Gaius Julius Caesar born on 100 BC is a historical figure for his notary military skills and critical role that demise the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. With a life full of up and downs, pressured by debts, rumors of homosexuality, lover of Cleopatra, the dictator Caesar have a stunning story and that’s what we’re going to talk about.
Bust of Gaius Julius Caesar in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Taken by Andreas Wahra in March 1997.
Before we start
I won’t get deeply into Caesar personal life but rather in his trajectory since it’s not in the context here… who am I kidding? I won’t cause it’s a mess, to be honest. But if you really want to know, you can see all his 2 sisters, 3 wives, 4 children, 1 grandson and 3 lovers at his Wikipedia page.
Wealthy family
Julius Caesar’s history isn’t the kind where the main character rise from the lowest level to rule the the world. Caesar was born into a respected patrician family, but his family wasn’t very politically influential. Losing his father at 16, Caesar’s age coincided with a civil war between his uncle Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla. With Sulla’s final victory, his connections made him a target for the new regime. With the help of his mother’s family he managed to quit Rome and join the army which resulted in several victories in battle.
Kidnapped by pirates
In 78 BC, with Sulla’s death, the patrician returned to Rome, but to live in a lower-class neighborhood, lacking means because all his inheritance was confiscated. On his way back to Rome, Caesar was kidnapped by pirates. Maintaining his attitude of superiority he insisted that the ransom that the pirates were demanded was raised from 20 talents of silver to 50. While at captive Julius promised to find and kill them when he got free which was taken as a joke. And as a man of word, Caesar raised a fleet, and captured the pirates. As a sign of leniency he cut the pirate’s throat before crucifying them.
Rule of three men
The First Triumvirate (rule of three man) was an informal alliance between Caesar, Crassus and Pompey (don’t forget this guy). Since Caesar had political debt with Crassus he reconciled Pompey and Crassus who were at odds for a decade. This alliance was sealed by the marriage of Pompey with Caesar’s daughter and with Caesar marring again with another powerful senator’s daughter.
Caesar being elected as consul was important to keep his immunity from prosecution for five years. After that time his quickly left for his province.
Caesar’s legions at its best
Caesar was still deeply in debt, but as a governor he tried to make money by military adventurism and extortion. Caesar had four legions under his command. With only that he managed to conquer several territories, including parts of Gaul. He wanted to launch an invasion at Britain, but his intelligence information was poor and he had to leave Britain.
The extent of the Roman Republic in 40 BC after Caesar’s conquests.
When things starts to get exciting
“alea iacta esto” (let the die be cast.)
While Caesar was in Britain, Julia, his daughter that was married with Pompey, died and even though he tried, his alliance with Pompey was over. Around the same time Crassus was killed. Rome was on the edge of a civil war and the Triumvirate was dead. Pompey was appointed sole consul as an emergency mesure.
Led by Pompey, the Senate, in 50 BC ordered Caesar to return to Rome with his army since his term as governor had finished. But as said before, Caesar couldn’t enter Rome without any immunity because that’d mean he’d be prosecuted. Caesar didn’t obey his orders. Pompey accused Caesar of insubordination and treason.
With only one legion, Caesar entered Italy and ignited civil war. But Pompey didn’t intend to fight. With that, Caesar pursued Pompey through Spain. After a 27-day route-march Caesar achieved some victories and challenged Pompey in Illyria, where in July 48 BC, Caesar lost (avoiding a catastrophic defeat) in a battle later known as battle of Dyrrhachium. But later that year, in Greece, Caesar defeated Pompey.
Back to Rome, Caesar was appointed dictator. But that’s not what he wanted, the Dictator got elected again to a second consulship and after 11 days resigned the dictatorship.
Love story in Egypt
Pursuing Pompey Caesar ended up in Egypt, but he as too late, Pompey had already been murdered. There, Caesar was presented with Pompey’s severed head an seal-ring, receiving these with tears (ironic? Naah). To make some justice Caesar had Pompey’s assassins put to death.
While in Egypt, Caesar got involved with an Egyptian civil war and because of the pharaoh’s involvement with Pompey’s death he sided with Cleopatra against the pharaoh. With the victory Caesar installed Cleopatra as ruler.
As Roman law recognized only marriages between two Roman citizens, Caesar and Cleopatra never married, but their relationship continued throughout his last marriage and probably even had a son. In several occasions Cleopatra visited Rome and resided at Caesar’s villa just outside Rome.
Cleopatra and Caesar, 1866 painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme
Now dictator
After several victories Caesar was appointed Dictator for 10 years and was elected to his third and fourth terms as consul. While he as still in Spain the Senate began bestowing honors at Caesar. The dictator had not proscribed his enemies, instead pardoning almost all, including Decimus Junius Brutus (don’t forget this guy too) who sided with Pompey, and there was no serious public opposition to Caesar.
Later appointed dictator for his lifetime he accomplished several advancements to Rome, among other we can cite: Forum of Caesar, Julian Calendar (with a help from Egyptian calendar), converted Ostia to a major port, conquered Dacians and Parthians…
“You too, Brutus?” (and why this phrase has no basis)
The senators encircle Caesar, a 19th-century interpretation of the event by Carl Theodor von Piloty
On 15 March of 44 BC, Caesar was due to appear at a session of Senate. As Caesar arrived at the Senate, Tillius Cimber presented him with a petition to recall his exiled brother, after Caesar waved him aways Cimber grabbed his shoulders and pulled down Caesar’s tunic. Caesar then cried to Cimber,
Why, this is violence! (Its quid vis est)
At the same time, Casca produced his dagger and made a thrust at the dictator’s neck, but Caesar turned quickly and caught Casca by the arm and said
Casca, you villain, what are you doing?
Frightened, Casca shouted
Help, brother!
In the same instante, around 60 people, including Brutus started to strike the dictator. Caesar attempted to scape, but his blood made him blind and he fell. His body got stabbed 23 times (only one was lethal) and stayed there for 3 hours before being officially removed.
Caesar’s last words are not known with certainty. According to a Roman writer some say he might have said “You too, child?”, but himself didn’t believed.
The latin phrase “Et tu, Brute?” (“You too, Brutus?”) is derived from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and has no historical basis.
At his funeral people thrower dry branches, furniture and clothing on to Caesar’s funeral pyre, causing the flames to spin out of control and damaging the Forum. The mob then attacked the houses of Brutus and Cassius, where they were repelled.
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