I’ve started another war! This time right near Rome, when I wanted to cross the river Rubicon 🛶. Those annoying Senate decrees again. I was just about to announce my candidacy for consul (yes yes, they also wanted to prosecute me…) when I heard I wasn’t allowed to cross the Rubicon — the border river between my province and the core Roman territory — with my five cohorts. That’s 5 Ă— 480 = 2,400 men. Who came up with that nonsense? Why shouldn’t I be allowed to take my army with me on my travels?
But what was I supposed to do? Just leave them behind so they could terrify the citizens on their own? No. Definitely not. That’s why I said my famous phrase “Aneriftho ho kybos” — “Let the die be cast” — and simply marched across. You’re probably wondering why I said that in Greek? Well, it’s simple: every educated Roman aristocrat speaks Greek. Though some other politicians dropped out of school. I didn’t. So I can say it. Later on, the phrase became known as “Alea iacta est” — “The die is cast” (or “The dice are cast”). 🎲
Back to the point. The Senate has now declared me an enemy of the state. And now there’s a civil war I need to win. I just have so much to do! They can’t just get rid of a politician who’s beloved by the people…
I’ll spare you the details, but I chased after Pompey, my enemy, again and again. I wanted a peaceful solution. Pompey didn’t. But here’s what matters: I proved once again how brilliant I am by defeating Pompey on August 9, 48 BC! He was the greatest general in all of Rome! It’s also worth noting that I was actually outnumbered. I had about 22,000 legionaries — the Optimates had 44,000 and 7,000 cavalry; I had only 1,000.
And don’t forget: I lost only around 100 men, while the Optimates lost about 15,000. Because of my superior military strategy, I won once again!
Pompey escaped me! How could that happen? He wasn’t in his camp anymore, and now he’s fled to Egypt! I’ll show him that you can’t run from me — he’ll feel that with his death!
There’s only one thing left to say:
A better time will come!
Alea iacta est!
The die has been cast! (The dice are cast!)
Gaius Julius Caesar
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