During Caesar's long absence in Gaul the First Triumvirate
was suddenly ended by the death of one of its members. It had been a part of
their bargain in dividing the Roman world that Crassus should have the
government of Syria. But this unlucky general, while aspiring to rival Caesar's
exploits by new conquests beyond the Euphrates, lost his army and his life in
battle with the Parthians. Besides checking the extension of the Roman arms in
the remote East, the disaster had its effect on Roman politics. It dissolved
the triumvirate and prepared the way for that rivalry between Caesar and Pompey
which formed the next step in the downward course of the republic.
GROWING OPPOSITION BETWEEN POMPEY AND CAESAR
The two men were now rapidly drawing apart. Pompey grew
more and more jealous of Caesar and more and more fearful that the latter was
aiming at despotic power. He himself had no desire to be king or dictator. He
was equally determined that Caesar should not gain such a position. In this
attitude he had the full support of Cicero and the other members of the Senate.
They saw clearly that the real danger to the state was Caesar, not Pompey.
