Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

[All shouting] Narrator: On the 1st of March, 50 BC, the debate over Caesar's governorship begins.

It will end with a vote.

The Optimates need a majority to recall Caesar to Rome... but Caesar is prepared.

He's banking on a man he's bribed, another tribune of the people.

Caesar's man uses his power as a tribune to obstruct the debate.

[Men shouting] Holland, voice-over: The tribune vetoes and vetoes and vetoes every proposal that is put by the senate to try and strip Caesar of his command.

Narrator: The tribune not only blocks the proposal to revoke Caesar's governorship, he has a counterdemand, direct from Caesar.

Holland, voice-over: He puts a proposal to the Senate that if Caesar is stripped of his command, then Pompey should be stripped of his command in Spain... and this, of course, ups the stakes because it now means that Pompey's command as well is in play.

Pompey isn't going to give up his army.

Are you kidding?

His power lies in having an army at his command.

He is not going to give that up.

[All shouting] Narrator: Rome's two most powerful generals are now in a dangerous game of brinkmanship.

If they cannot resolve their standoff peacefully, everyone fears where it might lead.

Malik, voice-over: The tension between Caesar and Pompey at this point is escalating because of the back and forth they're having via the senate.

The problem is, the Romans know very well the logical outcome of this could be civil war.

Narrator: In a frantic bid to de-escalate, the senate again debates the proposal that both Caesar and Pompey give up their armies and that Caesar be allowed to stand for the consulship.

For the Optimates, this would mean abandoning their bid to prosecute him... but even Caesar's opponents are eager to avert catastrophe.

Haley, voice-over: The vote was 374 to 22 against, and it's clearly because the senate wants to avoid civil war.

And it might appear at that point that peace is around the corner, but, of course, Caesar's enemies aren't going to let that happen.