nia came most of the grain supplies
of Rome, and it was important to hold these islands. To Sicily he sent
Curio and to Sardinia Valerius. Cato, who was in charge of Sicily,
immediately abandoned it and fled to Africa. Sardinia received Caesar's
troops with open arms.

Upon his arrival in Gaul, Caesar found that the inhabitants of Massilia
had risen against his authority, led by the same Domitius whom he had
sent away unharmed from Corfinium. Caesar blockaded the city, and,
leaving Decimus Brutus in charge of operations, continued his journey to
Spain. He found Afranius and Petreius strongly intrenched at ILERDA in
Catalonia (Northern Spain). Within forty days he brought them to terms,
and Varro, who was in Southern Spain, was eager to surrender. All Spain
was at his feet.

Before leaving Spain, Caesar summoned the leading Spaniards and Romans
to Cordova, for a conference. All promised obedience to his authority.
He then set sail from Gades to Tarragona, where he joined his legions
and marched back to Massilia, which he found hard pressed and ready to
surrender. The gates were opened. All were pardoned, and Domitius was
allowed to escape a second time.

Caesar left a portion of his forces in Gaul, and with the rest arrived
at Rome in the early winter of 49-48. Thus far he had been successful.
Gaul, Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, and Italy were his. He had not succeeded,
however, in getting together a naval force in the Adriatic, and he had
lost his promising lieutenant, Curio, who had been surprised and
killed in Africa, whither he had gone in pursuit of Cato and Pompey's
followers.

During Caesar's absence, affairs at Rome had resumed their usual course.
He had left the city under charge of his lieutenant, Aemilius Lepidus,
and Italy in command of Mark Antony. Caesar was still at Massilia,
when he learned that the people of Rome had proclaimed him Dictator.
Financial troubles in the city had made this step necessary. Public
credit was shaken. Debts had not been paid since the civil war began.
Caesar allowed himself only eleven days in Rome. In this time estimates
were drawn of all debts as they were one year before, the interest was
remitted and the principal declared still due. This measure relieved the
debtors somewhat.

It was now nearly a year since Caesar crossed the Rubicon. Pompey,
during the nine months that had elapsed since his escape from
Brundisium, had been collecting his forces in Epirus. Here had gathere