Suppose wins Marcus Licinius Crassus wins the Battle of Carrhae, or better yet his men get the better of the Parthians before they exhaust the Roman Army to that point.
He destroys 3 Parthian field formations each one larger than his own army. He storms and sacks their 4th, 5th, and 7th most populous cities, and the Romans walk away with lots of loot. Crassus impresses on the Parthian leaders, and they pay a tribute equal to triple their government's annual tax income (probably by borrowing, unlike today the government and kings made a minority of the economy, so there is wealth around the general population).
On the way back, he is betrayed by the Armenians he hired as mercenaries (I think he did in OTL? If not, say he hired them in TTL). The Romans fight another huge battle, and barely win despite not starting off in battle formation. They refuse to drop the loot and tribute and lug it back as they are harassed. In the end, 1/8 of the Legions that left for the campaign ended up returning. Most of the survivors are the cavalry rather than the heavy infantry. 3 Legion standards are lost. Crassus himself suffers a huge blow to the head during betrayal, and loses consciousness for a week. Oh, OTL Caesar had trouble with mercenaries betraying him too (due to loyalty issue not his nonpayment which would be understabadle), Alesia's relief army was led by his ex-mercs.
Crassus divides the vast majority of the looted booty among his survivors while taking a portion. He puts some of his portion to buy land in... I don't know Italia or Gaul (the Roman part) for his veterans to retire on. He keeps the rest, and the Parthian tribute. From that day on, his mind never seemed the same. He never set foot outside Roman friendly territory again, except to put down rebels (so I guess you can say he never sets foot outside nominally Roman territory again). Whenever he was hungry, his mind seemed unfocused. He focused on his businesses like a Patrician civilian, despite being one of the three military strongmen. He became a much bigger drinker, although his liver holds out. While his strength returned, his stamina never seemed to come back.
When it comes to Senate politics, Crassus reported the initial success against his target enemy followed by treachery. He spent the rest of his life resting on his laurels, rather than further ambition, except with a punitive expedition sent to Armenia... not personally led by him.. Meanwhile, he continue to influence the Senate, but it seems ever since the Parthian Campaign, he seemed increasingly in the hands of Gaius Julius Caesar, who had been focusing on Crassus since the successful Britain campaign. Crassus seemed to support Ceasar's suggestions to the Senate, even when his past ideology (optimates) would be against it. Crassus simply said he wanted to do an old friend a few favors.
Well, how do you think the Roman Republic develops. Caesar effectively has 2/3 of the triumvirate with Crassus's mind in and out, but Crassus might end up not the best pawn. While he's still the wealthiest man in Roman, his wealth can't be used by Caesar. Crassus might be influencing his own supporters to throw in their lot with Caesar, but in the eyes of the Senate Crassus has two blemishes. One, he's supporting Caesar. Two, he came back with most of his army head and lost 3 of the 7 legion standards, even if he only lost it by treachery.
He destroys 3 Parthian field formations each one larger than his own army. He storms and sacks their 4th, 5th, and 7th most populous cities, and the Romans walk away with lots of loot. Crassus impresses on the Parthian leaders, and they pay a tribute equal to triple their government's annual tax income (probably by borrowing, unlike today the government and kings made a minority of the economy, so there is wealth around the general population).
On the way back, he is betrayed by the Armenians he hired as mercenaries (I think he did in OTL? If not, say he hired them in TTL). The Romans fight another huge battle, and barely win despite not starting off in battle formation. They refuse to drop the loot and tribute and lug it back as they are harassed. In the end, 1/8 of the Legions that left for the campaign ended up returning. Most of the survivors are the cavalry rather than the heavy infantry. 3 Legion standards are lost. Crassus himself suffers a huge blow to the head during betrayal, and loses consciousness for a week. Oh, OTL Caesar had trouble with mercenaries betraying him too (due to loyalty issue not his nonpayment which would be understabadle), Alesia's relief army was led by his ex-mercs.
Crassus divides the vast majority of the looted booty among his survivors while taking a portion. He puts some of his portion to buy land in... I don't know Italia or Gaul (the Roman part) for his veterans to retire on. He keeps the rest, and the Parthian tribute. From that day on, his mind never seemed the same. He never set foot outside Roman friendly territory again, except to put down rebels (so I guess you can say he never sets foot outside nominally Roman territory again). Whenever he was hungry, his mind seemed unfocused. He focused on his businesses like a Patrician civilian, despite being one of the three military strongmen. He became a much bigger drinker, although his liver holds out. While his strength returned, his stamina never seemed to come back.
When it comes to Senate politics, Crassus reported the initial success against his target enemy followed by treachery. He spent the rest of his life resting on his laurels, rather than further ambition, except with a punitive expedition sent to Armenia... not personally led by him.. Meanwhile, he continue to influence the Senate, but it seems ever since the Parthian Campaign, he seemed increasingly in the hands of Gaius Julius Caesar, who had been focusing on Crassus since the successful Britain campaign. Crassus seemed to support Ceasar's suggestions to the Senate, even when his past ideology (optimates) would be against it. Crassus simply said he wanted to do an old friend a few favors.
Well, how do you think the Roman Republic develops. Caesar effectively has 2/3 of the triumvirate with Crassus's mind in and out, but Crassus might end up not the best pawn. While he's still the wealthiest man in Roman, his wealth can't be used by Caesar. Crassus might be influencing his own supporters to throw in their lot with Caesar, but in the eyes of the Senate Crassus has two blemishes. One, he's supporting Caesar. Two, he came back with most of his army head and lost 3 of the 7 legion standards, even if he only lost it by treachery.