Julius Caesar was the dictator of Rome in his prime. Some say his journey to the top was paved in corruption, other claimed he was a man of the people. His enemies knew to fear him for his ruthlessness. His followers adored him because everything that he had succeeded in was done for them. Unfortunately, his betrayal transpired by his senators who felt he had grown too powerful and stabbed him to death. However, Julius Caesar’s connection to the political world, his innate ability as an army general, and his desire to advocate for the rights of his people made him a great leader. Julius Caesar was born into aristocracy. His father was said to be related to the goddess Venus and his mother’s lineage claimed to be that of the first kings. Seeing …show more content…
Undeniably, Caesar was a great general who found out early in his military career that his strength was in leading and executing his plans. Moreover, his most memorable battle was against the Gaul. Adrian Goldsworthy suggests that “Caesar was as much- or even more- a politician as he was a general” (Goldsworthy 1). His political connections helped him climb the ladder, but his military expertise had his name on every Romans lips. However, Caesar was ruthless to his enemies, but due to his fearlessness and slow advances on the battlefield, he single-handedly doubled the size of Rome with the defeat of Gaul. The author Miriam Greenblatt advocates that in Julius Caesar and the Roman Republic “ he discovered that he was very good at warfare,” (Greenblatt 18) and she continues that Caesar was so skilled in his ability that he knew just when and where to place his soldiers to defeat his enemies and that he could obtain the money and taxes from those that he subjugated that he very rapidly bailed himself out of debt, and put the money back into Rome (Greenblatt 19) Greenblatt also suggests that because of the Gallic Wars , “Rome had almost doubled the size of the Roman Empire and brought Roman culture- including good roads an Roman system of laws- to northwestern Europe,” (Greenblatt 24). Due to his great skills as a general, he had the unwavering support of his soldiers. Additionally, Greenblatt proposes that …show more content…
The kings who ruled before him had lost sight of Roman law, in Caesars opinion. Subsequently, before he rose to power, he was sickened at the decisive way the Senate and the kings punished the people. Miriam Greenblatt points out in Julius Caesar and the Roman Republic, that when the senators of Rome and the king collectively decide to execute those they felt conspired against Rome, Caesar opposed them arguing that Roman law declares that its citizens deserve a trial (Greenblatt 16). Due to this, it is noted that “people admired his political courage and moderation,” (Greenblatt 16). Furthermore, During his war with Pompey, he instructed his soldiers not to kill their fellow citizens. Philip Matyszak asserts in The Sons of Caesar Imperial Rome’s First Dynasty, “he urged his soldiers to remember that their opponents were Romans, and to spare whomsoever they could” (Matyszak 66). Caesar also prided himself on equality for all his Roman citizens. Due to this, “established colonies for unemployed Romans throughout Italy and the provinces” (Greenblatt 37). Amazingly, Caesar was also able to” institute more severe penalties for murder and other violent crimes. He guaranteed freedom of worship to Rome’s Jews. He reformed a new calendar. (Greenblatt 37-38) Caesar also eliminated tariffs for his soldiers. He allowed them to receive more money by not charging them for rations, like other military generals had done to their troops.
Julius Caesar is the leader of Rome and is seeking to become king in a matter of time. Though he is a good military strategist, he lacks knowledge in running government and is too greedy to have any concern for the peasants when he is alive. Caesar is all about conquering and power and he is afraid of nothing. Before he is murdered, he says “The things that threatened me ne’er looked but on my back. When they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished” (II, ii, 575). Th...
Julius Caesar was a strong leader for the Romans who changed the course of the history of the Greco - Roman world decisively and irreversibly. With his courage and strength he created a strong empire. What happened during his early political career? How did he become such a strong dictator of the Roman Empire? What events led up to the making of the first triumvirate? How did he rise over the other two in the triumvirate and why did he choose to take over? What happened during his reign as dictator of Rome? What events led up to the assassination of Caesar? What happened after he was killed? Caesar was a major part of the Roman Empire because of his strength and his strong war strategies. Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman whose dictatorship was pivotal in Rome’s transition from republic to empire. When he was young Caesar lived through one of the most horrifying decades in the history of the city of Rome. The city was assaulted twice and captured by Roman armies, first in 87 BC by the leaders of the populares, his uncle Marius and Cinna. Cinna was killed the year that Caesar had married Cinna’s daughter Cornelia. The second attack upon the city was carried our by Marius’ enemy Sulla, leader of the optimates, in 82 BC on the latter’s return from the East. On each occasion the massacre of political opponents was followed by the confiscation of their property. The proscriptions of Sulla, which preceded the reactionary political legislation enacted during his dictatorship left a particularly bitter memory that long survived. Caesar left Rome for the province of Asia on the condition that he divorce his wife because Sulla would only allow him to leave on that condition. When he heard the news that Sulla had been killed he returned to Rome. He studied rhetoric under the distinguished teacher Molon. In the winter of 75-74 BC Caesar was captured by pirated and, while in their custody awaiting the arrival of the ransom money which they demanded, threatened them with crucifixion , a threat which he fulfilled immediately after his release. He then returned to Rome to engage in a normal political career, starting with the quaetorship which he served in 69-68 BC in the province of Further Spain. In the Roman political world of the sixties the dominance of the optimates was challenged by Pompey and Crassus. The optimates, led by Q...
During the Republic, the people of Rome had a major disinclination towards any sort of Royalty, which is why when Caesar attempted to lead undemocratically indefinitely, he disrupted one of the core stances that romans shared communally. Caesar over indulged in power when he retitled himself as ‘dictator in perpetuo’. “And as Caesar was coming down from Alba into the city they ventured to hail him as king. But at this the people were confounded, and Caesar, disturbed in mind, said that his name was not King, but Caesar, and seeing that his words produced an universal silence, he passed on with no very cheerful or contented looks…..But the most open and deadly hatred towards him was produced by his passion for the royal power.” Caesars egotism and self-importance made him uncherished by members of the senate. “Everybody knew that Caesar's ego would never allow him to play second fiddle to another senator, and it was equally well-known that another famous military leader, Pompey the Great, had similar ambitions. In January 49, more or less at...
For thousands of years people have been talking about the great powerful Caesar. He is one of the greatest known dictators known to people today mostly because of all of the things he was able to accomplish during his rein as emperor. After reading primary sources about Caesar, it has given me a better understanding of what other people thought of him during this time period. It’s safe to say that Caesar was obsessed with power and respect from other people that would explain his thirst for war and land, which is one of his greatest strengths and helped in making Rome a great empire.
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’s power in Rome was growing, and people were afraid he was going to turn Rome into a monarchy. However, Caesar did not want to be known as a king, but he was appointed dictator for life.
Julius Caesar was born around 100B.C.E.. He was born of Gaius Caesar and Aurelia (Achievements Of Julius Caesar). He was blessed by being born into a political family that already had a foothold in the politics of Rome. “His father had been only a moderate political success, attaining the praetorship but not the consulship” (Gaius Julius Caesar). Another blessing of his was that his family routes could be traced back to the founders of Rome, which gave entitled him to traditional privileges and offices. Caesar was well educated and considered to be one of the most cultured people in Rome (Gaius Julius Caesar). When he was 16 he married his wife, Cornelia.
Julius Caesar excelled in military command and an example of Julius Caesar’s impacting victories in crucial battle came with the Gallic Wars. At the start of 52 B.C., a rebellion that spread rapidly throughout much of what Romans called Celts or Gauls surprised Julius Caesar. During that winter, most of the tribes tried to expel the Romans from their lands. This led to what is know as the Gallic wars. Gaul has never been a unified country just independent and hostile tribes. This made it easier to conquer for Julius Caesar. Through the fighting in Gaul, Julius Caesar’s hoped to impress the Senate with his military abilities. Julius Caesar would eventually conquer Gaul(“Gaius Julius Caesar: Ancient Greece and Rome”
“At the time, Caesar had just completed a ruthless grab for doctoral power by executing hundreds of rival nobles and defeating armies led by his rival Gnaeus Pompey, also executed” (Matthews 69). Although Julius Caesar is known for being the ruler of one of the most refined and robust empires known to man, the reality is quite different. Rome was an empire that was stricken with the disease that cursed many great domains—power. Power was the basis Rome’s mightiest indiscretions. Plagued by hypocritical religious views, inhumane actions, and corrupt government practices, Rome faced an inevitable decline.
Julius Caesar is remembered as one of the greatest military minds in history and credited with arranging the basis for the Roman Empire. Caesar’s military brilliance bought Rome more land and more power, which led into the increase of size and strength of Rome. Caesar’s dictatorship helped the strength in Rome. Julius Caesar was assassinated which lead to a monarchy that was ruled by Octavin. Caesar’s death caused an effect to the collapse of the Roman Empire. Many people today in the 21st century try and follow the greatness of Julius Caesar. The assassination of Julius Caesar was a tragedy with the contributions Caesar made to strengthen Rome’s success.
The conspirators were wrong to kill Julius Caesar because he contributed to the upturn and reformation of Rome into an orderly state. Caesar reformed Rome and prevented Rome from demolition. For instance, Caesar "reorganized the town governments in Italy, reformed the courts, planned to codify the law to improve administration. Besides that, Caesar brought peace and stability to Rome. Evidently, Caesar successfully stopped the civil wars in 45 BC. This allowed the Romans to live in harmony and collaborate on improving their country. It appears that Caesar's death marked an epoch in Roman history where civil wars were once again resurrected. Furthermore, Caesar introduced social and economic reforms. In his process of ameliorating Rome's social condition, the provinces became richer as the Roman businessmen were restricted from exploiting them. This is crucial because a country's capital is strongly related to the government's stability. Besides that, the poor were helped when he established a public works programme, which provided employment to them. Clearly, Caesar contributed significantly to preventing the destruction of Rome and therefore, he should not have been assassinated by the conspirators.
Julius Caesar is a well-known name in history with being one of the most successful leaders in ancient Rome History. He did many great thing and many not so great things. HE was a great leader in most of the eyes of Rome, which led to his rise as the leader. Many of his choices were not the best, so many people did not agree with him in the Senate of Rome. The major downfall for him, in my opinion, was when he went to Egypt to negotiate peace between the two cities and went behind his wife and Rome’s back. Instead of just making peace he found himself seduced by Cleopatra and because of this choice, he had to put her under protection of the Roman people. This was the final straw in the Senates eyes as they found themselves stabbing him with
Ambition drives Caesar to become a strong leader of Rome. Caesar works hard and consequently is given power, but in the process makes many enemies
Two powerful leaders, one power hungry whose ambitious ideas lead to his downfall, the other mindful of people who deserve their higher positions. A true leader is someone who has a vision, a drive and commitment to achieve what's best. In the play written by William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Brutus and Caesar are one of the main characters. They demonstrate leadership qualities that are still relevant to today. They are both very ambitious characters; however, they do so for different reasons and differ in their openness to others. There are many similarities and differences that lie between them. Both are noble and great men with loyal followers and neither man questions the rightness of his own path. Both made crucial mistakes that resulted in their death. However, Caesar acts out of love for for himself, his country, and to retain his power as ruler of Rome. Brutus on the other hand acts out of love for freedom of Rome. This essay will discuss and compare their qualities as leaders as well as their styles and how they are effective/ineffective in the play.
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...