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What do the roman leaders actions and words tell about their view of Ceasar?

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Roman leaders' actions and words regarding Caesar reveal several key aspects of their view of him:

Respect. They clearly respected Caesar as a leader and military commander. They deferred to his judgment on important decisions and honored him with triumphs, titles and positions of power. They saw him as instrumental to Roman victories.

Threat. However, their respect was mixed with envy and fear of his growing power and influence. Their suspicion of his ambition and loyalty to the Senate led to refusing his demands at times and ultimately conspiring to kill him. They saw him as a threat to the established power dynamics.

Pride in his accomplishments. Leaders took pride in Caesar's achievements and success, but were wary of the pride he took in himself and his reputation. They valued his accomplishments but not his self-aggrandizement. His victories reflected glory on Rome itself, not just on him personally.

Complex and contradictory views. Different leaders likely had a mix of respect, threat, and pride in Caesar. And the same leaders could feel multiple, even contradictory emotions toward him, especially as his power grew. Views of him were complex, beholden as much to politics as objective appraisal.

Ultimately disposable. However much they respected him, they seemed to always feel he could be discarded if he outlived his usefulness or became too great a threat. His assassination showed they ultimately saw him as a means to an end, not an equal or permanent fixture in the power struggle. He was a tremendously useful tool, but a threat in his own right.

In summary, Roman leaders' actions and words reveal a nuanced but complicated view of Caesar as a respected military leader, a threatening figure who could upend the political order, a source of pride in conquests that benefited Rome, and ultimately a leader who could be disposed of should he become more liability than asset. He was an invaluable means, but never an end in himself.

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