Shakespeare makes light of this fact when a tribune, Marullus, says this following Caesars defeat of Pompey-.
Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft?.
Have you climbed up to walls and battlements,.
To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops,.
Your infants in your arms, and there have you sat.
The livelong day, with patient expectation,.
To see the great Pompey pass the streets of Rome. (1.1).
The Roman civil war on which Shakespeare bases much of Julius Caesar began after the death of Crassus. Only Caesar and Pompey remained, and the senate feared that a war would arise between the two and Rome would soon become a monarchy. Those citizens who favored more democratic rule feared that Caesar's power would lead to the enslavement of Roman citizens by one of their own. A majority in the Senate (400 against 22) wanted both leaders to lay down their commands before the elections in 50BC. Pompey obeyed these commands, but Caesar did not. Caesar was previously warned by the senate that if he refused to obey, he would be declared an enemy of the state and they would be forced to appoint a commander with extraordinary powers. This commander soon became Pompey, and civil war ensued. .
Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar begins after Caesar had returned from a battle against Pompey and his men. It is evident that he has just defeated Pompey, and a Marullus exclaims-.
Wherefore rejoice?.
What conquest brings he home?.
What tributaries follow him to Rome,.
to grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? (1.1).
Marullus is saying that the idea of the Roman Empire has been until now to defeat and capture foreign countries. He asks what can be gained for Rome when it defeats itself.
Caesar himself was cautious of public celebrations during the civil war. The tradition of bringing back and parading prisoners from the defeated army was temporarily altered by Caesar during this war, as he would only bring forth foreigners who stood against him, not Romans.
