Civil War Series I, Roman Civil War (49-45 BC)

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

This is the first in a series of polls where I ask Atlas which side they would support in history's various civil wars.

*Only vote abstain if you think both sides were truly the scum of the earth.

Optimates (prefers a Republic over an Empire)

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Optimates (prefers a Republic over an Empire)

Generally, I'd be very skeptical of the claim that Rome was not already an empire by 49 BC, or that the Optimates were not equally culpable in the fall of the republic. Let's not forget that the first general to march on Rome was not Caesar, but Sulla.

This certainly isn't a Civil War with clear good guys and bad guys, and there are reasons to support either side.  But IMO the Republic at least has a better chance with the Optimates.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

You mean 52-49, right? Pompey dies in early 48 and the rest of the war is a mop-up operation against Cato and Scipio in Africa that was never seriously in doubt.

This is the war I'm referring to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War