The First Triumvirate--A Look into its Political Dynamics: Thoughts by Plutarch, circa AD 100-120.

The collapse of the Roman Republic may be seen as both a complex story and a simple one. Certain identifiable events can be seen as causal factors: Marius, believing he couldn't accomplish his goals with a traditional Roman militia, professionalized the army, leading to soldiers increasingly becoming loyal to their generals (who shared the spoils of conquest with them) rather than Rome. Sulla used his loyal soldiers to seize power and kill his political enemies--all while claiming to be restoring the Republic and returning power to the Senate.

And then, there was the First Triumvirate!

A political alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus to marginalize the Senate and control Roman politics, the First Triumvirate destabilized Rome, collapsed when Crassus was killed fighting the Parthians, and led to civil war between Pompey and Caesar. Ultimately, Caesar won the civil war and declared himself dictator for life.

The foregoing is inadequate to the full history; however, it will help readers understand Plutarch's thoughts recounted below about the Triumvirate and the dynamics between the three powerful Romans.

August Glen-James, editor

Plutarch:

However, this spirit of rivalry did not result in Crassus feeling anything that could be called hatred or ill-will. He did not like to see Pompey and Caesar more honored than himself, but this passion for distinction of his was free from hostility and malice. It is true that when Caesar was captured and held prisoner by the pirates in Asia, he exclaimed: ‘How pleased you will be, Crassus, when you hear that I have been captured!’ Later, however, they were undoubtedly on very friendly terms. There was, for instance, the time when Caesar was on the point of setting out for Spain as praetor and had no money. On this occasion his creditors descended on him and were for seizing his luggage; but Crassus stood by him and got him out of trouble by becoming his guarantor for a sum of 830 talents.* And when all Rome was divided between three powerful parties, that of Pompey, that of Caesar and that of Crassus, it was the sober and conservative elements in the city which followed Pompey, and the violent and easily unsettled types who hung on the hopes of Caesar, while Crassus took up a position between the two and made use of each.  As for Cato, his reputation was greater than his power; he was rather looked up to than followed.

As a politician Crassus was singularly inconsistent, neither a steadfast friend nor an implacable enemy. Where is self-interest was involved he found no difficulty in breaking off an attachment or in making up a quarrel. Indeed it often happened that, in a short space of time, he came forward both as the supporter and as the opponent of the same man and the same measures. He was strong because he was popular and because he was feared—particularly because he was feared. Certainly Sicinnius, who gave more trouble than anyone else to the magistrates and popular leaders of his time, when he was asked why Crassus was the only person whom he left alone and did not attack, replied: ‘Because he has hay on his horns’—it being a custom among the Romans to tie hay round the horns of dangerous bulls, so that people who met them might be on their guard.

*It is not specified whether this amount of talents is silver or gold--it was a vast amount of money either way. --editor

Source: Public Domain