Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 02.djvu/320

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f: .ffiS A Hi 278 CiESABIAN OPERATION siderable forces. On his return, he took Massilia, where he learned that he had been appointed dictator of the Republic — a function which at this time he re- tained only for 11 days, but these were honorably distinguished by the passing of several humane enactments. Forn- pey, now thoroughly alive to the magni- tude of his danger, had gathered in Egypt, Greece, and the East, a pow- erful army, while his fleet swept the sea. Csesar, however, crossing the Adri- atic at an unexpected season, made a rush for Dyrrhachium, where Pompey's stores were; but was nevertheless out- stripped by his opponent. Pompey in- trenched his army on some high ground near the city, where he was beseiged by Caesar. The first encounter was favor- able to Pompey, who drove back Caesar's lei^ions with much loss. The latter now advanced into Thessaly, followed by his exulting enemies. A second battle en- sued on the plains of Pharsalia, Aug. 9, 48 B. c. The senatorial army was ut- terly routed, and Pompey himself fled to Egypt, where he was murdered. No sooner had the news reached Rome that Cassar was again appointed dic- tator for a year, and consul for five years. He was invested with tribuni- cian power for life, and with the right of holding all the magistratial comitia, except those for the election of the ple- beian tribunes. He did not, however, return to Rome after the battle of Phar- salia, but went to Egypt, then in a dis- tracted condition on account of the dis- putes regarding the succession. Out of love for Cleopatra (who subsequently bore him a son), he entered upon the "Alexandrine War," in which he was successful, and which he brought to a close in March, 47 B. C. He next over- threw a son of Mithridates, near Zela, in Pontus, August 2 of the same year, and arrived in Rome in September. He was once more appointed dictator, and the property of Pompey was confiscated and sold. Before the close of the year he had set out for Africa, where his campaign against the Pompeian gener- als, Scipio and Cato, was crowned with victory at the battle of Thapsus, April 6, 46 B. C. Cato committed suicide at Utica, and with such irresistible celerity was the work of subjugation carried on, that by the end of the summer Caesar was once more in Rome. Now occurred that display _ of noble and wise gener- osity for which Caesar may be regarded as truly great. He was not a man that could stoop to the vulgar atrocities of Marius or Sulla; he majestically de- clared that henceforth he had no ene- mies, that he would make no difference between Pompeians and Caesarians. His victories in Gaul, Egypt, Pontus, and Africa were celebrated by four great triumphs, during which the whole Ro- man populace was feasted and feted by the magnificent liberality of the dictator. Caesar now proceeded with his schemes for the settlement of affairs at Rome. During the year 46 B. C. he conferred a benefit on Rome and on the world by the reformation of the calen- dar, which had been greatly abused by the pontifical college for political pur- poses. After quelling an insurrection - which broke out in Spain, where Pom- pey's sons, Cneius and Sextus, had col- lected an army, he received the title of "Father of his Country," and also of imperator, was made dictator and prx- fectus morum for life, and consul for 10 years; his person was declared sacred, and even divine; he obtained a body- guard of knights and senators; his statue was placed in the temples; his portrait was struck on coins; the month Quintilis was called Julius in his honor, and on all public occasions he was per- mitted to wear the triumphal robe. He , proposed to make a digest of the whole Roman law for public use, to found libraries for the same purpose, to drain the Pontine Marshes, to enlarge the har- bor of Ostia, to dig a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth, and to quell the in- roads of the Barbarians on the E. fron- tiers; but in the midst of these vast designs he was cut off by assassination on the Ides (15th) of March, 44 B. c. Of Caesar's writings the "Commen- taries" on the Gallic and Civil Wars have alone been preserved. C^SAREA (sez-a-re'a), the ancient name of many cities, such as: (1) C^ESAJREA Philippi in Palestine, N. of the Sea of Galilee, rebuilt by Philip, tet- rarch of Galilee, son of Herod the Great. (2) C^esarea, on the shores of the Mediterranean, about 55 miles N. W. from Jerusalem, enlarged and beautified by Herod the Great, and named in honor of Caesar Augustus; the place where St. Paul was imprisoned two years (Acts xxiii-xxv). (3) The capital of Cappa- docia, in Asia Minor. CJESARIAN OPERATION, the most serious operation in midwifery, and only resorted to in extreme cases, to save life; as, for example, when a woman fully pregnant dies suddenly, by acci- dent or otherwise, the child being still alive in utero; or when, by reason of deformity, the birth cannot take place naturally or with the aid or ordinary obstetrical instruments, per naturahs vias. The operation consists in making an incision in the abdomen and remov-