By Douglas Sterling
Unlike Pompey, much of Julius Caesar’s military successes in the late Roman Republic stemmed not only from his ability as a leader of men and from tactical prowess on the battlefield, but also from his understanding of the importance of military intelligence. Indeed, in the Gallic Wars he used the intelligence-gathering abilities of his army to an extent never before seen in Roman history. But in the period of the civil wars, when Caesar fought for his political life and political hegemony, he acted more impetuously, taking bold measures to achieve the seemingly impossible and relying less on gathering and utilizing active intelligence of enemy dispositions or intentions.
Caesar had great faith in himself, his powers of observation and discernment, and an understanding that impulsiveness and acting on instinct would better advance his cause, facing as he did a rival—the great Pompey—known as a procrastinator.
Caesar’s information-gathering was tied to practical processes developed over the years of the growth of the Roman Empire. But through his experiences in Gaul in the 6th decade bc, Caesar developed and utilized intelligence units to a greater degree, and also put his individual stamp over their operations.
Speculatores: Caesar’s Military Spies
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