ptolemy XII (12). When they arrived at Achilla's camp they didn't even have the opportunity to explain the reason for their embassy, because Achilla ordered them to be captured and killed. So they were immediately taken, one killed, the other wounded was thrown away as if he were dead. Following this event, Caesar considered it more convenient for him to keep the king in his power, considering the ascendancy that he had over his subjects but also to make it appear that the war was not waged out of royal will, but only because of initiative of private citizens and unscrupulous adventurers.

      110.

      The troops at Achilla's disposal were not despicable either by numerical strength or by military experience: they amounted to 20,000 men of which a part was made up of former legionnaires of Aulus Gabinius, who had remained in Alexandria getting used to that licentious life and now forgetful of the good name of the Roman army and its discipline; many of these had married, and some also had children. Another part was made up of thieves and murderers gathered in Syria, Cilicia and neighbouring regions; also sentenced to death and exiles were enrolled with these. After all, Alexandria, for all our runaway slaves, was a safe haven as long as they enlisted in the army. It also happened, in the event that one of them had been taken over by the master, that the companions went to free him to take him back with them, considering this as the right thing being themselves in the same condition as the companion, and this action was a guarantee for all of them. This composite army used to tyrannise the pharaoh asking for the death of the unwelcome advisers, to plunder the assets of the wealthiest and to besiege the royal palace to obtain a salary increase, to expel the unwanted kings from the kingdom to put others in it. The strength of this army was also given by the presence of 2000 knights and by the fact that they were veterans of many wars on behalf of Alexandria among which the one who put Ptolemy XII on the throne (12), the one with the killing of the two sons of Bibulo and others against the Egyptian people, all things that made them expert soldiers.

      111.

      Trusting in the value of his soldiers and despising the small number of those available to Caesar, Achilla occupied that large part of the city of Alexandria which was not controlled by the Romans. In the first assault he tried to raid the residence chosen by Caesar to stay there, but the Roman СКАЧАТЬ