"1 Cicero's attempt to control the outright bribery of the Roman citizenry was unsuccessful. As the Republic began to succumb to internal political strife, the unwritten rule stating that the games were to be part of the funerary proceedings of an important Roman figure were circumvented by the man who would bring down the Republic. Bomgardner states, "In 46 BC, at the time of his Quadruple triumph in Rome, Julius Caesar staged the most lavish spectacles that had ever been seen in the city. "2 Caesar's triumphal spectacles paved the way for Roman politicians to allow gladiatorial games to become a primary means of entertainment and social interaction. .
Roman gladiators represented Roman society at its worst. Comprised of criminals, prisoners of war and free Romans who had descended to the point of having to sell their bodies for the amusement of others. Yet individually, with each victory, they could rise to the heights of fame and adoration; moreover, in times of political strife they were seen as a means to an end by some. Dr. Thomas Wiedemann states in his book Emperors and Gladiators, "When Caesar invaded Italy in 49 BC, his opponents were particularly concerned about the 5000 gladiators owned by him kept at or near Capua. "3 It is likely that the opponents of Caesar were simply looking for a means to vilify him rather than having any true concern over his use of gladiators in the armed conflict to come. But this was not always the case. Gladiators had been used by various members of the Roman aristocracy as private security forces and a means to intimidate rivals. This may have led Romans to view gladiators as mercenary by nature.
The Roman aristocracy displayed a duality of view in regards to gladiators. Perhaps the reason for this can be found during the Third Servile War, 73-71 BC, in which Spartacus led a slave uprising that lasted for three years. Gladiators and slaves were viewed as lesser being by Romans, yet Spartacus and his cohorts managed to frustrate and defeat the Romans at every turn.
