This article is dealing with the chronology and subject of Caesar’s first visit to Illyricum. Namely, at the beginning of winter in 57 B.C. Gaius Julius Caesar, the governor of Illyricum and the two Gauls, set off to Illyricum with the intent to visit the local communities and to acquaint himself with the area. However, in Gaul suddenly broke out the rebellion of the Veneti and their allies. Caesar’s subordinate commander in the area, Publius Licinius Crassus, informed Caesar about these events. As he was quite distant, Caesar ordered military ships to be built on the river that flows in the Atlantic Ocean (Liger fl.) and told Crassus he will proceed to the army cum primum per anni tempus potuit. This seemingly short episode during Caesar’s governorship of Illyricum is attested with only a few words in the third book of Commentarii de Bello Gallico (bell. Gall. III, VII – IX). Although noticed in modern historiography, to date no significant scholarly attention or satisfactory analysis has been paid to it. In modern historiography it is mentioned exclusively in the works dealing with a far wider context. There is only an overview, with a prevailing opinion that due to the war with the Veneti Caesar had to adjourn his short visit to Illyricum or that he did not even arrive there. Yet with the analysis of general historical circumstances, specific chronology of the period and Caesar’s work on Gallic wars, an exactly different conclusion is to be made. Here the authors give new interpretation of Caesar’s words and contemporary information on the political events in Rome. Thus proving not only that Caesar’s departure to war with the Veneti cannot be chronologically associated with his departure to Illyricum, but that Caesar indeed visited Illyricum; that his visit lasted much longer than it has been considered so far; and that his reasons for the visit stemmed from the significance of the province in Caesar’s plans for future engagements.
Cezarov posjet Iliriku 57. /56. g. pr. Kr. / Caesar’s visit to Illyricum in 57/56 B.C.
