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Gaius Julius Caesar (c. July 12 or 13, 100 BC to March 15, 44 BC) was a Roman military general and politician who played an essential role in the transformation of the Roman Empire. He expanded the geographic reach of Rome and its imperial system. Moreover, by age 31, Caesar had fought in several wars and engaged in Roman politics. Consequently, he became dictator of the Roman Empire.
Biography of Julius Caesar
The Roman emperor and commander came from a noble patrician family, the gens Julia, which claimed descent from Iulus, son of the legendary Trojan prince Aeneas, supposedly the son of the goddess Venus.
Childhood
Mother of Julius Caesar – Aurelia Kotta was from the noble and wealthy family Aurelius. Moreover, his grandmother was descended from the ancient Roman family Marcia. Ancus Marcius was the fourth king of Ancient Rome from 640 to 616 BC.
Today, no one can say the exact year of Caesar’s birth, but it is considered that he was born in 100 BC
However, the German historian Theodor Mommsen believes that Julius Caesar was born in 102 BC, while the French historian Jerome Carcopino claims that the emperor was born in 101 BC. Therefore, the birth date is considered both on the 12th and July 13.
Julius Caesar spent his childhood in the poor ancient Roman district of Subura. However, Caesar’s parents gave him a good education: he taught Greek, poetry, oratory, learned how to swim and ride a horse, and was very well developed physically. In 85 BC, when Caesar was only 16 years old, he became the head of the family because of his father’s death.
Beginning of Julius Caesar Political Career
Caesar played an essential role in forming the Roman Empire’s politics.
In Asia
In 80 BC, the warlord Lucius Cornelius Cinna suggested Gaius Julius to the place of flames, the priest of the god Jupiter. But for this, he needed to marry according to a solemn ancient rite of confarreate, and Lucius Cornelius chose Caesar to marry his daughter Cornelia Cinilla. In the year 76 BC, the couple already had a daughter, Ivlia.
Today, historians are no longer sure about holding the inauguration ritual, Julia. On the one hand, this would prevent him from engaging in politics, but on the other hand, it was an excellent way to consolidate the position of the Caesars. After the betrothal of Gaius Julius and Cornelia, a rebellion occurred in the troops, and the military attacked Cinna – he was killed. Consequently, the dictatorship of Lucius Cornelius Sulla was established, after which Caesar, as a relative of the opponent’s new ruler, was outlawed. He disobeyed Sulla, refused to divorce his wife, and left Rome. The dictator searched for the disobedient for a long time, but consequently, he pardoned him at the request of his relatives.
Julius became the equities of Marcus Minucius Thermus, a praetor in 81 BC and proprietor of the Roman province of Asia the following year. Julius Caesar began his military service under Thermus after his pardon by Sulla during the proscriptions of 82 BC. Moreover, Thermus sent the young Caesar as an envoy to the court of Nicomedes IV of Bithynia to request aid in the form of a fleet.
In the year 78 BC, in Italy, Lucius Sulla dies and Caesar decides to return to his homeland
Roman events
In 78 BC, the warlord Marcus Lepidus organized a revolt of Italici against the laws of Lucius. However, Caesar didn’t accept the invitation to participate in the revolution. In 77-76 BC, Gaius Julius tried to sue the supporters of Sulla: the politician Cornelius Dolabella and the commander Antonius Hybrida. However, he failed in his aim despite the brilliant, accusatory speeches that he made.
After that, Julius decided to visit the island of Rhodus and the school of rhetoric Apollonius Molon, but on the way, he was captured by the pirates, whence the Asian ambassadors later rescued him for fifty talents. Desiring to take revenge, Caesar equipped several ships and took the pirates as captives, having executed them with a crucifix. Finally, in 73 BC, Caesar was included in the collegiate governing body of the pontiffs, where his uncle, Gaius Aurelius Cotta, had previously ruled.
In 69 BC, Caesar’s wife died during childbirth, and his second child didn’t survive. Soon, Gaius Julius became an ordinary Roman magistrate. The new title allowed him to enter the Senate. Instead, he was sent to Hispania Ulterior, where he took care of the financial matters and the execution of the assignments of Antistius Vetus.
In 67 BC, Caesar married Pompeia Sulla, the granddaughter of Sulla. Then, in 66 BC, Gaius Julius became the caretaker of the most important public road in Rome – The Appian Way (Via Appia) and financed its repair.
Collegium of Magistrates and Elections
In 66 BC, Gaius Julius was elected to the magistrates of Rome. His responsibilities included expanding the city’s construction and supporting trade and social events. In 65 BC, he held memorable Roman games with the participation of gladiators, which managed to amaze his sophisticated city dwellers.
In 64 BC, Gaius Julius was the head of the judicial commission (Quaestiones perpetuae) in the criminal trials, which allowed him to punish many of Sulla’s henchmen. In 63 BC, Quintus Metellus Pius was dead, which led to the freedom of the Great Pontifex Maximus. Caesar decided to nominate his candidacy, and his two opponents were Consul Quintus Catulus Capitolinus and General Vatia Isauricus. After numerous bribes, Caesar finally won the election and moved to live on the Sacred Road (Via Sacra) to the Pontifex government housing.
Conspiracy against Julius Caesar
In 65 and 63 BC, one of the political conspirators, Lucius Sergius Catilina, attempted to make a coup d’état. As an opponent of Caesar, Marcus Tullius Cicero tried to accuse the one of participating in conspiracies but was unable to provide the necessary evidence and failed. Marcus Porcius Cato, the informal leader of the Roman Senate, also testified against Caesar and ensured that threats were persecuting Gaius Julius.
First Triumvirate
The First Triumvirate is a term historians use for an informal political group of three people between 59 and 53 BC, during the late Roman Republic: Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great), and Marcus Licinius Crassus.
Formation of a Political Alliance
Pompey the Great was extremely popular with the Roman people because of his military service. Moreover, he was a victor in the Mithridatic Wars and received credit for his participation in the Spartacus revolt. However, Pompey wasn’t the one who became the reason for Roman success in the Spartacus revolt. The influence of Crassus made a Roman win possible, while Pompey was at the right time and in the right place to take all the glory from Crassus. Consequently, they both entered an alliance mainly because of an insatiable thirst for power. Talking about Caesar, he was the one who organized the coalition and made it strong.
After the Mithridatic Wars, Pompey returned to Rome as a private citizen with two requests. He wanted to give lands to his veterans where they could settle, and he wanted the Roman Senate to approve the settlement of one of Rome’s eastern territories. However, the Senate refused both of his requests. At the same time, Crassus was already wealthy and powerful, but an alliance with Pompey and Caesar was the thing that could realize all his plans. Caesar he had only a reputation and his name but no wealth.
Consequently, Caesar needed Crassus and Pompey to support him politically to consolidate his power and accomplish what he wanted in Rome. Caesar and Crassus already had a political relationship because Crassus kept Gaius Julius earlier in his career for the position of Pontifex Maximus. To form a stronger relationship with Pompey, Caesar wisely married his only daughter, Julia, to him.
Accomplishments of the First Triumvirate
The same year the First Triumvirate was formed, Caesar was elected as a consul of Rome. So, the triumvirate had taken a seat away from the aristocratic Optimate party, and the alliance achieved a position to take what they wanted. With Crassus and Pompey in the Senate, Caesar fulfilled Pompey’s land requests. Moreover, before Caesar left his consulship, he managed to secure control of two main provinces in Rome: Cisalpine Gaul (now France) and Illyricum. However, other members of the Senate and Romans didn’t support Caesar’s actions and began questioning the First Triumvirate’s motives.
After Caesar assumed control of Gaul and Illyricum, the three men worked together to get Pompey and Crassus elected as the two consuls who would control Rome in 55 BC
As consuls, Crassus and Pompey extended Caesar’s role in the provinces for another five years. The First Triumvirate managed to effectively control all of Rome.
Gallic War
When Caesar resigned as Consul, he continued to conquer the lands of Rome. During the Gallic War (Bellum Gallicum), Caesar, displaying great diplomacy and strategy, skillfully took advantage of Gallic leaders’ arguments. In 55 BC, he defeated the Germans who crossed the Rhine and, in 10 days, built a 400-meter-long bridge first to attack them, as no one in Rome had done before. Moreover, he was the first of the Roman generals to invade Great Britain, conducting several brilliant military operations, after which he was forced to leave the island.
In 56 BC, during the meeting of triumvirs in Lucca, the alliance decided to continue developing political support for each other.
By the year 50 BC, Gaius Julius suppressed all the rebellions and managed to subjugate all his previous territories to Rome
Civil War
In 53 BC, Crassus died, and the triumvirate stopped existing. Moreover, the struggle began between Pompey and Julius. Pompey became the head of the republican government, while the Senate didn’t extend Caesar’s powers in Gaul. Also, Pompey accused Caesar of insubordination and treason. Caesar decided to gather all the soldiers among whom he was famous and crossed the river border of the Rubicon (the frontier boundary of Italy). Then, he managed to seize several cities and ignited civil war.
Pompey and many of the Senate fled to the south, having little confidence in Pompey’s newly raised troops. In addition, Pompey managed to escape before Caesar could capture him. Consequently, heading for Spain, Caesar left Italy under the control of Mark Antony. After a 27-day route march, Gaius Julius defeated Pompey’s lieutenants and returned to the East to challenge Pompey in Illyria. In 48 BC, in the battle of Dyrrhacium, Caesar barely avoided a catastrophic defeat. Moreover, later that year, he defeated Pompey at Pharsalus in Greece.
In Rome, Caesar was appointed dictator, and Mark Antony was his Master of the Horse (second in command). Also, Caesar presided over his election to a second consulship and, after 11 days, resigned his dictatorship.
Assassination of Julius Caesar
The death of Julius Caesar resulted from a conspiracy by numerous Roman senators driven by Gaius Cassius Longinus, Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, and Marcus Junius Brutus.
They cut Julius Caesar to death in an area neighboring the Theater of Pompey on the Ides of (March 15), 44 BC. Caesar was the dictator of the Roman Republic, having, as of late, been proclaimed dictator perpetuo by the Senate of the Roman Republic. This statement influenced several senators to expect that Caesar wanted to overthrow the Senate in favor of tyranny. However, the conspirators were unable to re-establish the Roman Republic, and the ramifications of the assassination prompted the Liberators’ civil war and eventually the Principate period of the Roman Empire.
Places of Julius Caesar in Rome
During your visit to the Eternal City, you may become interested to see places connected to the life of the famous Gaius Julius Caesar.
Subura
Even though Caesar died the most powerful man in an empire, he wasn’t always afforded luxury life. Moreover, he was born into a poor noble family in the Roman slums of Subura. Monti is the Roman neighborhood that now occupies the area where Subura was located, between the Via Cavour and Via Nazionale, East of the Roman Forum. Nowadays, it is a lively area, popular among tourists, while previously, it was Rome’s red-light district.
Via Appia Antica
The Via Appia Antica (also called “The Queen of Roads”) was built in 312 BC and, by 191 BC, extended to the port of Brindisi.
It became Rome’s most important road, opening Rome up to the East. Unfortunately, the road was worn down when Julius Caesar ascended to power. Nevertheless, he understood the importance of the road to Romans and became the curator of the Appian Way in 66 BC. Moreover, he borrowed a compelling amount of funds to ensure its restoration.
Residence of Julius Caesar in Trastevere
Trastevere area dates to antiquity, and Julius Caesar once called the neighborhood it’s second home. He mainly lived in the center of the city, near the Roman Forum, with his third wife, Calpurnia.
But in Trastevere, his villa, Horti Caesaris, is believed to be where he entertained Cleopatra when she was in Rome in 46 BC. Even though it is impossible to say exactly where the villa once stood, the fact is that the neighborhood played massive importance to the dictator.
Roman Forum
Being an integral member of Roman political life, Caesar would have spent a significant part of his time in and around the Forum. Moreover, after he received power, he even began to change the landscape of the Forum by planning and constructing several new buildings and monuments there. For instance, one of these buildings was the Basilica Julia, the construction of which began in 54 BC.
Theater of Marcellus
When Caesar defeated Pompey, he set out to build a theater that would dwarf the Pompey Theater, which Pompey had built in 55 BC. However, Caesar never saw the structure completed. Instead, the Theater of Marcellus (Teatro Marcello)was completed in 13 BC and became the largest theater in the Roman Empire, as Caesar wanted.
Largo di Torre Argentina
Largo di Torre, Argentina, is the place where Caesar was assassinated.
According to the legend, he ignored several omens that might help him avoid assassination. Ignoring these omens, he went to the Senate, where a group of men, including his closest friend Brutus, waited for him to kill. In Pompey’s Theater, on March 15, 44 BC, the conspirators stabbed Caesar. Moreover, Pompey’s Theater doesn’t exist for a long time, but the square Largo di Torre Argentina stands where the theater once was.
Interesting facts about Julius Caesar
- The assassination site of Julius Caesar, the Theatre of Pompey in Rome, is now the home to a colony of hundreds of stray cats, who are cared for by volunteers and considered sacred in honor of the fallen leader, making it a unique feline sanctuary.
- When Julius Caesar first encountered giraffes during his Egyptian campaign in 47 BC, he was so intrigued by these tall creatures that he gave them the name “Camelopards” due to their long necks, resembling a combination of camels and leopards in his eyes.
- During a siege of the Gallic city of Avaricum (modern-day Bourges) in 52 BC, Julius Caesar went to great lengths to ensure the city’s inhabitants couldn’t escape. He constructed not one but two massive walls encircling the city, effectively trapping the Gallic forces inside.
- Julius Caesar’s last will and testament contained a surprising provision. If Octavian (later known as Augustus) had either died or declined the inheritance, his second designated heir was none other than Brutus, the very man who had orchestrated Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March in 44 BC.
- The influence of Julius Caesar on language and titles is still felt today. The term “Emperor” in more than 30 languages worldwide traces its origins back to the Latin word “Imperator,” which was a title Julius Caesar adopted to signify his military command.
- Facing extreme traffic congestion in the bustling city of Rome, Julius Caesar took an unprecedented step in 45 BC. He instituted a daytime ban on all-wheeled vehicles within the city limits, which eased traffic woes and improved the flow of people and goods during daylight hours.
- Some scholars challenge the notion that Julius Caesar suffered from epilepsy, proposing an alternative theory that he may have experienced a series of mini-strokes or other medical conditions. This debate adds depth to our understanding of his health.
- While Julius Caesar had three official wives during his lifetime, including Cornelia, Pompeia, and Calpurnia, he also had numerous mistresses and love interests. Among them, Cleopatra VII of Egypt stands out as one of his most famous paramours. Their romance resulted in the birth of a son, Ptolemy Caesar, solidifying Caesar’s connection to the Egyptian queen.
- During his time in Egypt, Julius Caesar’s relationship with Cleopatra went beyond politics. Cleopatra bore him a son, Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, better known as Ptolemy Caesar or “Little Caesar.” The paternity of this child is widely believed to be Caesar’s.
- Beyond his military and political achievements, Julius Caesar faced personal challenges. He endured rumors and taunts about a supposed love affair with King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia. These allegations, whether true or not, highlight the complex and intriguing aspects of Caesar’s life beyond his public persona.
