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Julius Caesar- his rise to power and his assassination
The life of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar and the Fall of Rome
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To what extent were the Marian reforms responsible for the fall of the Roman republic? During the last century of the Roman republic, the system of government was drastically changed and eventually fell apart, not only because of Marius and his military reforms, but also because of the dictatorship and proscriptions of Sulla, seven consulships of Marius, political alliances of the first and second triumvirates and the growing corruption and ineptitude of the senate. By allowing more people into the army, giving them a personal reason to join, and forcing them to grow stronger, Marius made the military considerably more effective, which naturally lead to the swift gaining of territory and the transition of Rome from republic to empire, and …show more content…
Originally, it is thought, there was a law that prevented second consulships, and another that prevented holding another consulship until ten years had passed from the end of the prior. Marius bypassed both of these rules, maintaining the title of consul for five terms (104-99BC). Plutarch, the historical biographer, writes that “the people would tolerate no opposition” [to Marius’s second consulship], which shows us that Marius gained his power through support of the masses rather than support of the senate, which is what would be expected. Plutarch gives more evidence that Marius won his power by gaining the affection of the military and the plebeians, rather than the aristocracy whom he offended with his “violent speeches, full of contempt and arrogance” . From this we learn that Marius was not only supported by the people, but he was opposed by the higher class, and more important figures in Roman society.. The picture that Plutarch paints gives the impression that Marius gained his consulship in ways that were unconventional, much like the nature of the consulship itself. Breaking the mold like this paved the way for more fortunate ambitious men, like Sulla and Caesar, as he was showing that great power could be achieved without necessarily adhering to the preference of the …show more content…
His first contribution to Rome’s downfall came in the form of the formation of the First Triumvirate, which enabled him to illegally take Gaul, and further undermine the senate. Caesar made his way to power by gaining important alliances. Unlike Marius, he was born into a fairly important high class family in Rome. The First Triumvirate, formed in 60BC was composed of himself, Crassus and Pompey. Crassus was the wealthiest man in Rome at the time, and Pompey had just been awarded his third Triumph. The mere existence of such a group undermined the ideals of the senate, as it worked on the basis that no one man could have enough power to do anything without the support of the senators. The Triumvirs worked to achieve their own individual goals, whilst simultaneously supporting one another. Caesar was consul in 59BC, with Marcus Bibulus, and made the sheer influence of the three men public with the introduction of his land redistribution law. Crassus and Pompey supported this proposal, and Pompey filled Rome with his soldiers. Bibulus tried to void the law but Caesar’s armed supporters drove him out of the senate and forced him into house arrest. This meant that Caesar essentially had a sole consulship and gained enough power and support to overturn his proposed governorship and allowed himself
How was it possible that under the dictatorship and after the deification of Julius Caesar the Roman republic fell, when it had been structurally sound for four centuries before? When the republic was established around the end of the 6th century B.C.E., the Romans made clear that they wished to avoid all semblance of the monarchy that had ruled for two centuries before. T.J. Cornell, The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC), London and New York: Routledge, 1995; p. 215) The rule of the Republic was to be split into powers of the senate and consuls, a system that worked for over four centuries. The republic would face problems with the rise of the first triumvirate in 60 B.C.E., involving Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey.
His background in the military may be a strong influence on the way Sulla ruled and how his ruling lead to the downfall of the Roman Republic (Plutarch, 79 B.C.E. Life of Sulla. According to, Franco Cavazzi, a current accredited unprejudiced Roman Historian, Sulla’s first major achievement was becoming Marius’s Lieutenant. Marius was not a Roman nor patrician but still managed to be elected 7 times, he led the army to many victories and was well recognised for them. Gill, N.S. -. 2014) (Cavazzi, F. 2002)
prices on goods. There were many things that brought Rome to its down fall but the biggest one was the violence and the ruthless ambition of men such as Marius, Sulla, and of course Julius Caesar. That ultimately destroyed the Roman republic.
Julius Caesar, born Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus, was born into a family of patricians. In fact, he was able to trace his lineage back to Romulus, the first king of Rome (Gill, N.S.). His birth of around July 12, 100 B.C., marked a new beginning for Rome (Julius Caesar). Caesar was a talented negotiator, and that fact helped him on his rise to power. Julius Caesar began his career in politics by becoming a prosecuting advocate. In roughly 68 B.C., he was elected quaestor, which was a Roman official that was elected annually. Becoming a quaestor was needed before becoming a senator. In around 60 B.C., Caesar became a governor of the province of Spain (Gill, N.S.). His rise to power was extremely fast. In 59 B.C., an alliance with his rival Pompey allowed him to be elected a consul, which in the Roman Republic was the highest elected office. Julius Caesar’s political power was quickly rising.
...r political status and power, to finally breakdown the Roman Republic. By Marius using war and corruption to his advantage to gain and hold on to his consulship for many years, he gave the impression that the senate was losing their power and hold over the people. By abolishing the Servian laws and allowing the landless and the poor to serve in the army, he threw out the Roman tradition that money and wealth showed loyalty and commitment to Rome. Also, he provided the generals, and himself, the pressure to continue to win the wars in order to gain loot, and land to give to their armies to keep them happy. However, mostly Marius military reform was the most influential ways that Marius had on the future Romans, that gave them the power to achieve their political success over the senate and eventually bring forth the breakdown of the Republic.
At an early age, Tiberius was given military command and in his first campaign he won great renown with his troops and the Senate. He followed this up with another victory in Pannonia and for his efforts he received a triumph in Rome, the single greatest honor any general could receive. Augustus granted him the powers of a Tribune. Tiberius cared greatly for the welfare of his soldiers and they responded with respect and deep ...
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...
...attacked Western Rome, such as very weak military due to poverty of the Western Empire. The soldiers were no longer loyal to the army and their emperor. There weren't many that would risk their lives for the empire. Now there were many foreign soldiers who served for pay, that made it that much harder to be able to hold a large army. There wasn't the kind of discipline they had in the army before.
... His reforms, as far-reaching as they initially were, were short lived, and were annulled soon after his retirement. He thought that the People, meeting in the Concilium Plebis, were an unrepresentative and irresponsible body unworthy to govern, but he largely failed to infuse a new sense of responsibility to the Senate (Appian in Williams, p.149). Above all, arrangements to control the advancement of men through the Cursus Honorum –the threat from which his own career had so nakedly demonstrated – were clearly inadequate against men of determined ambition (Massie, p. 176). In final analysis, Sulla’s actions as a politician and a military leader, while occasionally bringing him prestige - dignatas, were major factors leading to the subsequent weakening of the Republic.
The fall of the Roman Republic in 44-27 B.C. is seen by many as the fault of a combination of people’s actions and events. Whether you believe the rise of private armies where the cause or the creation of the first Triumvirate lead to the destruction, it is entirely up to you. According to book, “Twelve Greeks & Romans”, Julius Caesar is to blame for the collapse of the republican government in Rome. This may come as a shock to some people because of the many great deeds Caesar performed in his life. People referred to Caesar as magnanimous, as he even appointed some of his former competitors to high offices. Other than the fact that people believed in Caesar, it is shocking that the collapse of an entire Republic could be the fault of only one man. Unfortunately according to the author of “Twelve Greeks & Romans”, Creaser’s one lethal fault, that ultimately led to his demise and to the collapse of the entire Roman Republic, was his arrogance (Richard, pgs. 174-175).
The Failure of the Roman Republic was inevitable as it was an unjust system of government and it was left vulnerable after the attempted changes instigated by the Gracchi as the Gracchi exposed the weaknesses in the political structure allowing future politicians to manipulate the system. The changes made by the Gracchi left the Republic in a state of pandemonium as it destroyed political stability as well as creating opportunities for future individuals to rise above and challenge the system.
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
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.
The Roman Republic ultimately failed due to the lack of large-scale wars and other crises that had united the Roman populous early in the history of the Roman Republic. Roman leadership and honor became compromised. In the absence of war and crisis, Rome’s leaders failed to develop the honor and leadership necessary to maintain the Republic.
“He is said to have been tall of stature… except that towards the end.” What was it that really led to the fall of the Roman Republic? There are a lot of different factors to consider when trying to determine what caused the collapse. By examining The Rubicon, The Life of Julius Caesar, and some accompanying handouts from class, this paper will discuss how the Roman Republic did not collapse because of one factor. The collapse of the Roman Republic was like that of a game of Jenga. Factors were pulled out of the Republican system just like a game of Jenga until the Republic could not stand anymore.