ship of Caesar. It was the age of Pompeius the Great. Stricken by the ambitions , the alliances and the feuds of the dynasts, mona

king of cities, with proscription and murder of the best men; for the ambitions of the dynasts provoked war between class and cla

d the supreme magistracy as the prerogative of birth and the prize of ambition . 3 The patricians continued to wield an influen

s. Cicero would have preserved both dignity and peace of mind had not ambition and vanity blinded him to the true causes of his

nd incessant. Family influence and wealth did not alone suffice. From ambition or for safety, politicians formed compacts. Amici

o, a knight’s son from a small town, succumbed to his talents and his ambition . Not so T. Pomponius Atticus, the great banker. H

erent propter vel gratiam vel dignitatem. ’ PageBook=>014 from ambition and wedded to quiet, the knights could claim no t

l part of a citizen’s duty. The necessities of a world-empire and the ambition of generals led to the creation of extraordinary

ces and nations, kings and tetrarchs. Such were the resources which ambition required to win power in Rome and direct the poli

aws. The use of this weapon in the interests of reform or of personal ambition became a mark of the politicians who arrogated to

he principal members of the ruling group, or, more properly, personal ambition and political intrigue, constrained them, in mast

ctrines of Epicurus and confirmed from their own careers the folly of ambition , the vanity of virtue. 1 In the decline of the

dominated by his step-sister, a woman possessed of all the rapacious ambition of the patrician Servilii and ruthless to recaptu

recalled the Sullan party she was a granddaughter of Sulla. 4 Active ambition earned a host of enemies. But this patrician dema

, and to some purpose. The Roman noble, constrained in the pursuit of ambition to adopt the language and tactics of a demagogue,

matic arts of Caesar reconciled Crassus with Pompeius, to satisfy the ambitions of all three, and turned the year named after the

ding Italy with a great army to establish a military autocracy. Their ambitions and their rivalries might have been tolerated in

Caesar’s consulate, or Caesar’s victory and the rewards of greed and ambition in a war against the Sullan oligarchy. Italy bega

ompeius no rival. 1 Caesar had many enemies, provoked by his ruthless ambition , by his acts of arrogance towards other principes

jealousy, Caesar, BC 1, 4, 4; Velleius 2, 29, 2; 33, 3. For Caesar’s ambition , Plutarch, Antonius 6 (cf. Suetonius, Divus Iuliu

was fighting the wars of the Republic in the East. Sulla had all the ambition of a Roman noble: but it was not his ambition to

East. Sulla had all the ambition of a Roman noble: but it was not his ambition to seize power through civil strife and hold it,

esar and the destruction of the Free State. That was the nemesis of ambition and glory, to be thwarted in the end. After such

itimate authority when men recalled the earlier career and inordinate ambition of the Sullan partisan who had first NotesPage=

s, yet he had to curtail their privileges and repress their dangerous ambitions . In name and function Caesar’s office was to se

ut tyranny (Cicero, De off, 3, 82). PageBook=>054 State in his ambition and the modest magistrate who restored the Republ

une of Sulla Felix and the glory of Pompeius Magnus. In vain reckless ambition had ruined the Roman State and baffled itself in

n origin or in motive. The resentment of pardoned Pompeians, thwarted ambition , personal feuds and personal interest masked by t

hirty years later they clustered around Pompeius, from interest, from ambition , or for the Republic. The coalition party was the

er, being the most active and influential of the consulars, youth and ambition in the lower ranks of the Senate turned with alac

popularis, using tribunes and the advocacy of reform for his personal ambition . Like his father before him, Pompeius could not b

ius was a man of some competence: Lepidus had influence but no party, ambition but not the will and the power for achievement. C

on did not matter they were older than the Roman Republic. It was the ambition of the Roman aristocrat to maintain his dignitas,

erators providing they did not interfere with the first object of his ambition , which was to seize and maintain primacy in the C

ggerated view that posterity has been tempted to take of the ulterior ambitions of Antonius. In the light of his subsequent Caesa

ed to set himself in’ Caesar’s place, he is not thereby absolved from ambition , considered or reckless, and the lust for power.

d for so long the inevitable doom of brilliant talents and restless ambition In April Antonius seemed reasonably secure. At ho

itrae, had shunned the burdens and the dangers of Roman politics. 1 Ambition broke out in the son, a model of all the virtues.

clear. From the beginning, his sense for realities was unerring, his ambition implacable. In that the young man was a Roman and

te, o puer, qui omnia nomini debes. ’ PageBook=>114 Exorbitant ambition mated with political maturity is not enough to ex

onstrained to an unwelcome decision. In no mood to be thwarted in his ambitions , he still hoped to avoid an open breach with the

ropaganda, of promises, of bribes. With his years, his name and his ambition , Octavianus had nothing to gain from concord in t

us, however, had been ensnared by Caesar, perhaps with a bribe to his ambition , the consulate of 48 B.C. Servilius may not have

atesman is depicted in civilian rather than in military garb; and the ambition of unscrupulous principes is strongly denounced.

r. But the desire for fame is not in itself an infirmity or a vice. Ambition can be legitimate and laudable. De gloria was wri

animi that would have justified the exorbitant claims of his personal ambition . The Second Philippic, though technically perfe

ession of its rights again: that is to say, behind the scenes private ambition , family politics and high finance were at their o

ack of the splendour, courage and ability that would have excused his ambitions . 1 The Aemilian name, his family connexions and t

ius. But he could not arrest the mobilization. Patriotism and private ambition , intimidation, fraud and bribery were already loo

troops of Antonius and retrieved the day, no soldier in repute or in ambition , but equal to his station and duty. The great Ant

ar the escape of Antonius and his union with Lepidus, reprobating his ambition in the most violent of terms. 1 Now Pollio supe

presumably Philippus and Marcellus) who appeared to be supporting the ambition of Octavianus. 4 Who was the destined colleague?

statesman was best employed in guiding and repressing the inordinate ambitions of youth. It had ever been Cicero’s darling notio

is to be believed, Augustus admitted that he had played upon Cicero’s ambition to be consul. 4 Ad M. Brutum 1, 4a, 4 (May 15th

ribed, either enjoyed protection already or now purchased it. 5 The ambition of generals like Pompeius and Caesar provoked civ

m the Catonian party, P. Servilius, grasped the prize of intrigue and ambition a second consulate from the Triumvirs (41 B.C.),

Lepidus none took account: he had family influence and did not resign ambition , but lacked a party and devoted legions. His styl

an party, Antonius had lost the better part of two years, sacrificing ambition , interest and power. Of an appeal to arms, no tho

father, through diplomacy, hoped to get him an early consulate. 6 His ambition was now satisfied, his allegiance beyond question

and Calvinus, were absent. Lepidus in Africa was silent or ambiguous. Ambition had made him a Caesarian, but he numbered friends

yet contrasting pillars of subsequent strength new men of ability and ambition paired with aristocrats of the most ancient famil

evolutionary leader or taking up an ally not of their own class, from ambition or for survival in a dangerous age. The young rev

ears, if the system endured, invited young men of talent or desperate ambition . As admission to the Senate and other forms of pa

d 34 B.C. Antonius might fight the wars of the Republic or of private ambition far away in the East; Octavianus chose to safegua

despotism of the Triumvirate Sallustius turned aside with disgust. 4 Ambition had spurred his youth to imprudent NotesPage=&g

in the wars and governing a province. 1 The end of Caesar abated the ambition of Sallustius and his belief in reform and progre

were called, possessed a common doctrine and technique: it was their ambition to renovate Latin poetry and extend its scope by

make their peace with the new order, some in resignation, others from ambition . Ahenobarbus with Antonius, Messalla and other no

ation which Cleopatra had achieved over him and the nature of her own ambitions . A fabricated concatenation of unrealized intenti

garchy was to survive as a governing class it would have to abate its ambitions and narrow the area of its rule. Rome could not d

o the Roman State a cause of disintegration by reason of the military ambition of the proconsuls and the extortions of the knigh

Credence might be given to the most alarming accounts of his ulterior ambitions . Was it the design of Marcus Antonius to rule a

a winter, leaving no political consequences. By 33 B.C., however, the ambition of Antonius might have moved farther in this dire

1932), 141; CAH x, 82 f. PageBook=>275 is not certain that her ambition was greater than this, to secure and augment her

hodorus. Created belief turned the scale of history. The policy and ambitions of Antonius or of Cleopatra were not the true cau

r, yet another, criminal war between citizens was being forced by mad ambition upon the Roman People. In this atmosphere of terr

national war. The contest was personal: it arose from the conflicting ambitions of two rivals for supreme power. The elder, like

Caesar, possessed strength and glory in his own right, and implacable ambition . From the rivalry of the Caesarian leaders a la

of earlier statesmen had been baulked by fate—or rather by their own ambition , inadequacy or dishonesty. Sulla established orde

ad threatened the stability of the State, that was due to the ruinous ambition of politicians who sought power illegally and hel

nce, consulted for his advice on weighty matters—and never tempted by ambition into danger. He could afford in the magnanimity o

mong the ex-consuls were men dangerously eminent, from family or from ambition . Crassus was a recent warning. Triumviral authori

y out of place. Murena soon fell a victim to his indiscretion, or his ambition . A conspiracy was hatched or at least discovered.

Republican adherents to rally to the new régime, for diverse motives ambition , profit and patriotism. The conspiracy of Muren

rtain cracks and stains on this Augustan masterpiece. Virtus begets ambition ; and Agrippa had all the ambition of a Roman. His

gustan masterpiece. Virtus begets ambition; and Agrippa had all the ambition of a Roman. His refusal of honours was represente

ed as modest self-effacement: it is rather the sign of a concentrated ambition , of a single passion for real power, careless of

blic perished, three dynasts divided and ruled the Roman world: their ambitions and their dissensions broke the compact and inaug

acian and Illyrian brigands became emperors of Rome. Excited by the ambition of military demagogues, the claims of the armed p

mmended by a blameless character and a healthy distaste for political ambition . 4 In itself, the promotion of knights to the S

creep forth the unfamiliar shapes of ‘small-town monsters’,4 lured by ambition and profit, elicited by patronage, bearing the ga

clientela, those rulers inherited the dynastic devices along with the ambitions of earlier Roman politicians, practised since imm

n, knew their own class better and knew its failings. His name, his ambition and his acts had denied the revolutionary leader

the Fasti attest and prove. Nor is there a hint anywhere of electoral ambition , corruption or disorders. Emerging with renewed s

and calamitous. Many able men lacking birth, protection or desperate ambition stood aloof from politics. They could hardly be b

aesar the Dictator, the consulars had failed lamentably, from private ambition and personal feuds, from incompetence and from th

hus safeguarded. But the mere maintenance of order did not fulfil the ambition of the Princeps or justify his mandate. There was

Under the Republic the command of an army was the reward of birth, ambition or greed, to be won at the cost of intrigue and c

ed a salary in money. 5 Politics can be controlled but not abolished, ambition curbed but not crushed. The strife for wealth and

10. PageBook=>416 Agrippa and Livia had thwarted the dynastic ambitions of the Princeps in the matter of his nephew Marce

eath the mask of service and subordination, Tiberius concealed a high ambition ; like Agrippa, he would yield to Augustus but not

ly than the primacy of one of their own number. Augustus knew it. The ambition of the nobiles might have appeared the most serio

regarded their obligations to Rome in the personal light of their own ambitions . The Republic had served their ends, why not the

form nor intellectual promise. But even he could serve the political ambitions of his grandmother; so the young Claudius, after

h the love of letters, good sense and the firm avoidance of desperate ambition or party spirit. Piso’s family became related to

As a politician, Augustus was ruthless and consequent. To achieve his ambition he would coolly have sacrificed his nearest and d

tion he would coolly have sacrificed his nearest and dearest; and his ambition was the unhindered succession to the throne of Ga

Once again fortune took charge of the game and shattered Augustus’ ambition of securing the succession for one of his own blo

sumed, no lack of open joy and welcome, to dissemble the ruin of high ambitions . It was expedient to demonstrate without delay th

ilius Lepidus, he said, possessed the capacity for empire but not the ambition , Asinius Gallus the ambition only: L. Arruntius h

ssed the capacity for empire but not the ambition, Asinius Gallus the ambition only: L. Arruntius had both. 4 NotesPage=>43

s of accidents, the ever-widening claims of military security and the ambition of a few men. Cicero and his contemporaries might

ought to establish an ordered state. Both were damned by the crime of ambition and ‘impia arma’. Augustus, like the historian Ta

ent families spent their substance in ostentation or perished through ambition and intrigue. Novi homines from the towns of Ital

called that Caesar’s heir had been willing, for the ends of political ambition , to waive that solemn duty in the autumn of 44 B.

reputation. 1 The law courts could still provide scope for oratory, ambition and political intrigue. Augustus was invulnerable

prominence. Their morals were impugned: it was their name or their ambition that ruined them. Two young patricians, the last

enjoyed a brief tenure of the Principate that Augustus had founded. Ambition , display and dissipation, or more simply an incap

tical, social and economic, where antiquity was prone to see only the ambition and the agency of individuals. On any count, Balb

putation. 4 But the prediction made long ago came true fear, folly or ambition spurred Galba to empire and to ruin. PageNotes.

Tiberius, however, was insecure. The nobiles suffered from their own ambitions and feuds. It was a temptation to harass the relu

le for power and distinction went on as before, enhanced by the rival ambitions of Seianus’ faction and the family of Germanicus.

of their class, acquired in return for the cession of their power and ambition . Pride and pedigree returned: it masked subservie

ad summas emergere opes rerumque potiri. 2 The nobiles, by their ambition and their feuds, had not merely destroyed their s

be a playground for politicians, but in truth a res publica. Selfish ambition and personal loyalties must give way before civic

ife for liberty, glory or domination. 1 Empire, wealth and individual ambition had ruined the Republic long ago. Marius and Sull

uld be great men still, even under bad emperors, if they abated their ambition , remembered their duty as Romans to the Roman Peo

huge and dynastic monument, his own Mausoleum. He may already, in the ambition to perpetuate his glory, have composed the first

e had sacrificed everything; he had achieved the height of all mortal ambition and in his ambition he had saved and regenerated

rything; he had achieved the height of all mortal ambition and in his ambition he had saved and regenerated the Roman People.

cos. 8 B.C.), 219, 375, 395, 439; marries Vipsania, 378, 512; alleged ambitions , 433 f.; his sons, 500. Asinius Marcellus, M. (

, 443 ff.; in Gaul and Spain, 388 f.; after 12 B.C., 391 f.; dynastic ambitions for his grandsons, 416 ff.; position after 6 B.C.

d the problem of their marriage, 261, 273 f., 277, 280; character and ambitions , 274; alleged designs, 283; relative unimportance

sistence on dignitas, 48, 70, 122; arrogance, 42, 56; melancholy, 56; ambition , 25, 42, 56, 145; clemency, 51, 65, 159; on dutie

ets. Livia Drusilla, her marriage to Octavianus, 229; character and ambitions of, 340 f.; her success in 23 B.C., 345; politica

3, 45. Servilia, the mother of Brutus, 12, 21, 23 f., 136, 185; her ambition and influence, 23 f., 69; liaison with Caesar, 35

relations with Tiberius, 344; honours declined or accepted, 231, 343; ambition , 343 f.; wealth, 238, 380 f.; his; marriages, 238