Crossing the Rubicon

The expression ‘Crossing the Rubicon’ has gone down in history as meaning passing the ‘point of no return’.
It refers to the moment in 49 BCE when the Roman General Julius Caesar took a Legion of soldiers across the river Rubicon thereby breaking Roman Law.

It was forbidden under Roman Law, for a Roman General to enter the territory of Italy with an Army.
The River Rubicon marked the Northern boundary of Italia.
After returning from Gaul, Julius Caesar was camped at Ravenna awaiting the Roman Senate‘s decision to let him be re-elected Consul.
On the 10 January 49 BCE Julius Caesar crossed the River Rubicon with a single Legion, the Legio XIII Gemina. This act started the Great Roman Civil War.

In 50 BCE Pompey and the Roman Senate had ordered Julius Caesar to disband his army as his term as Proconsul had finished, or be declared an Enemy of the People.
Although he had completed the necessary ten year gap for being re-elected as Consul again, he was prohibited from standing for re-election in absentia.
Julius Caesar knew if he entered Rome without an Army or without the legal immunity enjoyed as Consul, he would be prosecuted and his political career ended. Pompey had laid charges against him of Insubordination and Treason, and various other Charges were pending against him.

Caesar is quoted by Suetonius as saying ‘Alea Jacta Est’ meaning ‘The die has been cast’, as he and his army crossed the Rubicon.

Once Caesar had crossed the Rubicon, he headed for Rome with a single Legion, the Legio XIII Gemina.
The Roman Senate, led by Pompey, and the leading Optimates such as Cato the Younger and Metellus Scipio avoided battle by fleeing via Brindisium (Brindisi) to Greece.
When Julius Caesar arrived at the Harbour, the Fleet of 600 ships with Pompey and the Optimates had sailed.

Between 49-45 BCE, the Great Roman Civil War then took place between the armies of Julius Caesar and the armies of Pompey in the Provinces.
Julius Caesar finally defeated all opposition and took control of the Roman Republic when he became Dictator for life.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE ended his political aspirations.

River Rubicon