Caesar! &lt;i&gt;Even in 52 BC, news travelled fast.&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Rome knew about the victory at Alesia within days.&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Back then, Rome wasn't ruled by emperors, it was a republic,&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;a largely democratic form of government,&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;and Caesar's talk of political change was popular with ordinary people.&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;But the ruling classes in the Senate,&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;the nearest thing Rome had to a parliament, were worried.&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;What they feared most was that Caesar would break one of the fundamental rules of the republic&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;and return to Rome without first disbanding his army.&lt;/i&gt;