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@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
The US is entering uncharted waters. Political prosecutions are what brought down the Roman Republic. Here's how. 🧵 https://t.co/eqcYcxMT7Q
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
Donald Trump is the first US president to be indicted, let alone ruled a felon by a US court. The court system of any society is designed to be a neutral arbiter of disputes; Trust in the courts is crucial to prevent spirals of retributive violence. https://t.co/8vjynQVdZJ
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
In Rome, an office holder was immune from prosecution while holding office A consul could not be prosecuted during his 1 year term Same for a "proconsul" = a consul w/ term extended, usually serving as a general or provincial governor in 50 BC, Julius Caesar was a Proconsul. https://t.co/VAgu1jPLFr
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
Caesar's enemies - Cato and friends - were publicly vowing to prosecute Caesar when his term ended Caesar had been a successful general for nearly 10 years, conquered all of Gaul Cato claimed they had 10 years worth of crimes to prosecute him for. https://t.co/bE0Ou1q5tx
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
Caesar wanted to run for Consul again, to renew his immunity. Unfortunately, to run for consul in Rome, you have to lay down your proconsular office & enter the city. Caesar would have to become a private citizen in Rome for several months (Plenty of time for a prosecution) https://t.co/KfvnBmjGzE
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
Caesar asked the authorities for an exception - to "run in absentia" (in recognition of his achievements on behalf of Rome) Thus he could keep immunity over the transition to new office In 52, a law was passed to allow this But by 50, Caesar's enemies had unwound the law.
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
Cato & Friends now forced Caesar into a dilemma: Either a) Lay down your office & face prosecution, OR b) start a Civil War (in 50, Caesar's legal term of office was expiring) https://t.co/5zc7MT94GJ
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
Cato & Friends drew Rome's other greatest leader, Pompey, onto their side Caesar tried to negotiate Pompey dug in his heels Ultimatums were issued. They all thought Caesar would back down. https://t.co/0M6kycGca5
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
Caesar took the Nuclear Option and crossed the Rubicon in January, 49 BC (The Rubicon River was the boundary of Caesar's province: crossing it amounted to a declaration of war) This explains why political trials can become so dangerous: https://t.co/HGFmPkpIPk
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
If there is no neutral arbiter, the recourse is usually violence Caesar claimed Cato & Senate were corrupt, motivated by personal animosity (they did undo some laws, after all) Cato & co. said "Caesar is a threat to the Republic" Who could adjudicate, except the gods of war? https://t.co/xIyeJevB0Q
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
The threat of prosecution motivates heads of state to cling to power in many "third world" countries. A precedent has been set. The Biden family now have reason to fear prosecution if they lose the election The stakes have been raised, massively https://t.co/LuX4vZuEtN
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
From Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BC ... to avoid political prosecution Until Actium in 31 BC, Rome passed through a long period of civil war Which ended in the establishment of a monarchy. Is the die cast? This is why we study history. https://t.co/iKz01GuigN
@costofglory - Alex Petkas - Cost of Glory
For the full story, listen to some of my bios from the Cost of Glory Podcast. Such as Pompey, Episodes 83-85 https://t.co/9URRccHmpC
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
How to eliminate a political opponent. Here are 20 classic tricks. 1. Arrest & prosecute them.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
Aemilius Scaurus once prosecuted the Stoic Rutilius Rufus for bribery. It was ridiculous. Rufus was honest. Even if the charge doesn't stick, you tar their reputation, Maybe enough to get a conviction next time. See also: Critias and Theramenes of Athens.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
2. Use bribery to sway the outcome in their trial Cicero's nemesis, Clodius Pulcher, was known for this. Prosecuting? -> Bribe witnesses, not jurors. Securing false testimony is essential. Pay what you need to. The "respectable" are more expensive, but also more convincing.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
3. Accuse your opponent of Using Bribery Cicero played this card well against the rich Verres. Even if Verres hadn't tried to bribe his way out of conviction for embezzlement, it was a believable that he did. Emphasize to the audience how bad bribery is for the state.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
4. Accuse your opponent of colluding with a foreign power. Worked against Themistocles of Athens, Pausanias of Sparta, Opimius of Rome, and many others. Can even work on patriots. Say "follow the money," and mention exotic luxuries (fine wine, Persian rugs, ostrich eggs).
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
5. Bribe the voters so your opponent loses his election Use parties, theater tickets, vacation experiences, "bread and circuses" Classic Roman style. It's almost obligatory in the Late Republic. Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Caesar, Crassus... The list goes on.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
6. Cause rioting in the streets to scare them and their supporters Caesar and Pompey used this to win a vote against Cato and Bibulus. 7. Exile them. Gaius Marius sent Metellus Numidicus packing to Albania. Countless examples.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
8. Have them sent far away to a lame, "important" job ... such that it amounts to exile. Clodius had Cato forcibly "awarded" a mission to Cyprus as governor. The job involved mountains of accounting.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
9. Declare that they hold office illegitimately The demagogue Tiberius Gracchus used this tactic against his aristocratic colleague Octavius, who allegedly violated "sacred" principles of democracy as tribune. Octavius was voted out in an extraordinary plebiscite.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
10. Threaten to have them hauled off to prison As Marius did as tribune, against both Cotta and Metellus in the Senate. Sometimes just the threat is enough to silence them.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
11. March on the Capital and have them declared Public Enemy As Sulla did against Marius at Rome. 12. March on the Capital (again) and have THEM declared Public Enemy As Marius did against Sulla in return, also at Rome.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
13. Plant moles and thwarters in their retinue Cicero planted Quintus Curius as a mole in Catiline's conspiracy. Easiest to do if you have sallacious dirt on the mole. Cicero had damning evidence from Curius' ex girlfriend (who was another man's wife).
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
14. Accuse them of impiety in absentia. Athenian demagogues accused Alcibiades of profaning the Mysteries & desecrating the Herms, while he was off in Sicily. Identify people's most irrational taboos and sacred cows. Rage over the alleged insult will make the people pliable.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
15. Start, then lead, a foreign war Caesar picked a fight with the Gauls, then Germans. This will increase your status over your opponent, and distract from your illicit activities at home. 16. Steal leadership of a foreign war from your opponent As Pompey did with Lucullus.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
17. Question their birthplace or parentage One of Sparta's kings died. Leotychidas, his son, was a pawn of Lysander's enemies. Lysander fomented suspicions of illegitimacy about Leotychidas. He succeeded, and got his own candidate chosen - Agesilaus, the king's brother.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
18. Tempt them with illicit affairs The Spartan commander of Oreus was a notorious lover of boys. The Thebans waited until he left the citadel for a soirée in the village Then seized the city.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
19. Make a lot of foreigners new citizens to undermine their voting base Livius Drusus tried to do this against Marcius Philippus. He proposed enrolling large numbers of Italians as Roman citizens. Drusus was later found stabbed to death in his house. Which brings us to...
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
20. The Nuclear Option If nothing else works... Just assassinate them. Caution: this often backfires. Drusus' assassination caused the Social War and the Italians were made citizens anyway. Caesar's assassins soon ended up dead losers, too.
@costofglory - The Cost of Glory
If you learned something, RT the first in thread to share. Want more time tested strategies for winning in business and life? -> Follow. Also, check out my podcast, Cost of Glory, available on all platforms, including YouTube. Based on antiquity's greatest heroes.