The Die is Cast

The Die is Cast

      Today, January 10, is the anniversary of Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon in 49 b.c., thereby precipitating the Roman Civil War and his ultimate appointment to the office of dictator for life.  The Rubicon constituted the border between Cisalpine Gaul and Italy proper. No general was permitted to bring an army into our Italy; doing so was considered an attack on both the Senate and the people of Rome.

      It is said that, when Caesar crossed, he observed “the die is cast.“ There is not, however, a contemporaneous report to that effect, including in Caesar’s own writings.

      Apparently not realizing that Caesar had only a single legion with him, most of the leaders of the opposition, including Pompey Magnus, fled the city.

      Exactly where was the river Rubicon has been lost to history.