Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/211

A Century of Revolution 147 as Dictator (82 B.C.). His first action was to begin the system- atic slaughter of the leaders of the people's party and the confis- cation of their property. Then he forced the passage of a whole series of new laws which deprived the Assembly and the tribunes of their power and gave the supreme leadership of the State to the Senate. II. OVERTHROW OF THE REPUBLIC; POMPEY AND C^SAR 232. The People elect Pompey as their Leader. Some years later Sulla, who was a cruel and heartless defender of the aristo- cratic Senate, died, and the people began an agitation for the repeal of the laws which deprived them and their tribunes of all control over the government. They elected Pompey, a former officer of Sulla's, as their leader, and he became consul in 70 B.C. He managed to get the obnoxious laws repealed and gained a great reputation for himself by attacking and destroying the pirates who preyed on Roman commerce. He also gained victories in Asia Minor and Syria, where he crushed the remnants of the old kingdom of the Seleucids. Syria, including Palestine, became a Roman province. 233. Rise of Julius Caesar. Meanwhile a new popular hero and opponent of the senatorial party had arisen in Rome, a nephew of Marius, Julius Caesar, born in the year 100 B.C. On Pompey 's return Caesar sided with him, and with his support managed' to be elected consul for the year 59 B.C. Caesar aspired to become the head of the State and introduce many necessary reforms. But he had to have an army and so secured the appointment as governor of Gaul, much of which was still unconquered by the Romans. 234. Caesar's Conquest of Gaul. Caesar took charge of his new province in 58 B.C., and in the following eight years proved himself to be a commander of distinguished ability. He subdued the Gauls and conquered their territory from the Rhine westward to the ocean and the English Channel. He even crossed the Channel and invaded Britain as far as the Thames. He added