La scène de fraternisation d’Ilerda (César, B.C. I, 74) : dramatisation narrative et démonstration politique

Abstract

The narrative of the fraternizing between Caesarians and Pompeians at Ilerda illustrates Caesar’s skilfulness in the depiction of collective reactions and mass psychology. But this episode has also a political meaning and a demonstrative purpose, on two levels. Firstly, it presents the preliminary sketch of a forthcoming national reconciliation after the civil war. Secondly, it proposes in a subliminal way the programmatic draft of a would-be «autocratic democracy » .