this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2025
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History Memes

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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 20 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Explanation: During Caesar's triumph through Rome after the end of the Civil War in 45 BCE, one of the People's Tribunes, Pontius Aquila, refused to stand, as was customary, as Caesar passed during the triumph. This enraged Caesar so much that he called out during the triumph, "Come then, Aquila, take back the republic from me!"

For several days afterwards, Caesar remained so salty that he would add, after making any promise, "That is, if Tribune Aquila will let me."

Pontius Aquila would later become one of Caesar's assassins.

[–] Sibilantjoe@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago

"Alright, bet." -- Pontius Aquila

[–] HazardousBanjo@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That's the part of being an emporer Trump and the other MAGA fascists best embody.

Being a whiny little bitch that throws public temper tantrums over the absolute tiniest insults.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 2 points 3 weeks ago

I mean, it's a fairly major issue of legitimacy coming hot on the heels of a literal civil war. Caesar being salty for a few days is a relative non-reaction.

Though, in favor of the pettier view of the subject, Caesar had been cheated out of the triumph he was given earlier in his career (a triumph being the moment of a Roman politician's career representing extreme success), and so was likely not in the mood for anyone (metaphorically) raining on his (literal) parade.

[–] exu@feditown.com 2 points 3 weeks ago

Turns out, Aquila didn't let him

[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Do we know why Aquila refused?

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 2 points 3 weeks ago

Probably a refusal to accept the legitimacy of Caesar's triumph, or Caesar's general victorious position after the civil war. Aquila may have been on the Pompeiian side.

It was very much a deliberate slight, but not much more than that. Like flipping a head of state off at their inauguration.