I am inclined to believe that, Caesar was greedy, selfish, and unjust during his reign as dictator of Rome. This is clearly shown by his actions immediately after taking office. He did not make deliberate attempts to restore the Roman Republic but instead almost scuttled it. Julius Caesar ended up as a Romans dictator through a power-sharing arrangement between three men. They included; Crassus, Pompey, and Caesar. The arrangement was meant to balance power and safeguard the republican system. Crassus’ death left Pompey and Caesar to share power amongst the two, since both were ambitious and selfish, rivalry sparked between them hence Pompey’s demise. Their death then marked an end to the triumvirate hence leaving Caesar as the sole ruler of the Roman Republic. Like a Dictator, Caesar consolidated power in politics and government, religion, and the military. In other words, he was an absolute ruler. In this paper, therefore, I will delve into detail about what Caesar should have done during his time in office to restore the Roman Republic.
First and foremost, Caesar ought to have devolved power to other people and institutions. This would have made him gain more support from the people, republicans and aristocrats alike. We clearly see that Caesar consolidated all power to himself. He acquired power in politics and government, religion, and even in the military hence making himself an absolute ruler. Because of his greed for power, he even stripped the established institutions of mandate earlier given instead of strengthening them. For instance, he did not want to be presided over by the Senate like his predecessors he, therefore, waged a civil war against Pompey hence leading to the deaths of Pompey’s supporters who were at the senate. Caesar later filled the vacant position with his colleagues and hence gained an upper hand in the senate. Furthermore, he added the number of senators from six hundred to nine hundred in order to satisfy his ambition and making the senate his puppet. In addition, Caesar ought to have remembered the fact that, he became a ruler as a result of a power-sharing arrangement that was meant to create a balanced power and safeguard the republican system and should have acted in accordance with the arrangement rather than contrasting it.
Second, Caesar should have allowed the people of the Roman Republic to exercise their full rights and freedoms according to the constitution. Instead, Caesar dominated the lives of the Roman people and deprived them of their rights. For instance, He would come up with religious forecasts that would favor his political standings. Moreover, as prefecture morun, he used his position to limit the amount of wealth to be carried in public. In addition, he even ordered the killings of those who opposed him and barred the aristocrats from standing for office for two years. All the above were a sheer infringement of the people’s rights that were uncalled for.
Third, in order to restore the republic, Caesar ought to have been just during his reign. He should have applied his rules uniformly rather than selectively. For instance, he should have advocated for liberty and peace for all the empire rather than meaning only the governors. Furthermore, the appointments he made should have been based on merit, friends, and follies alike. Caesar gave out public posts only to his colleagues and supporters since he did not want to be challenged.
Fourth, for a stable republic, there was a need for accountability and responsibility to the people. The leaders ought to be responsible for their actions and should not be above the law. During Caesar’s time in office, his actions remained unchecked and therefore cultivated a culture of impunity. Caesar should have allowed the already established institutions such as the senate to continue carrying out their mandate as before. In addition, there should have been respecting for the office. That is tenure and general government. It is depicted that, Caesar changed the constitution after his first tenure expired and therefore served till his death. Moreover, he used government as his tool, he imprinted his head in coins and he even named his grand-nephew as his successor.
In conclusion, Caesar should have decentralized power, strengthened institutions, and allowed the Roman people exercise their rights and freedoms without restrictions. Furthermore, he ought to have been just and respectful of his office in order to restore to the Republic.