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→Consulship (59 BC): added paragraph on the reliace of mob violence
Caesar’s first major act was the agrarian law granting land to [[Pompey|Pompey’s]] veterans and to impoverished citizens of [[Rome]]. The [[Senate]] resisted, but Caesar brought the proposal before the popular assembly, where it passed with overwhelming support. [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus|Bibulus]] attempted to halt proceedings by declaring ''obnuntiatio'' (unfavourable omens)<ref>The irony should escape none how [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus|Bibulus]] was using omens to overthrow legislation when his opponent as [[Pontifex Maximus]] was the highest religious authority in the land, charged with interpreting omens amongst other things<br>[[Plutarch]], ''Caesar'', 14</ref>, yet the crowd in rage near slew him, breaking his [[Fasces|fasces]] and drove him from the [[Forum]]; Consequentially [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus|Bibulus]] in fear for his life withdrew from public theatre for the remainder of the year issuing edicts from his house. His absence led the Romans to joke in triumph that the year was “the consulship of Julius ''and'' Caesar,”<ref>Suetonius, ''Divus Julius'', 20.2<br>''“the people used to call it not the consulship of Bibulus and Caesar, but of Julius and Caesar.”''</ref><ref>Dio (38.6)</ref> reflecting Caesar’s effective sole control of the magistracy.
Caesar’s first major act was the agrarian law granting land to [[Pompey|Pompey’s]] veterans and to impoverished citizens of [[Rome]]. The [[Senate]] resisted, but Caesar brought the proposal before the popular assembly, where it passed with overwhelming support. [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus|Bibulus]] attempted to halt proceedings by declaring ''obnuntiatio'' (unfavourable omens)<ref>The irony should escape none how [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus|Bibulus]] was using omens to overthrow legislation when his opponent as [[Pontifex Maximus]] was the highest religious authority in the land, charged with interpreting omens amongst other things<br>[[Plutarch]], ''Caesar'', 14</ref>, yet the crowd in rage near slew him, breaking his [[Fasces|fasces]] and drove him from the [[Forum]]; Consequentially [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus|Bibulus]] in fear for his life withdrew from public theatre for the remainder of the year issuing edicts from his house. His absence led the Romans to joke in triumph that the year was “the consulship of Julius ''and'' Caesar,”<ref>Suetonius, ''Divus Julius'', 20.2<br>''“the people used to call it not the consulship of Bibulus and Caesar, but of Julius and Caesar.”''</ref><ref>Dio (38.6)</ref> reflecting Caesar’s effective sole control of the magistracy.
'''Caesar’s methods during his consulship alarmed many senators and earned him lasting hostility within the aristocracy'''. [[Plutarch]] and [[Suetonius]] record how Caesar relied on organised street supporters to force his measures through the [[Forum]], and that violence broke out when opponents attempted to obstruct him. [[Cassius Dio]] is even more specific when he says that these measures even extended to "surrounding the houses" of the [[Senator|Senators]] and threatening them with violence if they did not support the desired legeslative outcomes.<ref>[[Cassius Dio]], 38.6–7</ref> We have already seen how Bibulus’ fasces were broken, tribunes were assaulted, and senators were pushed aside as Caesar pressed his agrarian law to a vote. By bypassing the Senate, ignoring Bibulus’ declarations of unfavourable omens, and using his position as [[Pontifex Maximus]] to neutralise religious objections, Caesar appeared to many of his peers as a man willing to overturn constitutional norms to achieve his aims. These actions created deep resentment among the conservative faction and laid the foundations for the political confrontations that would follow in his proconsulship and eventual civil war.
Caesar next secured the ratification of [[Pompey|Pompey’s]] eastern settlements and enacted financial reforms favourable to the ''equestrian publicani'', fulfilling the political aims of his Triumvirate partners. These measures strengthened Caesar’s alliance with [[Pompey]] and [[Crassus]] and demonstrated the effectiveness of their combined influence. At the same time, Caesar introduced laws against extortion in the provinces (perhaps a manifestation of his father's convictions), reformed judicial procedures, and enforced public accountability on magistrates, further increasing his popularity among the plebs.
Caesar next secured the ratification of [[Pompey|Pompey’s]] eastern settlements and enacted financial reforms favourable to the ''equestrian publicani'', fulfilling the political aims of his Triumvirate partners. These measures strengthened Caesar’s alliance with [[Pompey]] and [[Crassus]] and demonstrated the effectiveness of their combined influence. At the same time, Caesar introduced laws against extortion in the provinces (perhaps a manifestation of his father's convictions), reformed judicial procedures, and enforced public accountability on magistrates, further increasing his popularity among the plebs.