Was Julius Caesar A Good Leader

843 Words2 Pages

Gaius Julius Caesar, the dictator of Rome came to power around 49 B.C and later declared himself dictator for life around 44 B.C. Caesar was ambitious, courageous, and well liked among the common people of Rome. His well-liked reputation allowed his political power to increase. A position within the consulship guaranteed him an army full of soldiers and a province to go in battle. To have power, Caesar needed to display his military skills through battles and show his soldiers his capacity as a General. The Gallic War was one of Caesar well known accomplishments because after the war, his popularity status increased and he was known as the most influential military leader of his time. In order to become dictator of Rome, Julius Caesar used …show more content…

Gaining the good will of the common people of Rome takes patience. Caesar needed to establish a connection among the common people, to show he can be a leader. “Caesar won a great and brilliant popularity by his eloquence as an advocate, and much good will from the common people for the friendliness of his manners in intercourse with them, since he was ingratiating beyond his years” (Plutarch, 451). Caesar advocated for the rights for the common people. He heard what the common people needed and with his ability to persuade others, he rapidly conquered the hearts of the people. The popularity Caesar had among the Romans was illustrated when he ran for “military tribuneship against Caius Popilius and was elected over him” (Plutarch, 453). Being elected meant that Caesar was developing a relationship with the Romans, giving him the opportunity to start his career. Another instance Caesar hit the hearts of the Romans was at the funeral …show more content…

Caesar claimed on wanting to bring back the common’s people party for which Marius stood for, yet many believed that Caesar had other plans, so this campaign for Marius was a strategy for his real ambitious to become sole ruler of Rome. The pontifex maixmus or high priest had great power in the Roman Republic, so when the current high priest Metellus died, Caesar took advantage and decided to declare himself in the run for high priest against two other rivals. The election seemed to be equally divided among the candidates, making Catulus his rival worry that he was not going to win. Catulus tries to bribe Caesar with money because he was in a huge debt in despite of that Caesar refused and continued to run. On the day of the election Caesar’s mom accompanies him and Caesar says to his mother, “Mother, to‑day thou shalt see thy son either pontifex maximus or an exile” (Plutarch, 459). Caesar knew the high risk of this election because if he did not win, it was over for him. In the end, Caesar wins the election, becoming the new high priest invoking the fear of the Senate because with this victory Caesar might make the common people rebel against the government of Sulla. In the year of his success from the election, Caesar conquers another victory becoming elected praetor, giving him the

Show More
Related

  • Julius Caesar: Conqueror, General, Builder, Dictator for Life

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    Julius Caesar was born on July 12 , 100 BC and died on March 15, 44 BC. Caesar was born into a patrician family. This meant that they were noble and were wealthier than the plebeians, who were the common people. (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) “H is family traced their lineage back to the goddess Venus.” (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) His uncles and cousins were all consuls and this put Caesar in a place of more power, but higher expectations. His parents were Gaius Caesar, his father, who died when Caesar was 16, and Aurelia, his mother, who greatly influenced his life. (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) On ce 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. (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) Then he began to climb the ladder of power in the Roman government and eventually was elected as a consul. While consul, he was sent to govern the province of Gaul and set out to conquer the entirety of Gaul. As this was going on, the senate decided that Caesar had to be put out of power, because there was too much risk of an uprising led by Caesar. ...

    Read More

  • Are The Similarities Between Julius Caesar And John F Kennedy

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is believed that Julius Caesar was born on July 12, 100 B.C. (biography). He obtained the position of consul around 60 B.C. and had an alliance with Pompey, who was a general, and Crassus, who was a patrician. The alliance was broken after Crassus died in battle and Caesar and Pompey had a disagreement that resulted in a civil war. After Pompey was defeated, there was no one to compete against Caesar and he named himself dictator of Rome in 46 B.C. (Ushistory).

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Cicero's Friendship Decay On Rome

    1433 Words  | 3 Pages

    Plutarch writes of Caesar’s character, “He had an ability to make himself liked which was remarkable in one of his age, and he was very much in the good graces of the ordinary citizen because of his easy manners and the friendly way in which he mixed with people” (Plutarch 257). By examining Caesar’s character, one can understand how he used his love of the people to gain power and to keep it with his military victories which had brought a vast amount of wealth and land to Rome. Caesar embarked on creating Rome’s biggests debts in order to achieve friends. Plutarch remarks on Caesar’s enemies who “thought that this influence of his would soon come to nothing, once he stopped spending money, and they stood aside and watched it grow among the common people. Later on it had become too great for anything to be done about it, and was plainly aimed at a complete revolution in the state” (Plutarch 257). Caesar relied on friendship, and used his friends tactically in forming the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus, and he was able to gain their followers while also establishing his own name. Caesar learned from Sulla’s decree of proscriptions on one’s enemies and instead pardoned his enemies to make them his friends. This ultimately would turn out be disastrous for Caesar, as those whom he pardoned would switch sides at the last minute and stab

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Dbq

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar, The Selfish Dictator

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    Julius Caesar (July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general, statesman, Consul, and author of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. On March 15 44 B.C.E, the Roman dictator Julius Caesar was murdered. There are multiple accounts of this incident, while all accounts came after the death of Caesar, the writing on the incident portray Julius Caesar to have been a selfish dictator.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Fall of Rome

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesars Impact on Rome

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    All of these aspects are what allowed Julius Caesar to change Rome. Over the course of Julius Caesar's life, he gained both political and social popularity due in fact to the multiple positions he had in Rome. In 69 BC Caesar was elected military tribune, after showing bravery when he was kidnapped by pirates while crossing the Aegean Sea. Being a military tribune was the first step in having a political career at the time. Julius entered the course of advancement in the Roman political system as quaestor in 69 B.C.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Greed Essay

    508 Words  | 2 Pages

    Julius Caesar treated people poorly by manipulating them for his own benefit and personal gain. Caesar used people, deceiving the wives of his rivals in order to obtain information. He appealed to his army by offering friendship in exchange for loyalty and support. If Caesar was not supported by a conquered tribe, he sold it, in its entirety, into slavery, without hesitation. Brutally conquering the Gauls, Caesar’s selfishness came with a desire to punish anyone who undermined his power. Julius Caesar was a man whose motives emerged from pure selfishness; however, he masked his greed with deception through empathy. Overall, Caesar used people and treated them with both disrespect and objectification, using individuals for his own benefit.

    Read More

  • Comparison of Julius Caesar and Abraham Lincoln

    916 Words  | 2 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    1596 Words  | 4 Pages

    Caesar's military eminence helped Rome prosper into one of the greatest and most memorable civilizations in history. His campaigns helped Rome grow larger in size and in power. His victories in Egypt, Pontus, Gaul, Africa, and parts in the Asia Minor were some of Caesar's greatest honors, (Bruns 99) and is considered "the most powerful national leader in history"(Nardo 73) because of his conquests. The major reason for his strong army was due to the fact that the senate favored him. The senate gave him three provinces for the span of five years, instead of one province for one year. With this ruling, he had "a chance to build a stronger personal army"(34). The strategies and tactics used by Caesar made his death even more tragic because of his excellent leadership and planning. Caesar planned wars by legionary battles.

    Read More

  • Caesars Conquest Of Gaul

    2383 Words  | 5 Pages

    Gaius Julius Caesar, born 100 B.C.E. in Rome to the impoverished patrician Julian Clan, knew controversy at an early age. Nephew to Populare Gaius Marius, he was earmarked by the Optimate dictator Sulla for prosciption after his refusal to divorce his Populare wife, Cinna. Fleeing Rome, and not returning until after Sulla’s resignation in 78 B.C.E, upon his return he gained a position as a pontificate, an important Roman priesthood. Slowly but surely throughout his lifetime he worked his way up the political ladder, eventually becoming Consul, and finally Dictator Perpeteus – Dictator for life. One of the most influential political and military leaders of all time, Caesar was also a highly intelligent man and an exceptional orator. However, acquiring this absolute power was no mean feat, and Caesar had well equipped himself through previous expeditions with all the resources necessary to gain power in Ancient Rome.

    Read More

  • Biography On Julius Caesar

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Julius Caesar was born on the 13th day of the month Quintilis (now July) in the year of 100 B.C. His full name was Gaius Julius Caesar, the same as his father's name. Gaius was his given name and Julius was his surname. Caesar was the name of one branch of the Julian family. Its original meaning was "hairy.” Caesar's family was not prominent, but they claimed to be descended from Venus as well as the kings of Alba Langa. In spite of that fiction, Caesar was well connected through his relatives and received some important government assignments during his youth. Julius Caesar was the dictator of Rome from 61-44 BC. At the time of his birth, Rome was still a republic and the empire was only beginning. Caesar made his way to be considered a head of Rome by 62 BC, but many of the senate felt him a dangerous, ambitious man. The senate did their best to keep him out of consulship. He finally became consul in 59 BC. In Caesar, they saw only the threat of a king, a word that was linked with the word “tyrant” that is cruel or unjust rule.

    Read More

  • Assassination of Julius Caesar

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Caesar was a brilliant general, a clever engineer, and administrator of genius, and a leader who demanded and commanded loyalty. He also was a corrupt politician” (Dando-Collins 4). Caesar would go on to be a dictator and his gain in power would corrupt him. He often bypassed the Senate, taking their power away. With Caesar’s growing power the Senate feared that they would soon lose their political relevance.

    Read More

  • Compare/Contrast Julius Caesar to Alexander the Great

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    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...

    Read More

More about Was Julius Caesar A Good Leader

Open Document