Roberto

OK, kind of a silly question but why is it both Caius and Gaius? Why are both forms seen? Why can't one form be decided upon? What's the deal?

I think you mean that the wikipedia's source is Pro Caelio.

I don't see this in Fuller, and I've not seen anywhere that Cicero had a change of heart about Catiline. Are you sure you've got this reference correct? looking... Bah, not Fuller. When I finished the Catiline section in Fuller I looked around for some sources on the net for more info on Catiline. I believe my comment came about from this wikipedia entry: "Well after Catiline's death and the end of the threat of the conspiracy, even Cicero reluctantly admitted that Catiline was an enigmatic man that possessed both the greatest of virtues and the most terrible of vices." It struck me since I'd never read anything positive about Catiline before.

I don't see this in Fuller, and I've not seen anywhere that Cicero had a change of heart about Catiline. Are you sure you've got this reference correct? looking...

I only read the first few pages of this thread (have only watched the first two episodes) and most of it seemed to deal with things I'd consider very minor. Perhaps I've forgotten something I've read but tell me this. Pompey's attempted assassination of Octavian who is actually captured by Gauls acts as the catalyst for the start of the Civil War? Is there any kernel of truth in any of that? I'm shocked that no one has brought this up and instead consider all these very very minor items dealing with armor and parrots.

I'd give you 3/4 (maybe), but not logistics. What is the evidence that he was good at logistics? MPC - what will you say about expedition to Britain, wasnt it logistically perfectly prepared? If he had time, he was able to prepare everything. But usually he just didnt want to waste his time and this impatience was one of his weaknesses but usually he was able to turn everything into his advantage. He had little time to waste in Gaul. He had to pacify it before his term was up. Invading Britain was needed for pacification. He had little time to do much. Most of his impatience in Gaul should probably be attributed to this. If handling of ships falls into the category of logistics then he was a failure in Britain.

So are Cataline and Catiline interchangeable? I've generally only seen Catiline. Some interesting tidbits: In Fuller, some years after his death Cicero refers to Catiline as a great man or words to that effect. Lucius Sergius Catiline - Since the republic was founded Sergius gens served 12 consulships (or thereabouts) but none after 300 BC (don't have the date of the last consulship). That seems a bit odd that there would be such a drop off. Is it possible that the last original Sergius died (didn't something like this happen with the Fabius gens) and that this was a new Sergius? Just wondering aloud...

Heh, we can't even be sure if it was 509 BC or some decades later. Isn't this date determined by tracing back the list of Roman Consuls and hasn't Cornell suggested that many of the early names look suspicious and that they could have been inserted at a later time for political reasons. From what I recall, the Republic could have started perhaps up to 100 years later.

It seems to me he was a very quick thinker (relative to other generals of the day) and did not dilly-dally about after a thought occurred to him - that he always took his first hunch and ran with it. He did not fully consider things before embarking on a plan of action. If he got into trouble, which happened a lot, he was able (with no small amount of luck or did he create his own luck?) to get out of it with similar quick thinking. He always had the initiative - always a step ahead of his opponent. If he had considered Logistics more often he would have lost his edge in initiative. He took huge risks - could probably be called foolhardy. It doesn't seem like he feared death as much as his contemporaries or rather he didn't think about it as much. Everyone he faced was always reacting to his moves. I wonder if he was the kind of person who wouldn't let you finish talking - who'd finish your own sentences for you. In his later years, he definitely seemed an impatient sort of chap . As for tactics on the battlefield, it seems like the Legion was designed to fight so that anyone could command it effectively. I don't think Caesar was exceptional in this department. P.S. Hello all, interesting forum. My first post.