RJ Writing Ink’s Guide to Caesar’s Legion in Fallout
When the Roman Empire fell in the West in the fifth century AD, the beginnings of the nations of modern Europe rose from its ashes. Several of these new lands sought to establish themselves as the continuation or heirs of the Roman Empire. Something similar plays out in the world of Fallout, with the only difference is that it’s America that some factions are trying to become the heir to. We’ve seen how the NCR and the Enclave each lay claim to the legacy of the USA, while people like the Brotherhood of Steel and Mr. House seek to continue aspects of it. In stark contrast, though, there’s a faction in the Wastes that rejects America altogether in favor of the worst aspects of Rome. That faction’s name is Caesar’s Legion, and from the looks of the trailers for season two of Fallout, they’ll have a role to play.
I’m RJ Writing Ink, and today, I will be going over the last of the big factions that will likely be playing a role in the new season of Fallout, Caesar’s Legion. Spoilers for Fallout: New Vegas will follow, so turn away if you haven’t played the game or don’t want to be spoiled.
Origin of the Legion
The story of Caesar’s Legion begins with two men, Edward Sallow and Joshua Graham. The former was part of the Followers of the Apocalypse, a group dedicated to preserving pre-War knowledge and helping others, while the latter was a Mormon missionary with a talent for linguistics. Together with one other, they set out into Arizona to contact the local tribes and provide aid. On their first stop, though, something went wrong, and the three were taken prisoner. Unwilling to die or let themselves be killed if their captors fell, Sallow made a decision that would change the region forever.
Some time ago, Sallow had found books detailing the history of the Ancient Roman Empire, and he became a fan of Rome. Using what he learned in those books, he taught their captors the military tactics of Ancient Rome, allowing their captors to become nigh-unstoppable, to the point that they made Sallow their new leader. It was at that point that he decided to take on a new identity. From then on, he was to be known as Caesar, the son of Mars and leader of Caesar’s Legion.
Caesar’s Legion=Roman Weebs
The Legion could best be summed up as an entire army of people who were fans of the Roman Empire, to the point where they emulated everything from their language to their uniforms. Unfortunately, under Caesar’s leadership, the Legion proved to be every bit as brutal as Rome. They conquered everything that they saw, forcing those who joined to abandon their identities in favor of assimilation. Anyone who defied them would face enslavement or death, especially by crucifixion. Human rights were non-existent, with the right of the state being the first and only thing. And to make things worse, women were treated like property and considered only good for tending the home or having kids. It was a brutal, imperialistic society, but an effective one. With Caesar leading it and Graham his right hand, the Legion conquered all of Arizona, most of New Mexico, and was pushing west into Utah and Colorado. And the New Vegas and the New California Republic were next.
Caesar didn’t have any real interest in the Hoover Dam, but when he learned about New Vegas, he saw potential. He wanted to ensure the Legion would live on after he died, and to do that, they would need their own Rome. Something as grand as New Vegas seemed perfect, so he sent Graham and his army to take the Dam and seize New Vegas. Standing in their way was the New California Republic, which had already gotten ownership of the Dam from Mr. House. In 2277, this led to the First Battle of Hoover Dam, which proved to be a disaster for Legion. Outwitted and outmaneuvered by the NCR’s elite Rangers, the Legion suffered a crushing defeat. They had no choice but to retreat back over the Colorado.
Caesar Needs New Vegas
Caesar was not happy with Graham for his failure, and he wanted to make sure everyone knew it. He sentenced his old friend to death by being covered in pitch, set on fire, and thrown into the Grand Canyon. Through sheer willpower, Graham survived and made his way back to his hometown, hoping to find redemption for his mistakes while also becoming a boogeyman to the Legion. After that, Caesar spent the next four years having the Legion regroup, and by the time New Vegas starts, he’s gearing up for another attempt to take Hoover Dam. To make things even worse for him, he’s suffering from a brain tumor threatening to kill him if it’s not removed; so, he’s desperate to take New Vegas.
While one of the endings to New Vegas allows the player to help the Legion conquer the city, the fate of Caesar is left up in the air. We can choose to help remove his tumor and save his life, or let him die and someone else take over. Many hope that the Legion will fall apart once Caesar is gone, but judging by their appearance in the upcoming season, those hopes were dashed. The Legion appears to remain active in some form in 2296, meaning either Caesar’s alive, or the Legion found new management. Either way, it’s not good for the Wasteland.
A Step in the Wrong Direction
As far as factions in the Wastelands go, Caesar’s Legion is definitely one of the more interesting ones. Whereas the NCR and Enclave want to be the heirs of America, the Legion wants to be the second coming of the Roman Empire, to the point that it shuns most technology. While their methods do get results, having them run things would set humanity back even more than the Great War already did. In addition, it should be pointed out that their sexist views make them a threat to Lucy, and their views on Ghouls are no better. If Lucy and the Ghoul end up on their radar, things could get ugly. Fingers crossed that they’re not as dangerous as they were fifteen years ago!
