Of the great generals that we have talked about in this project Julius Caesar is the most famous and most accomplished. He defeated the fearsome Gauls, formed the first ever triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey, moved away from the favour of the Senate to declare himself Principate (a Principate was the same as an Emperor in every way except name and public conception) and adopted Octavian (better known as Augustus) and groomed him to take over and become the greatest political Principate ever. It must be noted however that most of our knowledge of his military campaigns in Gaul comes from his autobiography.
Julius Caesar came from a family that claimed descent from Lulus, the son of the Trojan prince Aeneas. However, despite their claim to fame, his family was mainly politically irrelevant with the exception of his father Gaius Julius Caesar, the governor of Asia and his aunt Julia, who married Marius (he is talked about in this project). Soon however when Caesar was 16 a war between his uncle, Marius and Sulla. Sulla won and due to his connections, Caesar was disfavoured by the new regime.
In fear of Sulla, Caesar joined the army. When Sulla died in 78 B.C., Caesar decided to return to Rome. While crossing the Aegean Sea, Caesar was captured by pirates for a ransom. During this whole affair, he maintained a dangerous air of superiority. He told the pirates that he would crucify them and when the pirates asked for 20 talents of silver as a ransom, he demanded they raise the ransom to 50 talents. When he was released, he raised a fleet to capture the pirates and, true to his word, he had them crucified.
Due to the fact that Sulla had taken away his inheritance, Caesar was poor and could only afford a modest home in a bad neighbo...
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After this the conspirators paraded around Rome, screaming out “People of Rome, we are once again free.” However they didn’t get much sympathy and the middle and low class, whom Caesar was very popular with. The vast majority of people locked themselves in their houses.
In the aftermath of the assassination, Marcus Anthony started a riot with the lower and middle classes of Rome to take over the city in Caesar’s name. He then formed the second triumvirate with Octavian and Aemilius Lepidus. This triumvirate used Caesar’s funds and popularity to raise an army to defeat Caesar’s killers who had fled Rome and made a considerable army.
In the end history repeated itself and civil war erupted between Marcus Anthony and Cleopatra (the former lover of Caesar) and Octavian. Octavian won and, through some fantastic political skills became the best Principate ever to live.
Caesar, a strong and powerful man that doesn’t appear to have any fears. With only revealing slight fears to very trustworthy followers Caesar seemed to be invincible. “But I fear him not. Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid so soon as that spare Cassius.” (I, II, 208-211). The Conspirators saw this as a threat and from that moment planned vengeance on Caesar. While intimidating and harsh the people of Rome adored him. The lines of Flavius when Caesar returns to Rome “Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home! Is this a holiday? What, know you not, being mechanical, you ought not to walk upon a laboring day without the sign of your profession?” (I, I, 1-5). They treated his return like a holiday, a festival. Even with this in mind, the Conspirators worries worsened that Caesar would become an overpowering dictator that put Rome at risk. In this situation most citizens would say spare Caesar, but the Conspirators were set on killing him. In the end the Conspirators did what they thought was right and killed Caesar in the senate, but were they right?
Julius Caesar (Britannica School) “Caesar’s political ambitions developed under these circumstances. From the start he probably aimed at winning office, not just for personal glory but also to achieve the power to save Rome from decay.” (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) Once he was travelling to Rhodes and was captured by pirates. His ransom was paid, and then Caesar hunted his captors down and had them crucified.
It was clear to the people of Rome that the concerns of the common man were now of little importance to the aristocrats that held positions in government. Additionally, new policies paid the army with gold and land instead of it being a public service for the good of the Roman Republic leading soldiers to be more loyal to the generals than the republic itself. Julius Caesar, a successful military leader, utilized the control he had over his soldiers to rise to prominence in Roman politics in 78-60 BCE. Caesar joined the 1st triumvirate, a mutual split of power between himself, Pompey, and Crassus for control of Rome, but after the death of Crassus and the defeat of Pompey in Northern Italy was the only remaining leader. Caesar then focused on social and economic reforms that addressed the class inequality that resulted from the aftermath of the Gracchi brothers, subsequently making him very popular with the commoners. Caesar most likely saw his popularity as an advantage, knowing that having the people of Rome on his side would make it much more difficult for him to be stripped of his title. Unfortunately, popularity would prove not to be enough to keep Caesar in office. Because Caesar’s initiative was focused around the concerns of the common man, some of Caesar’s senate did not approve of the way he was utilizing his power. In 44 BCE, Julius Caesar would be stabbed to death while in a senate meeting. Upon hearing that Caesar had fallen to the aristocrats, his followers, mostly commoners, were enraged and caused the Roman Republic to go into a state of disarray once
Julius Caesar elected himself as the dictator of Rome. He became a favorite of many of the people of the lower classes. Unlike many leaders, Caesar valued the poor. Most people agreed with his decision, but some of the higher classes’ did not. On March 15 44 BCE, now called the Ides of March, a few of Caesars’ closest peers decided to murder Caesar.
Afterwards, Caesar’s friends came around to pay the ransom and the pirates, they released him to go and spend their money as they wish. But that didn’t mean it was over for Caesar; after the pirates ran away they were captured and put in prison for their crime at the hand of Caesar. “Caesar [then] took the pirates out of prison and...
Julius Caesar emerged. He was able commander who led many conquests for Rome. In 59 B.C. Caesar set out for a new conquest. After nine years of constant fighting, he finally conquered Gaul. Pompey grew jealous of his achievement and had the senate order him to disband his forces and return to Rome. Caesar secretly crossed the Rubicon and killed Pompey then entered Rome. After crushing many rebellions, Caesar forced the senate to make him a dictator. Caesar launched many reforms such as public work programs and giving land to the poor. According to legend those in the senate murdered Caesar on March 15. Caesar's Grandnephew, Octavian, and Marc Anthony joined forces to capture his killers. However bitter feuds grew it soon became a battle for power.
In 509 B.C. the Romans declared themselves a republic, free from rule of the Etruscan kings. (“The Rise of…”) From that point on, the Roman’s form of government would never include the title of “king”, in fear that a single person would gain absolute power. The republic included a dictator (in emergencies), the senate, two consuls, and several other positions. (Bishop) Although the goal of creating a republic was to have a government that represented the wishes of its people, the Roman senate consisted of men of wealth or power, leaving most of the plebeians, or common people, out of the picture. Many of the emperors’ policies strengthened the power of the government, and therefore weakened the power of the plebeians. By the end of Sulla’s rule in 78 B.C., grain prices had risen substantially and there was large gap between the rich and poor. (“The Rise of…”) When Julius Caesar took power, he initiated several reforms that were much needed at the time. Caesar spent large volumes of money on entertaining the citizens, while expanding citizenship to people of conquered lands and lessening the power of the senate. His policies threatened the method of income of senators and around 60 senators, in the name of saving the republic, murdered Julius Caesar at a senate hearing in 44 B.C. Civil war then erupted in Rome and lasted over a decade. At the end of the blood brawl, it was Octavian who emerged victorious; he would be the first Roman Emperor and would be known as Augustus. (Morey) Although the “Liberators” (Julius Caesar’s assassins), might not have realized it, the day that Julius Caesar died was the same day that the republic died; t...
Finally his sudden death was the result of various personal factors that insulted the senators and created hate between Caesar and them, believing his death was expected. His death then led to a domino effect, which ends in the eventual collapse of the Roman Empire. Caesar was assassinated by his own Senate. Julius Caesar had many men conspiring against him with a plot to assassinate him. Among the 60 men plotting to murder him, many were senators, which included Marcus Junius Brutus, Decimus Brutus Albinus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Brutus believed the death of Caesar would bring the return of the old Roman spirit unfortunately, the city was in shock, and people became increasingly more aggressive, because Caesar was popular with the people of Rome. Unfortunately, peace was impossible and the conspirators fled to
In 79 BC Caesar saved the life of a citizen in battle for which he was presented the civic crown (oak leaves). Caesar was sent on a mission to the embassy to Nicomedes, by his general to obtain a fleet of ships and he was successful. Caesar was known as a powerful speaker, so when the dictator Sulla died in 78, Caesar returned back to Rome and started a career as a lawyer. Caesar advanced within the Roman political system. In 69 BC, he became the financial advisor. In 65 BC, he became an assistant to the tribune. In 62 BC, he became a commander of an army. Once finished with the army, he became the Roman province of Spain’s Governor. Once Caesar completed his term as governor, he returned to Rome and was elected into consulship. A year after joining the consulship, Caesar became the Roman Gaul Governor. He held this term for eight years. While in the office of Governor, Caesar added France and Belgium to the Roman Empire making Rome safe from the possibility of Gallic invasions.
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome in July 100 BC. Rome was a Republic at this time. He was a statesman, Roman general, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. He played a significant role in the events that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and rise of the Roman Empire. He was a leader in a nation where the people were not involved in the government decision-making process. Thus, he had majority of the power in the Republic and was able to form a huge army. He was able to triumph, conquer new lands with the army at his grasp and command. As Caesar acquired more power over the years, som...
Most notably, two of his generals, Antony and Lepidus, were members of the second triumvirate. Some of his assassins even rose to prominence serving under him, like Decimus Brutus . And of course, Octavian could begin his rise to power because Caesar adopted him posthumously in his will. Even though a dead man could not adopt someone, Gaius Octavius changed his name and became Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, and his position as Caesar 's son was incredibly important for him in the coming civil
In previous years, Caesar had relied upon the wealth and prestige of others in order to further his own political and military ambitions. Before his governorship of Cisalpine Gaul, he relied heavily upon the financial support of Crassus (whom was his main creditor) to gain favour with the Roman public. However, with his appointment as proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul and Illyricum in 58 B.C.E, Caesar saw an opportunity to increase his own wealth and prestige without relying upon the support of others. To his command of Cisalpine Gaul, he was also later given the command of Transalpine Gaul. His command of the Gallic region had several advantages. Firstly, the Po Valley was an excellent recruiting ground for troops. Secondly through Gaul, Caesar had an opportunity to acquire great wealth, which would be needed to fur...
Julius Caesar was a strong leader of the Romans who changed the course of the history for the Roman world decisively and irreversibly. With his courage and strength, he created a strong empire and guided the empire for almost 20 years. His life was short, but had many adventures. I will tell of some of this man’s remarkable life. He did many things, therefore, I will only discuss a few. His name, part of his reign, one of his greatest battles, and his death will be told.
Caesar was born into a traditional influential and respected family. It is this influence that he used to make his way to the top of the Roman leadership. His use in warfare and military conquests are legendary although he had at first concentrated in pursuing political actions. He won the first elections in his political career at the early forties. He was el...
After he returned to Rome in 80 B.C. Caesar was presented with the oak wreath for his inordinate courage in the captivating of a Greek city (Julius Caesar, 1994). He continued his honorable work as a soldier in the military in 78 B.C., where he wanted to become a great leader. Julius Caesar headed back to Rome in 77 B.C. when he heard of Sulla’s; his overall goal for returning was to further prepare for his political career. Caesar never gave up on being a priest, in 73 B.C., the college of priests in Rome reached out to him letting Caesar know that he had been co-opted into the college. After hearing about of this, Caesar was devoted to his political career (Julius Caesar, 1994). Later that year was when Rome designated Caesar as one of the 24 military tribunes (Julius Caesar, 1994). Cornelia who was Caesar's first wife died in 69 B.C., after being unmarried for only two years, Caesar married the granddaughter of Sulla; Pompeia. To further his political career, Caesar was elected as Curule Aedile along with Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus in 65 B.C. (Julius Caesar, 1994). After using a substantial amount bribery, in 63 B.C. Caesar was voted Pontifex Maximus (head of the college of the priest). During the period of time where “Caesar was chosen to hold the positions of a tribune and