Hi all, as I was talking to a friend a memory came up about Caesar’s time spent in Bithynia during his youth. I know for certain that there are rumors that he had sexual relations with the king. I would like to know:
how credible is this story?
I also heard that his soldiers were chanting something to mock him, but at this point I’m not sure if it’s true or not.
Thanks!
I was looking through my books to see if I had anything regarding the subject and I found a book wich I think was my original source:
It cites another book from Suetonius, 12 Caesars, you should read the passage yourself as it is quite hilarious. The Soldiers still remember what happened in Asia Minor years after it had happened.
it reads:
"There was no stain on his reputation for chastity except his intimacy with King Nicomedes, but that was a deep and lasting reproach, which laid him open to insults from every quarter. [...] Finally, in his Gallic triumph his soldiers, among the bantering songs which are usually sung by those who followed the chariot, shouted these lines, which became a by-word:"
"All the Gauls did Caesar vanquish, Nicomedes vanquished him;
Lo! now Caesar rides in triumph, victor over all the Gauls,
Nicomedes does not triumph, who subdued the conqueror."
Suetonius, 12 Caesars 49.