Synopsis/Details
To fulfil a sacred duty to tell the truth of a war like no other, PROPERTIUS begins his story.
52 B.C., GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR the excessively ambitious Roman general conquers the
tribes of Gaul led by VERCINGETORIX whom he takes hostage. Caesar’s ally the libertine
MARK ANTHONY tells him the Roman Senate, led by the emulous POMPEY MAGNUS,
the wily, coy CICERO and Caesar’s willful arch-enemy CATO, proclaim him a war criminal.
The vengeful druid DIVITIACUS having convinced the Tribal Council of Gauls led by the
baleful but deliberate AMBIORIX that he can resurrect their dead warriors to destroy Rome
and kill Caesar, casts a spell. Caesar tells his legion of the Senate’s decree, and persuades his
men to follow. Crossing the Rubicon, Caesar declares civil war but doubts his men’s loyalty.
Caesar’s trusted slave PHILO, a literate Greek, restores his confidence with a historical tale.
To avoid civil war and conflict with the People, Pompey welcomes Caesar home then waits
for Caesar’s sinful past to emerge. Divitiacus’s spell works. As Caesar triumphantly parades
through Rome, the resurrected Gauls massacre the Roman garrisons but messengers escape.
Pompey intercepts a courier; summons the Senate, and presents the witness. Caesar argues it
a lie but the Senate declares that his Triumph is a sham, and that he be prosecuted for treason.
Philo visits Vercingetorix in jail to bribe him to make peace with the Gauls but he repudiates.
With Caesar’s friend BRUTUS, Pompey’s armies battle the Gallic undead, but suffer defeat.
In a Greek text, Caesar learns how to beat the “zombies” but the lack of soldiers thwarts his
plans. He calls for Vercingetorix but his would-be saviour commits suicide. In abject despair
he contemplates death but his tender wife CALPURNIA saves him with her fearful remark
about a slave revolt which gives him the idea to make slaves citizens, and train them for war.
Caesar informs the Senate that he can crush the Gallic hordes but needs to manumit slaves.
Cato dissents but the Senate makes Caesar dictator. He reforms his legion whose soldiers
train freed slaves. The druid and chieftains, with Brutus captive, row down the TIBER to a
deserted temple. Battles begin. At the temple, Anthony slays Cativolcus; fights Ambiorix.
Pullo, fatally wounded, kills Ambiorix; saves Anthony’s life. Brutus witnesses Caesar slay
Divitiacus who, with his dying breath, curses him. The rampage of the zombies of Gaul ends.
Calpurnia awakes from a recurring nightmare of Caesar’s death, and finds him ill with Brutus
by his side who suspects the jinx. She begs him not to go to the Senate. At the Senate, Caesar
tussles with senators, and convulses. Brutus and schemers murder him dreading the druid’s
curse. Arriving late at the Senate, after a hedonistic night, Anthony cradles his dead mentor.
Anthony meets Cicero who proposes that the war against the risen Gauls be expunged from
history and rewritten as a civil war between Caesar and Pompey lest the superstitious People
become difficult to control should they know the dead can be raised. Anthony reveals that
Caesar’s nephew OCTAVIUS is Caesar’s heir who will seek revenge, so civil war is certain.
Propertius ends his opus with the advice to avoid excess in all things or fall foul like Caesar.
