party I went to 20-odd years ago, and I seem to have a hangover just thinking about it.

Ewww Malt liquor *shivers*

The office of dictator was a recognized magistracy in the Roman Republican system, originally a short term office with special powers.

The senate appointed Julius Caesar dictator. Caesar had the genius to manipulate the Senate into declaring him dictator perpetuo, dictator for life. This was outside of ancient precedent and was one reason he was assassinated by Senate conservatives.

This all was taking place in the wider context of a class war between the people (plebs) and the senatorial class which had been broiling for several decades. Caesar claimed to uphold the rights of the people and for that the Senate viewed him as a traitor to his class.

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony introduce the Lex Antonia, abolishing the office of dictator.

The sole military power in Rome was Caesar. It was a military dictatorship in the modern sense. Let us not forget that this class war went both ways. Gaius Marius had his reign of terror already.

Actually, the question of the Marian Reforms is another good topic - pro or con.

But the office did pertain to military power initially. Caesar took and ran with it, "evolving" it into an office with supreme military and political powers.

A Love Supreme

placing it within the larger context of the popularis vs. optimates power struggle in Rome, I'm so sure it was best that it happened.

He points out that before Caesar, there was the brutal repressive dicatorship of the optimate Sulla and how the senate didn't resist his reactionary reforms and political murders. If I remember correctly, Sulla even got to retire after his tenure and lived pretty nicely until he died.

Parenti also notes the previous assassinations of the Gracchi brothers and many other popularis politicians throughout the history of the Roman Republic.

What I didn't think much of in Parenti's book are his occasional apologetics supporting Caesar's own dictatorial bent. But, as much as I like Parenti, I know he has his own axes that he sometimes grinds.


http://www.amazon.com/The-Assassination-Julius-Caesar-Peoples/dp/1565849426/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363358339&sr=8-1&keywords=parenti+caesar