PC: Cato Fails to Kill Himself

[John Fredrick Parker]

In OTL 46 BCE, following Caesar's victory at the Battle of Thaspus, Cato committed suicide in Utica. He tried to stab himself with his sword, but he had an injured hand, which led him to make a mess of it; Plutarch describes the scene.

Cato did not immediately die of the wound; but struggling, fell off the bed, and throwing down a little mathematical table that stood by, made such a noise that the servants, hearing it, cried out. And immediately his son and all his friends came into the chamber, where, seeing him lie weltering in his own blood, great part of his bowels out of his body, but himself still alive and able to look at them, they all stood in horror. The physician went to him, and would have put in his bowels, which were not pierced, and sewed up the wound; but Cato, recovering himself, and understanding the intention, thrust away the physician, plucked out his own bowels, and tearing open the wound, immediately expired.

My question is, with no PoD's prior to the Battle of Thaspus itself and keeping it a Caesar victory, is it plausible for Cato to not successfully kill himself, and receive a pardon from Caesar? One possibility, I've read that Caesar had the troops of Metellus Scipio slaughtered at Thaspus, rather than accepting their surrender as he usually did; maybe that would make a difference? Or is this just a case of Cato being Cato, and nothing in the realm of plausibility for him to do otherwise?

 

[Anaxagoras]

He would have gone to Spain to join the remaining Optimate resistance. There would be no scenario of Cato accepting a pardon from Caesar. It's just not in the cards because of his inflexible personality.

 

[chornedsnorkack]

He would have gone to Spain to join the remaining Optimate resistance. There would be no scenario of Cato accepting a pardon from Caesar. It's just not in the cards because of his inflexible personality.

If he could flee.
WI Cato cannot flee, because Caesar's soldiers are in the way, or because Cato is too wounded to flee?
How would Caesar handle Cato as a wounded captive?

 

[Anaxagoras]

How would Caesar handle Cato as a wounded captive?

Probably hope that he dies from his wounds, which Caesar could then say he had received in battle rather than were self-inflicted. If Cato survives, Caesar would surely try to talk him into accepting a pardon. Cato would refuse, of course, so Caesar would eventually be left with a choice. He could simply let him go, but he wouldn't do that because Cato would immediately return to the resistance. He could keep him shackled up permanently, but that would serve Cato's purpose just as effectively as his suicide did. Or he could let him kill himself. Tough choice.

 

[The Sandman]

If Cato survives and recovers?

Send him on a diplomatic mission to China.

 

[John Fredrick Parker]

If Cato survives, Caesar would surely try to talk him into accepting a pardon. Cato would refuse, of course, so Caesar would eventually be left with a choice. He could simply let him go, but he wouldn't do that because Cato would immediately return to the resistance. He could keep him shackled up permanently, but that would serve Cato's purpose just as effectively as his suicide did. Or he could let him kill himself. Tough choice.

How about this -- Cato is kept alive long enough for Caesar to talk to him; when Cato tells his enemy that he refuses to live in a world ruled by Caesar, Caesar chastises him, accusing Cato of playing a key hand in bringing the republic to this point (bringing up the many points in their career where Cato refused to compromise, let him govern, or put him into a corner).

This convinces Cato not to kill himself... but instead to slip away, and join up with Pompeian forces in Spain.