> Coalitions are needed when sovereignty is in doubt. Every leader requires a coalition to stay in power, not just to achieve it. > what incentives does he ha

> Coalitions are needed when sovereignty is in doubt. Every leader requires a coalition to stay in power, not just to achieve it. > what incentives does he have to effectively double the elites requiring patronage and titles As shown by Cato killing himself rather than accept clemency, it put those who accepted it into a massive debt of honor to Caesar and was massively useful in helping turn those he pardoned to his side. Caesar himself clearly understood this, per what he reportedly said upon hearing of Cato's death - "O Cato, I begrudge you your death; for you begrudged me the sparing of your life." > allies an explicit repudiation of it This would be far more credible if he wasn't sitting on a golden throne on a raised dais when Marc Antony presented him the diadem. > I think I would rather have punctuated Gaulish atrocities I don't think the Gallic atrocities that Caesar himself recounted were necessary for the most part. And yes, all major historical figures are complained about, but some complaints are more valid than others.