To cross the Rubicon is a phrase that means to take an irrevocable step that commits one to a specific course of action. The phrase comes from the historical event of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon River in 49 BC, which marked the beginning of a civil war in ancient Rome. Here is a summary of what happened and why it was significant:
- Julius Caesar was a popular general and politician who had conquered many lands in Gaul (modern France) and Britain. He was appointed as the governor of Gaul by the Roman Senate, but he wanted to return to Rome and seek more power.
- However, the Senate ordered him to disband his army and leave Gaul by January 1, 49 BC. This was because it was illegal for a governor to bring his troops into Italy, which was under the direct control of Rome and its allies.
- Caesar decided to disobey the Senate and crossed the Rubicon River with his army on January 10 or 11, 49 BC. The Rubicon was a small stream that separated Gaul from Italy. By crossing it, Caesar effectively declared war on the Roman Republic and started a civil war against his rival Pompey and his supporters.
- The crossing of the Rubicon had serious consequences for Caesar and Rome. It changed the political landscape of Rome from a republic to an empire, where Caesar became the dictator for life. It also sparked a series of conflicts among different factions within Rome, such as the First Triumvirate (Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus), the Second Triumvirate (Caesar, Octavian, and Antony), and Mark Antony’s civil war against Octavian.
- The phrase “crossing the Rubicon” became an idiom that means to make a decisive move that cannot be undone or reversed. It is often used to describe situations where someone has committed themselves to a course of action that has significant implications for their future.
