The period of upheaval experienced by the Roman Republic towards the end of the 1st century BC resulted in a dramatic shift in Roman-Egyptian
relations. The traditional Republican stance of refusal to annex Egypt, despite being willed the kingdom by two separate pharaohs, was definitively ended when Octavian claimed the nation for his personal province. Yet, the role of Julius Caesar’s Alexandrian campaign in this transition remains a relatively under-represented episode of the dictator perpetuo’s career. This thesis aims to understand the leading ideas governing Caesar’s behaviour during the Alexandrian War (48-47 BC) within the context of shifting Roman-Egyptian relations in the latter 1st century. In so doing, Caesar’s place as a key transitional figure between the inaction of the Republic and the dominance of the Empire will be highlighted.
Aidan Ready MPhil Confirmation Milestone
