Julius Caesar

Brings needed improvements to Rome

• Drained marshy lands to use
• Reformed the calendar with the creation of leap year
• Founded many colonies which opened up opportunity and lands to poor Romans
• Reduced the number of slaves
• Created citizenship opportunity to people in the provinces.

Military Career

• Shattered the Helvetain invasion
• Defeat the German for Gaul
• Defeat of the Nervii
• Raids on Britain not very successful
• Used propaganda even when he was not as successful
• Wrote books about his wars to gain the people's approval while he was away

Beginning of Caesar's Downfall

• Lack of control in Rome
• Pompey was only man that possessed a threat toward him
• Caesar defeated him in Egypt
• This was the point that confirmed his authority

Defeat of his enemies

• Chases after Pompey but finds that he has been assasinated in Egypt
• Become involved in the civil war in Egypt and aids Cleopatra to be the Queen

Caesar Crosses the Rubicon

• Caesar crossed the Rubicon, the demaraction line between his province and Italy
• Marched on Rome with his battle-hardened army
• Met little resistance
• Becomes a dictator

Road to Caesar's Absolute Monarchy

• Caesar reacts to having governor position revoked
• Remained in Gaul until he lost patience with the niceties of political life
• Led an army to conquer Rome

Remarry

• Although he loved his previous wife, this was done for political gain
• New wife was the granddaughter of Sulla
• Used this relationship to help him in the future

Governor of Gaul

• Obtained the governorship of Gaul
• Sudden death of the governor of Gaul
• Raised troops at his own expense
• After winning many uprisings against Gaul, his governing position was revoked

After the Funerals

Caesars key actions leading to his success

• Left to Spain and began to work as an administrative and financial officer
• At the temple of Mercules in Gades, he cried at sight of Alexander the Great statue
• “Do you think I have not just cause to weep, when I consider the Alexander at my age had conquered so many nations, and I have all the time done nothing that is memorable.” (EyeWitness)

• Learned that war could be profitable
• Able to pay off debts
• Built stronger relationship with soldiers and gained loyalty
• Created laws for problems in Rome
• Married off his daughter Julia to Pompey

Further Political Accomplishments

• Curator of Appian Way
• Curule Aedile
• Although successful, almost indebted himself to ruin

His Success

• Angered other Senate members
• His brashness was insulting
• After a private meeting, the Senates decided to turn against him
• Assassination was the what they concluded

Leading events to his office in Rome

• Quaestor in Spain in 63 BC
• Pontifex maximus (chief priest)
• Gained power and dignity
• Later achieved the Post of Aedile and worked in the office of the Roman Republic

Broke Roman Tradition

• Granted his Aunt Julia and wife Cornelia an extravagant public funeral
• Honored Cornelia's father, Cinna, a hated enemy to the Romans
• Won hearts over with emotion and powerful public displays

Political Start

• Chose a political career as a matter of course from the beginning
• Started by marrying into a distinguished family
• Gained connections with supporters of Marius who were out of favor with Sull, the current Dictator of Rome
• Although strategic plan, almost ended up inprisoned

Military Success

• Caesar flees Rome and joins the military
• Did not start out as a common soldier
• First posting was military assistant to provincial governor
• Posted in Cilicia, he proves honorable
• Went to Rhodes to improve his education

The Plan

• The conspirators never met openly
• Decided to wait for the gladiator show in the Senate
• Caesar's friends tried warning him
• Brutus persuaded him to attend anyway

Return to Rome

Example of Caesarean Section

Birth

• He created a likeable status
• Used bribery to rise in power and obtain positions
• Became a member of the College of Pontiffs
• Friendship with Marcus Crassus was pivotal to his career

• Born on 12 July 100 B.C. in Rome
• Period of unrest and civil war in Rome
• Descendent of Trojan Aenas
• Rome was a republic

Family

• Julius's father's name was Gaius.
• Julius's father died when he was 16
• "Death, a necessary end, will come when it will come." (Encyclopedia)
• Julius's mother's name was Aurelia.
• His family had a long and noble history.
• They also did not have much money.
• His family had patrician roots.
• Julius's aunt Julia was the leader of popular faction.

The Attack

Thesis

In order to prevent Caesar from abolishing the Roman Republic and make himself Emperor of Rome and whatnot, some of the senates had devised a plan to assassinate Julius Caesar.

• Once alone the decided to pursue
• Servillius Casca struck first on the left shoulder, but missed
• He then shouted in Greek, telling everyone else to attack
• Many struck each other in attempts to hit Caesar
• After 35 wounds, he fell dead at the foot of Pompey's statue

A courageous and brave man, Julius Caesar undoubtedly transmuted Roman history for the better by creating new precedents that are still used in the modern society such as the Julian calendar and the leap year. All by the age of 31, this talented man fought in multiple wars and involved himself into the highest levels of Roman politics. After working his way up in both political and military ladder, he became an all-powerful dictator of the Roman Empire. The immeasurable success of Julius Caesar kindled jealousy among other influential men and caused many members of the Senate to be wary of him, which led to his eventual assassination. The assassination of Julius Caesar upset the balance of power in Rome and precipitated the fall of the Roman Republic.

Sources

• Joshua J. Mark. “Julius Caesar.” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

• Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar (100BC - 44BC).Web. 19 Apr. 2015. http://www.bbc.co.uk/

history/historic_figures/caesar_julius.shtml

• Julius Caesar. A Quarter Life Crisis. Web. 21. 2015. https:/

millennialmuseblog.wordpress.com/category/samantha/

• “Julius Caesar.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

• Rhodes. Worldatlas. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/

countrys/europe/grrhodes.htm

• Rubicon River. History. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-

history-mark-antony

Julius Caesar

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