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 Tarragóna, 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