ABSTRACT
Caesar’s African War marks the beginning of the monarchical regime and the end of the Republic. From then on the Roman monarchy was an accomplished fact. Although the last general of the Republic had fallen on the field of Pharsalus,3 the campaign was not truly over until the African War, with Caesar’s victory at Thapsus.4 No one now remained standing in the way of the new monarchy. The role of the Republican party shifted from aiming to preserve the status quo to that of an opposition. Admittedly, the embers of resistance did flare up again; Caesar was obliged to set out for Spain in person to put down a rebellion in support of Sextus Pompey, and, at the time of his murder, he was intending to set out for Syria against Quintus Caecilius Bassus, who defied Caesar’s rule and had gained the advantage over Sextus Julius, the governor.5
