59 BC. The Consulship of Caesar and Bibulus. Caesar obtains high office after forgoing his Triumph. Cato and the boni attempt their usual methods of interference to stop Caesar's legislative agenda but realise their target is willing to resort to violence and is supported by Pompey and Crassus to boot! Intimidated, the Senate refuses to side with Cato. Consequently, Bibulus retires to his home for the rest of the year to look at the stars for celestial disagreement, and write reports of his findings with some first rate mudslinging that will be read out to the populace on a daily basis. Pompey has married Caesar's daughter Julia. At the end of the year Caesar will govern 3 provinces (the two Gauls and Illyricum) for a period of 5 years, an unprecedented post-consular command. Before he leaves he unleashes Publius Claudius who coverts to his even darker alter-ego Clodius, his target...Cicero.  

Sources 

Cassius Dio (Books 36-40) - The Fall of the Roman Republic

Suetonuis - Lives of the Caesars (Julius Caesar) 

Plutarch - Lives of Cicero | Julius Caesar | Cato the Younger

Uncommon Wrath - Josiah Osgood

Cicero: A Lawless Republic - Josiah Osgood

Pompey the Great – Robin Seager

Caesar - Mattias Gelzer

Before Augustus - Natale Barca 

Cato the Younger - Fred Drogula 

Fiction

Caesar's Women - Colleen McCullough   

iHeart Podcasts: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-your-attention-please-326046416/

OmnyStudio: https://omny.fm/shows/your-attention-please

Email: yourattentionplease@alive905.com.au

Photo: The modern ruins of the Roman Forum, Rome.