Labienus was governor of Cisalpine Gaul probably from early September. Caesar was in Gaul, conducting the lustration of the army among the Treveri.[7] It was on the return march during early November that he received rumors of Labienus’ disaffection. Hirtius’ words are revealing:
crebro audiebat Labienum ab inimicis suis sollicitari;
he kept hearing often that Labienus was being approached by his personal enemies (BG 8.52.3).
Inimici in Caesarian propaganda denoted Caesar’s senatorial enemies.[8] He was careful to distinguish between Pompey and those implacable foes:
Ipse Pompeius, ab inimicis Caesaris incitatus et quod neminem dignitate secum exaequari volebat, totum se ab eius amicitia adverterat et cum communibus inimicis in gratiam redierat, quorum ipse maximam partem illo adfinitatis tempore iniunxerat Caesari;
Pompey himself, stirred up by Caesar’s personal enemies and because he was unwilling for anyone to be equal with himself in prestige, was totally alienated from friendship with Caesar and had reestablished favorable relations with their common personal enemies, the greatest number of whom he had linked to Caesar during the time of their closeness (BC 1