Original subtitles

NARRATOR: It was the greatest empire the world has ever known.

Unmatched in its brutality,

its genius, its lust for power.

For centuries, Rome ruled over a quarter of the people on the planet.

This series tells the story of six critical moments

that shaped that empire.

How it rose, how it became great,

and how it fell.

There are stories of great soldiers, huge battles,

and doomed rebels.

There are tales of love and betrayal.

And there are the emperors.

The mad, the cruel and the brilliant.

Tomorrow, we march on Rome!

The Emperor's betrayed us again!

I want them all to die!

(CROWD CHEERING)

NARRATOR: This is the 500-year story

of the rise and fall of the civilisation that shaped our own.

And it starts with the most famous Roman of them all,

Julius Caesar.

Who will fight with me today?

SOLDIERS: Caesar!

NARRATOR: How he overthrew the government he served

and brought revolution to Rome.

Hunt them down! Hunt them down!

MAN: Fall in!

Fall in!

Quickly, quickly! Move, men!

MAN: Ready! Ready!

Positions, move!

NARRATOR: After eight years of war, Caesar's campaign in Gaul was reaching its climax.

His army had finally cornered the enemy at the town of Alesia.

Victory was in sight.

But all that was about to change.

(MEN YELLING)

What?

The Gauls have got reinforcements, thousands of them.

Well, we knew they'd turn up at some stage.

- How many thousand, Labienus? - 100,000. Maybe more.

And where are they now?

They've taken up position in the south.

That means we're trapped. What should we do?

I think we can deal with this, gentlemen.

Stand to!

Stand to!

NARRATOR: Caesar's 40,000 troops were now surrounded.

They faced nearly quarter of a million Gauls.

Close!

(MEN GROANING)

NARRATOR: The Roman army was being pushed back.

Defeat seemed inevitable.

And then, Just as all seemed lost...

Caesar!

Who will fight with me? Who will fight with me?

Will you fight for me? Will you fight for me?

Signal the cavalry! Signal the cavalry!

(HORN BLOWING)

NARRATOR: This was Caesar's masterstroke, sending his cavalry round the back of the Gauls,

trapping those who trapped him.

(YELLING)

(ALL CHEERING)

Caesar's victory at Alesia is still regarded as one of the most brilliant in military history.

But it was Just the beginning of the revolution he was about to unleash.

Caesar, you've done it.

It's over.

This is a great day for us.

It's a great day for Rome.

Well, my service to Rome is just beginning.

But the war's over.

(MEN CHATTERING)

NARRATOR: Caesar was not Just a soldier, he was also a powerful politician.

ALL: (CHANTING) Caesar!

Comrades, you have fought

and you have bled and you have died for Rome.

For the first time, all of Gaul is conquered!

(ALL CHEERING)

But Rome is not a place that loves her soldiers,

or her people.

Because Rome's fortunes are held in the hands of corrupt aristocrats

who profess to rule in your name.

So, I will use my office.

I will restore Rome to the very people that made Rome great.

Rome is yours, not theirs.

Will you help me restore Rome to its people?

ALL: (CHANTING) Caesar!

NARRATOR: Even in 52 BC, news travelled fast.

Rome knew about the victory at Alesia within days.

(ALL CHANTING)

Back then, Rome wasn't ruled by emperors, it was a republic,

a largely democratic form of government,

and Caesar's talk of political change was popular with ordinary people.

But the ruling classes in the Senate,

the nearest thing Rome had to a parliament, were worried.

What they feared most was that Caesar would break one of the fundamental rules of the republic

and return to Rome without first disbanding his army.

His actions are illegal.

He is a criminal and he must be prosecuted!

He isn't fighting for Rome or the republic.

He's fighting to make himself rich.

His greed and ambition are like a grotesque deformity.

So, do you honestly think he'll just come back to Rome?

Oh, he wants to return, at the head of an army to seize power!

ALL: (CHANTING) Caesar!

On.

Caesar would be delighted with this. Everyone shouting his name.

They're fools if they think that all he's going to do

is take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

He is interested only in his own personal wealth and power,

like every other senator we seem to have, Marcellus.

Of course.

Not everyone enjoys the benefits of your modest way of life, Cato.

As leader of the Senate, my position carries great responsibility

and if it comes with certain privileges,

well, I'm not about to refuse them.

MAN: Caesar, Caesar, Caesar!

Question is, what are we going to do about him?

There's only one man in Rome strong enough to take him on.

Pompey is not one of us.

Then we'll have to persuade him.

NARRATOR: In his time, Pompey had been Rome's most successful general,

conquering most of the eastern Mediterranean.

But he had not fought for nine years.

- Entertaining tonight, Pompey? - No, Marcellus, we always eat like this.

It's Cornelia's party. I'm sorry you weren't invited.

I'll try and find it in my heart to forgive her.

So, to what do I owe the pleasure?

Caesar.

NARRATOR: The Roman republic was born out of fear of ever being ruled by a tyrant.

Its founding principle was that no individual should hold too much power

and every political office should be subJect to regular re-election.

But Caesar had demanded an extension of his powers without election,

putting himself in conflict with those fundamental rules.

What's this?

It's bat's blood mixed with oil.

They say it's actually rather good for the skin.

You should try it.

You know the Senate will never agree to your demands.

Why not? I mean, I conquered Gaul, people want me.

Actually, you know, I'm a little bit of a hero.

The law won't allow it.

Yes, well, they're going to have to change the law, aren't they?

It's not just the law that needs changing, Labienus.

You can't expect a system where everyone changes office every year

to govern an entire empire.

The republic has failed to move with the times.

It needs reforming.

Reforming or overthrowing?

It needs strong leadership.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

NARRATOR: The problem facing Cato and Marcellus

was that Pompey and Caesar had once been close political allies.

Why do you think he retains his army?

Because he's been through eight years of hell with those men.

It's because his army makes it impossible to prosecute him.

He'll disband before he reaches the border. He's loyal to Rome.

He's not loyal and he needs his army to get rid of us.

Maybe a dose of Caesar is exactly what the republic needs.

Pompey, you of all people know no man is bigger than the republic.

It's worked for 500 years, yet he would sweep it away.

And if he does, who knows what would happen?

Chaos, mob rule, the whole empire could collapse.

- Nonsense. - Open your eyes.

- See the reality of the man. - I'm not listening to any more of this.

Get out of my house.

Pompey, my friend,

we all hope Cato's wrong about this.

And, of course, we've ordered Caesar to disband,

but if he refuses, we'll need to know whose side you're on.

Side? You're creating sides.

You're asking me to turn on a friend and an ally.

You're asking me to start a civil war.

You think we want a civil war?

But if he threatens the republic, who's going to defend it?

Who else do we turn to?

Rome's legions will be yours again,

if you're prepared to lead them.

NARRATOR: It was at this time that Cato sent out a number of messages.

Sir.

One went to Labienus with an unexpected offer.

Another he sent to Caesar, demanding he leave his army at the border

and return to Rome.

- You can't be surprised. - CAESAR: Yeah.

I'm not surprised at all.

- It's the law. - The law.

The law... This isn't the law.

This is Cato trying to lure me back to Rome unarmed,

so he can destroy me, which is precisely why I choose to ignore it.

Cato, the man who dresses like a pig farmer

and brushes his teeth in his own urine.

No. No, I shan't disband my army under his conditions.

- Then, Caesar, you're risking civil war. - No, they are risking civil war.

I'd very much like to see who'd try to oppose me.

Pompey might.

Pompey? Oh, no, no, he's old, you see. He's been 46, actually, for the last 10 years.

And if he did, he'd lose.

You sound as if you want war.

Look, Labienus, I... I don't want war.

I just want justice for me and for the people of Rome.

Come to me.

Of course I don't want war.

ALL: (CHANTING) Pompey!

NARRATOR: Any hopes that Caesar may have had of peace were soon shattered.

(ALL CHEERING)

In December 50 BC, Pompey finally agreed to lead the republic against Caesar.

Rome was now divided.

- Caesar. - Yes, what is it, Antony?

Labienus is gone.

Really? Where has he gone?

Well, he's gone, Caesar. He's joined the republic.

Poor old Labienus.

I guarantee he'll live to regret it.

His loss is your gain.

You are now my sole deputy.

Congratulations.

Hyar!

NARRATOR: That winter, Caesar and part of his army

assembled on the banks of a tiny river called the Rubicon.

A river so small that today no one even knows where it is.

Cheer up, Will. We'll be in Rome soon and this will all be over.

We'll be rich, huh?

The Rubicon marked Rome's border,

the line where returning generals were supposed to disband their armies.

Once we cross it, there's no going back.

I know.

Be in Rome in a few days and then finally...

Finally, there'll be peace.

I know what you want, Caesar. I want it too.

But many Romans will die along the way.

Is this really the way to reform the republic?

The die is cast.

I did not seek this fight.

Nor shall I shirk it.

Comrades, Rome is in peril.

Follow me.

(HORSE WHINNIES)

Forward!

NARRATOR: Caesar and his army marched south, moving faster than anyone predicted.

Town after town fell to him.

Panic swept through Rome.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(WOMEN SCREAMING)

It's time for the legions to evacuate the city. We can't wait for civilian stragglers any longer.

Labienus, assemble the troops on the Field of Mars.

- Yes, General. - What are you doing?

We asked you to defend Rome, not abandon it.

- You can't leave Rome. - Caesar has 11 legions, I have two!

We can't withstand a siege, Rome wasn't built as a fortress.

You took the sword, you swore to defend us.

I swore to defend the republic, Marcellus, not its buildings or your personal property.

And let's hope for all our sakes, you're right.

General, we have to leave.

I can defeat Caesar but not here. We have to face him when we're strong.

Not with our backs against the wall.

NARRATOR: And so, on January 17th, 49 BC, the unthinkable happened.

Rome, the capital of the greatest empire the world had ever seen, was abandoned.

Now I told you not to let him get away, didn't I?

No one could have stopped him.

I'm surrounded by fools.

Well, you know what this means, don't you? Do you have any comprehension?

It means a longer campaign in which more of you are going to die.

What do you want to do now? The men are exhausted.

Well, I promised them Rome.

Now they can have it.

NARRATOR: Caesar decided to seize the only thing of value left in the city.

METELLUS: Caesar!

NARRATOR: It was guarded by a handful of remaining politicians.

Let that man through!

I know what you're after.

Senate must release to me the emergency funds from the treasury immediately.

Those funds are for use only in the event of invasion.

There is no threat of invasion. I've just defeated the Gauls.

The only danger is from Cato and from Pompey.

- Cato and Pompey are loyal to the republic. - They are the republic's enemies!

They want civil war and I need those funds to defeat them.

Never.

Oh, very well, then, in the name of the people of Rome,

I'm just going to take them.

You cannot take this money. It belongs to Rome.

I can and I will.

I've just freed Rome from the likes of you.

You've gone too far.

- Caesar has no authority here! - Oh, do shut up, Metellus.

It's far easier to kill you than argue with you. Now, get out of my way.

How much do you want distributed amongst the men?

None of it, they're going to have to wait. I need it for the campaign.

Shall I prepare the fleet to follow Pompey?

No, first we head west.

NARRATOR: Pompey had fled east to Greece, to where he had allies.

But Caesar feared being caught in a trap.

So first he headed to Spain to wipe out Pompey's supporters there.

It took Caesar more than a year to subdue them.

And by then, his men had had enough.

Caesar had promised them riches

and he still hadn't delivered.

What is it?

There's unrest in the ninth legion.

Well, Antony, you know what to do, don't you?

You round up the ring leaders and you have them whipped.

No, Caesar.

All 4,000 have mutinied.

What?

The whole legion.

What do they think they're doing?

Don't they know me by now?

Decimate the legion.

Leave.

NARRATOR: Decimation meant killing one in ten.

Even then, it was seen as a barbaric punishment

and hadn't been used for decades.

(MAN MOANING)

Unless something changes, we could have more of this.

Yes, I know, we shall have to end this war soon.

NARRATOR: Weeks later, Caesar left Italy in search of that decisive victory.

His plan was to surprise Pompey at a town called Dyracchium,

in what is now modern day Albania.

- Most impressive. - Forty thousand and growing.

I was wrong, Pompey. You were right to evacuate Rome.

He'll never match your army now.

I know Caesar. Everything he does relies on speed and aggression.

But that's also his weakness.

He's impetuous, he doesn't listen to anyone now,

and that will be his downfall.

He won't be able to resist attacking us despite these numbers.

And then he'll discover that he's not fighting barbarians.

We'll win back Rome, Marcellus.

And then you'll find out just how much of your money he's stolen.

NARRATOR: It happened exactly as Pompey had predicted.

At the battle of Dyracchium,

Caesar tried the same tactic he had used against the Gauls at Alesia.

He tried to encircle Pompey's army with a much smaller force.

But for the first time, Caesar had met a general who matched him.

And lost.

I should never have fought him here.

I should never have tried to surround him.

Never.

NARRATOR: Caesar now took a huge gamble, retreating inland to regroup.

Every step took him further from food and water.

All Pompey had to do was to wait for his enemy to run out of supplies.

But he had problems of his own.

We can't wait anymore.

You've got one of the biggest armies ever assembled, why don't you use it?

Size doesn't guarantee victory, Cato. We've no need to confront Caesar.

Without supplies, his troops'll desert. Time will win this war for us.

I don't think you quite understand, Pompey,

every day we wait is costing us a great deal of money.

Costing the Senate a great deal of money.

You must engage and defeat him now. We need a quick, clean victory.

- That's what we're paying you for. - Look, if we rush this,

we lose our main advantage and then you'll be losing an awful lot more than money.

Armies are defeated on the battlefield, not the parade ground.

Oh, really?

You'll never be stronger. Now confront him.

NARRATOR: But Pompey was right. Caesar's troops were in deep trouble.

The men are almost out of water.

Are you saying we're defeated, Antony?

What?

Are you saying we're defeated, Antony?

Ah, yes, I think that's exactly what you're saying.

You'll betray me just as Labienus betrayed me.

How can you say that?

I've been at your side for 10 years.

I've never once given you reason to doubt me, I'm not about to start now,

so don't you ever question my loyalty.

Caesar, you're Rome's greatest general.

She needs you now more than ever.

(HORSE NEIGHS)

NARRATOR: With his supplies running out, Caesar made one last throw of the dice.

He tried to force Pompey to fight at a place called Pharsalus.

Why doesn't he attack? He's got twice our number.

Because he knows he doesn't have to.

We must draw him in.

We must make him believe that we're retreating.

- We've tried that before. - Yes, well, we just try it again!

Those politicians in his camp don't have his patience.

Believe me, they'll force him to attack.

Another day over. How long must this go on?

- The army is... - The army will do as I order them.

Trust my judgement.

Maybe your judgement has gone.

Maybe you're too old now.

Maybe the army would be better led by someone else,

someone less afraid to act.

Marcellus, my decisions are not motivated by fear or money.

They're military judgements made to ensure we win and with the minimum loss of Roman life.

The trouble is, Pompey, I don't believe you.

You know what I think? I think you rather enjoy being at the head of an army again,

so you can order your political masters around.

It reminds you of the time when you were important,

before Caesar overshadowed you.

Now you've got it back, you just want it to go on forever.

(EXCLAIMS)

Look, I didn't ask to lead this army, you asked me to! Well, fine!

Well, if you're asking me to fight Caesar, then I'll fight him!

And on your head be it!

NARRATOR: Pompey's army was enormous.

45,000 infantry.

Caesar had Just 22,000.

In that summer of 48 BC, separated by a distance of Just two miles,

Caesar and Pompey prepared their two camps

for what would be the decisive battle of the civil war.

(MAN PRAYING)

CAESAR: I want the lines of infantry three deep, and must advance only on my order.

And keep a watchful eye on the cavalry. They'll be key to whatever he's planning.

MARCELLUS: Back in Rome, I can see no reason why anyone would contest

my running for consul again.

- Oh, I don't know. - What's this?

Pompey, just discussing how best to govern Rome once we've won.

No, this.

Food, for the feast tonight, in your honour to celebrate our great victory.

Oh, quite right, mustn't pick.

A lot of men will die today, Marcellus.

Romans.

Whoever wins this battle, there's not going to be much to celebrate.

NARRATOR: Pompey didn't Just have more infantry than Caesar,

he also had far more cavalry, 6,000 to Caesar's 1,000.

Labienus, we can win this quickly and cleanly.

On my signal, take the cavalry and charge Caesar's right.

Encircle him and attack him from the rear.

We'll trap him between your cavalry and my infantry.

Come on, boy.

- Crastinus. - General.

I will earn your gratitude today or die trying.

Oh, you won't need to die, Crastinus.

You know me, fortune follows me everywhere.

Come on, Pompey, show your hand.

Soldiers of Rome, who will fight with me today?

(ALL CHEERING)

I did not want this civil war.

Our enemies, our enemies have brought it upon themselves.

But the men we face today have denied us our due

and they have corrupted the republic.

Everything, everything I have done,

I have done for you, the people of Rome!

Today, there is only victory or death.

And so I ask once more.

I ask you once more, for Rome,

who will fight with me today?

CAESAR'S SOLDIERS: (CHANTING) Caesar.

(HORN BLOWING)

Follow me.

NARRATOR: On Pompey's orders, Labienus carried out the first part of his battle plan.

Moving his cavalry opposite Caesar's right flank.

Right, he's going right.

Antony, I know what he's doing. Your sword.

These are our lines, these are Pompey's.

He's going to wheel his cavalry round and attack our right here.

He's going to try and get in behind us.

Now what I want you to do is take men from the third line...

COMMANDER: You, you, come along, hurry, you.

...you move them to the right...

You, come on, move!

...you keep them concealed behind our cavalry at all times.

That'll weaken the centre, what about the frontal assault?

Just do it.

Whatever happens, make sure he doesn't see you do it, wait for my signal.

Go.

NARRATOR: Caesar was risking everything.

Thinning out his central battle lines to spring a trap on Labienus' cavalry.

Everything depended on keeping the entire manoeuvre secret.

Hold formation.

There's a hundred for the head of every centurion and a thousand for Mark Antony.

NARRATOR: On Caesar's orders, the battle began with a diversionary assault,

an infantry charge from his weakened central ranks.

Ready,

forward!

(ALL YELLING)

Wait.

Wait.

Go.

(HORN BLOWING)

Follow me!

Now.

(HORN BLOWING)

Disengage, disengage!

Retreat!

NARRATOR: The defeat of Labienus' cavalry turned into a full scale rout of Pompey's army.

With me!

(ALL CHEERING)

Hunt them down! Hunt them down!

ALL: (CHANTING) Caesar!

MAN: Come on, move, move.

Pompey, what happened?

You wanted a quick victory, you got one.

Why did I listen to you?

NARRATOR: After the disaster of Pharsalus,

Pompey fled to Egypt hoping to raise another army.

But there, he was murdered.

Labienus went on fighting Caesar as the civil war petered out.

But he too was killed in the final battle of the conflict,

the battle of Munda.

Cato was never able to come to terms with Caesar's victory,

and a year after Pharsalus, he took his own life.

Marcellus was pardoned by Caesar,

but later, he was mysteriously murdered.

Caesar's victory brought an end to the civil war

and the system of government which had served Rome for 500 years.

He made himself dictator for life, effectively Rome's first emperor.

But in March 44 BC, his enemies conspired against him.

Though his reign lasted only four years, his killers could not turn back the tide of history.

The age of the republic was over.

The age of the emperors was about to begin.

Next on Ancient Rome, Emperor Nero.

Fire, murder, madness.

A hundred years after Julius Caesar, Rome descended into chaos.

This is the story of how the most powerful ruler in the world went insane

and took Rome to the brink of destruction.