2. Family background
Julius Caesar was born on the 12th or 13th of July, 100BC, to Gaius Caesar and
Aurelia Cotta. His family background is notable although it did not provide him
with the resources for his climatic endeavours.
Caesar was born a patrician and belonged primarily to his fathers‟
gens, Julia, and within this the Julii Caesares. They were likely to have been
the only surviving family from the gens during Caesar‟s time. His family lacked
wealth, influence and distinction, providing Caesar with a dismal inherited
political status.
3. There were important personalities associated with Caesar‟s family and Gaius
Marius, the husband of Caesar‟s aunt Julia, was the individual of greatest
distinction. Marius was at the fore of the Populare political faction or anti-
nobility when he led a revolution in Rome. Consequently, Caesar‟s family were
associated with this faction, disadvantaging his career as the opposing
Optimate faction or nobility were the dominant political force in Rome during his
youth. This guided his career and in 84BC, Caesar publicly committed himself
to the Populare faction by marrying Cornelia, the daughter of Lucius Cornelius
Cinna.
Caesar was at the head of the Julii Caesares at the age of 16 after his father
died.
4. Character
Caesar was brazen as a youth as he attempted to produce a career. Although
“... Caesar‟s capture by pirates, gives a vivid glimpse of Caesar‟s character in a
crisis” (Plutarch, Roman Lives, 299), his vengeful actions contrasted with his
later clemency towards enemies. Some traits were prevalent throughout his life;
Caesar was sexually promiscuous and as his devotion to Cornelia endangered
his life as a youth, affairs with married women in adulthood jeopardized his
career.
Caesar‟s genius is the fascinating facet of his character. He was capable of
applying his intelligence diversely and this is prevalent in his aptitude in
generalship, administration, writing, propaganda and persuasion, as well as
being a “most skilful swordsman and horseman” (Suetonius, The Twelve
Caesars, 40). This ability led Plutarch to state: “it is said that Caesar had a
remarkable gift for political oratory” (Plutarch, Roman Lives, 303). Of his
numerous skills, Caesar‟s military and political flair were critical to the success
of his career.
5. Caesar was a Roman patrician during the late Republic era. Rome had been
the largest power in the Mediterranean since its destruction of Carthage;
numerous provinces around the Mediterranean Ocean were annexed to
Italy, facilitating the accumulation of further wealth.
The Republic
The Republic‟s legal system enabled adaptations to suit the present while still
aligning with Rome‟s tradition. Goldsworthy surmised the political system by
explaining: “Rome did not have a written constitution, but a patchwork of
legislation, precedent and tradition” (A Goldsworthy, Caesar, 14).The political
structure was ideally democratic, as power was distributed among numerous
individuals and bodies, and the tribunes of the plebeians were to protect the
interests of the plebeians. The nobility governed Rome since the 4th century BC
and this highlights the shift towards oligarchic rule in the late Republic. The
Optimate faction was supreme and attempted to maintain their ascendancy of
power. The Populares and Optimates were the two distinct political factions in
Rome.
6. The nobility‟s reign was exhausted by Caesar‟s rise to power. Riddled with
scandal and financially depleted, Rome‟s instability reflected its anachronistic
government. Opposition between the Optimates and Populares heightened to
civil wars, while a fear of change prevented effective restoration of the Greco-
Roman world. The late Republic was thus an “illusion of an
aristocratic, senatorial, basically civilian Republic” (M Grant, The Twelve
Caesars, 36).
7. Figures
Several figures were of significance to Caesar‟s career, and Pompey and
Crassus were most notable. Altogether they formed the First Triumvirate and
this became crucial to Caesar‟s career.
Pompey was a capable and accomplished general who
commanded influence and distinction in Rome. He grew
distant from Caesar and eventually aligned with the nobility,
entering into a civil war. Although the most capable general
to oppose Caesar, Pompey was past the climax of his career
and was defeated.
Crassus‟s immense wealth was central to his influence,
wealth largely acquired from the sale of property confiscated
by Sulla. Caesar borrowed money from him in 62BC, using it
to gain favour in Rome.
8. Caesar‟s life was resplendent with success and achievements.
Caesar climbed the Cursus Honorum, obtaining the office of curule aedile in
65BC and praetor in 62BC, among others. The first major achievement in his
career was being elected as a Consul for 59BC.
Caesar‟s Gallic conquests were marked by success and were a critical period
in his career. He drove back, crushed and exterminated numerous tribes, races
and revolts. His campaigns were of such an extent that he crossed the Rhine
river in 55 and 53BC, and raided Britain in 55 and 54BC. Suetonius stated that
“Caesar was the first Roman to build a military bridge across the Rhine and
cause the Germans on the farther bank heavy loses” (Suetonius, The Twelve
Caesars, 24). The greatest threat to Caesar‟s campaign occurred in 52BC
when central Gaul found some unity under a national leader, Arvernian
Vercingetorix. Caesar‟s victory over Vercingetorix is therefore of notable
success.
10. Crossing the Rubicon on January 10-11 49BC led to Caesar‟s greatest
tribulations and achievements. He emerged successful from the ensuing civil
war which persisted for the following four years.
Caesar‟s obtainment of a unique life
dictatorship was the epitome of his career.
He enjoyed four triumphs for his success
during the civil war and was continually a
warded with praise and titles such as
„imperator‟ and the “father of his country”
(Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, 52). As
dictator he instigated reforms to Rome and
thus achieved his intention of restoring the
Greco-Roman world.
11. Caesar‟s legacy encapsulated his success. He produced the framework of the
Roman Empire during his dictatorship and this was posthumously idealised. His
reforms constructed the political and social foundations of the original
empire, while Rome‟s military power reached its peak during his reign. The
consequences of his dictatorship reached into the empire and were crucial to
Rome‟s prolongation. In turn, this preservation enabled wider repercussions on
human history.
12. Caesar was elected as a Consul for 59BC.
Caesar invaded Transalpine Gaul and Britain in his Gallic conquests from
58-50BC.
Caesar crossed the Rubicon river on January 10-11 49BC.
Caesar emerged successful from the civil war from 49-46BC.
Caesar was made dictator in 46BC.
Caesar was assassinated on the 15th March 44BC. This became known as
the Ides of March and the „Day of Parricide.‟ Caesar was warned of the plot
against his life yet did not take extensive measures to suppress it, as such
conspiracies were numerous. He entered the Senate House in Rome without
guards and was assassinated. Sixty were involved in the murder, including
former enemies whom he had partially restored, such as Brutus.
14. Caesar was of immense significance to Rome, greatly influencing Roman and
wider human history.
Caesar expanded and fortified Rome throughout his career. This is evident in
his Gallic conquests and restoration of the
Greco-Roman world during his dictatorship. The
production of the framework of the Roman Empire
had far reaching consequences that shaped Rome for
ensuing centuries, ensuring its role as an influential
power.
15. Caesar‟s foundation of the Roman Empire assisted Rome‟s prolongation for a
further four centuries in entirety. In turn, the Near East was greatly influenced
with Hellenism for over six centuries under the Roman Empire, and Hellenism
impacted pivotally on Christianity and Islam. In addition, Gaul‟s consumption by
barbarism by the Frankish invasion was lessened by its association with the
civilised Mediterranean world for over five centuries. This connection was the
direct result of Caesar‟s Gallic conquests. Therefore Caesar‟s actions were
critical in Rome‟s preservation, and their consequences were projected into
both the Roman Empire and wider history.
16. Caesar was ultimately of benefit to Rome; his role was pivotal in the necessary
transformation from republic to empire.
“Caesar‟s unparalleled success as a conqueror and his emergence as sole
permanent ruler of the Roman state, dictator perpetuus, make him the climax
and conclusion of the Roman republic, and the forerunner though not the
founder of the monarchy to be established by Augustus” (P A Stadter, Roman
Lives, 297).
17.
18. BBC, 2013, History, Julius
Caesar, 23/3/13, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/caesar_julius.s
html.
Julius Caesar, Gallic Wars.
„Julius Caesar‟ 2013, Encyclopaedia Britannica, ultimate reference
suite, Chicago.
Stephen Dando-Collins, 2002, Caesar‟s Legion, John Wiley and Sons, New
Jersey.
Adrian Goldsworthy, 2006, Caesar, Life of a colossus, Yale University
Press, New Haven and London.
Michael Grant, 1997, The Twelve Caesars, Phoenix, London.
Tom Holland, 2004, Rubicon, The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman
Republic, Abacus, London.
Plutarch, Roman Lives, Oxford World‟s Classics, United States, New York.
Sallust, Histories.
Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Penguin Classics, England.
