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''For the famous play by [[Shakespeare]], see [[Julius Caesar (play)]]''.

''For the famous play by [[Shakespeare]], see [[Julius Caesar (play)]]''.

== Early Career ==

 

Gaius Julius Caesar began his public life in the final years of the Roman Republic, rising from minor priesthoods and junior magistracies to positions of increasing responsibility. Born into the ancient but politically quiet Julian clan, Caesar’s early advancement was shaped by family connections, the Marian–Sullan conflict, and his own determination to secure a place in Roman public life.

= Birth and Early Life =

Gaius Julius Caesar was born on 12/13 July 100 BC in [[Rome]] into the ancient Julian clan, a patrician family with excellent connections and modestly claiming decent from [[Aeneas]] & [[Aphrodite]] (Roman [[Venus]]). Yet the family was apparently not wealthy in his generation.  Not withstanding, this lead his early life to be shaped by a childhood amoungste the [[Plebian|plebians]] in [[Subura]], being a lower-class neighborhood of [[Rome]].  This upbringing clearly shaped much of his later political focus to draw the power of the [[Plebian|plebs]].

 

His father, also [[Gaius Julius Caesar (the Elder)|Gaius Julius Caesar]] earned his coin as a [[Praetor]] (in the legal sense), being the equivelent of a our Supreme Court Justice / Judge.  This necessitates that he was also a [[Senator]] as per the [[Cursus Honorum|''cursus honorum'']] which could be exceedingly expensive to climb.  In his later years was also destinguised in having also served as Govenor of Asia (western and all of central modern day Turkey), which was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces.  But there as in life he was known for being of mild manner, avoided violent factionalisms and evidently did not practice the extortions so common amoungst his peers as a means to obtain wealth through position.  After which he returned home and '''died suddenly in 85 BC leaving young Julius Caesar head of the household at about 15''' and without an income stream.

 

 

While both Julius' sisters married Senators, [[Julia Minor|Julia minor's]] husband was not a [[Patrician]], but a [[Plebian]] who had enough money to complete the [[Cursus Honorum|''cursus honorum'']] to become a [[Senator|senator]] creating the age old need for new money to marry into an eliet family to obtain status; and young Julius' family clearly needed the dowry.  Yet [[Julia Minor]] happily became the grandmother of [[Gaius Octavian Thurinus]], later crowned [[Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus]].

 

Meanwhile Julius Caesar's mother, [[Aurelia Cottae]], came from the influential Aurelii Cottae family, a respected and politically active branch of the Roman aristocracy.  She was so well known that even [[Cicero]] spoke well of her.  A family observer would say that Julius obtained his political abilities from his mother and his calm calculation from his father.  So Aurelia played a decisive role in Caesar's upbringing, political connections and then later protected Caesar during the political turmoil of the Marian–Sullan conflict.

 

It must also be noted that in the year prior to Julius' father's death, his uncle by marriage also died while in his 7th term as [[Consul]] in the year {{nowrap|'''86 BC.'''}}  But after two decades in and out of the office, support for the family was still strong giving context to the ''Marian''-Sulan conflict. Julius' family connection was:

 

Caesar’s first recorded office was that of [[Flamen Dialis]] (High Priest of Jupiter), a prestigious but restrictive priesthood traditionally reserved for patricians. He was appointed at the tender age of just 16 years old (c.86 AD), largely through the influence of his uncle by marriage, the seven‑time consul [[Gaius Marius]]. The office required strict religious observances and normally prevented military service, but Caesar’s tenure was cut short when [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]] became dictator and purged Marian allies. Sulla stripped Caesar of the priesthood and ordered him to divorce his wife Cornelia; Caesar refused, earning Sulla’s hostility but also early respect for his resolve.

and Gaius Marius' political ally and counterpart was [[Lucius Cornelius Cinna]], {{nowrap|[[Consul]] in: 87, 86, 85, 84 BC.}}

After Sulla’s retirement, Caesar resumed his public career. He served as a '''Military Tribune''', gaining his first experience in command and earning the loyalty of local communities. His next step was election as '''Quaestor''' in 69 BC, the traditional entry into the Senate. As quaestor he served in Hispania, where he handled financial administration and delivered funeral orations that increased his popularity in Rome.

Therefore it should suprise none then, that young Julius Caesar now charged with the upkeep of the household married shortly after to the [[Cornelia]] daughter of the then presiding four time [[Consul]]  [[Lucius Cornelius Cinna]] and received his prestigious first public office at 16 years old as the [[Flamen|High Priest of Jupiter]].

==Flamen Dialis (86-82 BC)==

==Flamen Dialis (86-82 BC)==

In '''86 BC''', at the age of just sixteen, Julius Caesar was appointed '''Flamen Dialis''', the High Priest of Jupiter. This was one of the most ancient and prestigious priesthoods in Rome, traditionally reserved for patricians of impeccable lineage.  It must also be noted that the [[Cult of Jupiter]] was the largest in the City. The appointment was arranged by the Marian leadership—notably his now father‑in‑law [[Lucius Cornelius Cinna]] and his uncle [[Gaius Marius|Marius]] and then ratified by the Marian‑controlled government during the civil conflict with [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix Epaphroditus|Sulla]]. Caesar’s selection at such a young age demonstrates both his family’s prominence and the political calculation of the ruling faction.

In '''86 BC''', at the age of just sixteen, Julius Caesar was appointed [[Flamen|Flamen Dialis]], the '''High Priest of Jupiter'''. This was one of the most ancient and prestigious priesthoods in Rome, traditionally reserved for patricians of impeccable lineage.  It must also be noted that the [[Cult of Jupiter]] was the largest in the City. The appointment was arranged by the Marian leadership—notably his now father‑in‑law [[Lucius Cornelius Cinna]] loyalty to his recently deceased uncle [[Gaius Marius|Marius]] and then ratified by the Marian‑controlled government during the civil conflict with [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix Epaphroditus|Sulla]]. Caesar’s selection at such a young age demonstrates both his family’s prominence and the political calculation of the ruling faction.

The office of [[Flamen Dialis]] was highly restrictive. The priest was bound by numerous religious rules: he could not spend a night outside Rome, could not touch a horse, could not see an army, could not swear an oath, and could not be absent from certain rituals. These limitations made the priesthood incompatible with military or political ambition. If Caesar had remained [[Flamen Dialis]], he could never have pursued the career that later defined him.

The office of [[Flamen|Flamen Dialis]] was highly restrictive. The priest was bound by numerous religious rules: he could not spend a night outside Rome, could not touch a horse, could not see an army, could not swear an oath, and could not be absent from certain rituals. These limitations made the priesthood incompatible with military or political ambition. If Caesar had remained [[Flamen Dialis]], he could never have pursued the career that later defined him.

When [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix Epaphroditus|Sulla]] seized power in '''82 BC''', he targeted Marian appointees and stripped Caesar of the priesthood. Sulla also ordered Caesar to divorce Cornelia, the daughter of [[Lucius Cornelius Cinna]], in an effort to sever Caesar’s ties to the Marian faction and potentially force a politically acceptable bride upon him. Caesar’s refusal placed him in grave danger, but the loss of the priesthood ultimately freed him from its restrictive obligations and allowed him to begin the ''[[Cursus Honorum|cursus honorum]]''—the sequence of magistracies that formed the backbone of a Roman political career. Thus, the termination of his priesthood became the unexpected turning point that enabled his future rise.

When [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix Epaphroditus|Sulla]] seized power in '''82 BC''', he targeted Marian appointees and stripped Caesar of the priesthood. Sulla also ordered Caesar to divorce Cornelia, the daughter of [[Lucius Cornelius Cinna]], in an effort to sever Caesar’s ties to the Marian faction and potentially force a politically acceptable bride upon him. Caesar’s refusal placed him in grave danger, but the loss of the priesthood ultimately freed him from its restrictive obligations and allowed him to begin the ''[[Cursus Honorum|cursus honorum]]''—the sequence of magistracies that formed the backbone of a Roman political career. Thus, the termination of his priesthood became the unexpected turning point that enabled his future rise.