In 58 BC Labienus left for Gaul with Caesar. His of
ficial title was
legatus pro praetor
, and he
was Caesar second-in-command through his entire ten
ure in Gaul. Labienus was of the
equestrian order and probably not a poor man to beg
in with, but during his years in Gaul he
became very wealthy. His popularity rose in Rome, a
nd at the outbreak of the civil war
Labienus was aiming for the consulship. In my opini
on Labienus left Caesar because he was
not satisfied being Caesars second-in-command. He w
anted to be consul and get his own pro-
consulship where he could win honour and glory for
himself, but this was not possible if he
stayed loyal. Caesar would have made Labienus his c
o-consul, and Labienus would in effect
still be just his puppet.
Labienus never got Pompey the Greats trust, and it’
s not until after Pompey’s death that
Labienus became an important character in the civil
war. The African wars are the period
where Labienus shines the most. His clever traps an
d ambushes was a constant problem for
Caesar. After the defeat at Thapsus he continued in
the war against Caesar in Spain. He died
at the final battle of the civil war at the battle
of Munda on March 17, 45 BC.
Labienus’ aim was always the consulship, and he cam
e close. With any other outcome of the
civil war Labienus would have become consul. His st
ory has showed without a doubt the
possibilities of social and political advancement t
rough the military. He came to Rome a
homo novus
, he became an insignificant tribune of the people
and a famous and brilliant
officer and soldier, a true
homo militaris
.