Gaius Julius Caesar
| Gaius Julius Caesar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 12/13 July 100 BC, Rome |
| Died | 15 March 44 BC, Rome |
| Occupation | Statesman, general, author |
| Early Public Offices | Flamen Dialis (High Priest of Jupiter)
Military Tribune Quaestor (69 BC) |
| MidâCareer Offices | Aedile (65 BC)
Pontifex Maximus (63â44 BC) Praetor (62 BC) Governor of Hispania Ulterior (61 BC) |
| Senior Offices | Consul (59 BC)
Proconsul of Gaul (58â50 BC) Dictator (49â44 BC) Consul (48 BC, 46 BC, 45 BC, 44 BC) |
| Spouse(s) | Cornelia |
| Children | Julia |
For the famous play by Shakespeare, see Julius Caesar (play).
Gaius Julius Caesar (July 12/13, 100 B.C - March 15, 44 B.C) He was a Roman military & political leader and one of the most influential people in history. A brilliant general, he laid the groundwork for the future Roman Empire.
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 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 plebs.
His father, also 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 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.
Finances at home clearly were not good manifest in young Julius Caesar's two older sisters known as Julia Major and Julia Minor. While aristorcratic first marriages were common from 12-15, 16-20 was also frequent where political manipulation was present or simply parental choice. It is unknown if the girls were already married when their father died, but if their younger brother was about 15 it can be assumed that under such financial stressors that Julius' sisters would have married immediately after if they already hadn't. A clue does exist that Julia Minor's marriage was immediate in that her daughter Atia is understood to have been born 85-80 BC necessitating an immediate marriage after their father's death if it hadn't already happend.
While both Julius' sisters married Senators, Julia minor's husband was not a Patrician, but a Plebian who had enough money to complete the cursus honorum to become a 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 MarianâSullan 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 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:
Julius Caesar â(father was)â Gaius Julius Caesar the Elder â(sibling was)â Julia â(husband was)â Gaius Marius
and Gaius Marius' political ally and counterpart was Lucius Cornelius Cinna, Consul in: 87, 86, 85, 84 BC.
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 High Priest of Jupiter.
Career
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 leadershipânotably his now fatherâinâlaw Lucius Cornelius Cinna loyalty to his recently deceased uncle Marius and then ratified by the Marianâcontrolled government during the civil conflict with Sulla. Caesarâs selection at such a young age demonstrates both his familyâs 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.
When 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 Caesarâs ties to the Marian faction and potentially force a politically acceptable bride upon him. Caesarâs 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 honorumâthe 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.
Although Caesar never again held the Flamen Dialis position, his early appointment reveals the political alliances of his youth and the confidence placed in him by the Marian leadership. It also marks the beginning of his public life, occurring long before his later and more famous priesthood as Pontifex Maximus
Flight and Survival (82â80 BC)
After refusing to divorce Cornelia at the demand of Sulla, Caesar was proscribed as a supporter of the Marian faction. He narrowly escaped execution, fled Rome, and spent the immediate years in hiding and flight. During this dangerous interval he found refuge among sympathetic nobles and communities in the Sabine country and elsewhere, relying on the intercession of influential figures to spare his life. This period of exile was not idle: it tested Caesarâs resolve, exposed him to the lethal stakes of Roman factional politics, and forced him to adopt a cautious, resourceful posture that would shape his later career.
When Sullaâs severity eased, Caesar left hiding and attached himself to provincial commands to gain experience and rebuild his fortunes. He served on the staff of Marcus Minucius Thermus in Asia, where he took part in operations such as the siege of Mytilene and earned early military distinction. These years of service were formative: Caesar acted as a junior officer and staff aide rather than a common legionary, acquiring practical knowledge of Roman military organisation, provincial administration, and the patronage networks of senior commanders.
Tribunate and Early Military Service (79â72 BC)
Following his staff service in Asia, Caesar continued to serve in the field under commanders such as Publius Servilius Vatia in Cilicia, participating in campaigns against pirates and local insurgents. In 75 BC he was famously kidnapped by Cilician pirates while travelling to Rhodes; after his ransom was paid he raised a small force, captured the pirates, and had them executed, an episode that enhanced his reputation for audacity and decisive action.
These experiences culminated in Caesarâs formal entry into the cursus honorum. In 72 BC he was elected tribunus militum, the first elected step on the Roman political ladder. As military tribune he commanded portions of a legion, supervised training and discipline, and performed staff duties for senior officers. The tribunate consolidated the practical command skills, provincial contacts, and public reputation he had developed during the preceding decade, preparing him for his later magistracies and provincial governorships.
Between Tribunate and Quaestorship (72â69 BC)
After completing his active provincial service and the famous episode with the Cilician pirates, Caesar returned to Rome to rebuild his public standing following the turmoil of the Sullan proscriptions. He devoted himself to legal advocacy and rhetorical trainingâtraditionally studying under Apollonius Molon of Rhodesâand used the courts and public speaking to restore his familyâs reputation and fortunes.
During these years Caesar cultivated important patronage ties with leading populares and provincial elites, converting the military and personal prestige he had earned into political capital. The pirate incident in particular enhanced his popular image for audacity and decisive action, which proved useful in the electoral contests that followed. By 69 BC Caesar had completed this period of rehabilitation and networking and successfully stood for election as Quaestor, formally entering the higher ranks of the cursus honorum.
Quaestor
In 69 BC Julius Caesar was elected Quaestor, the first rung of the Roman cursus honorum and the office that formally entered him into the Senate. The Quaestorship was primarily a financial and administrative role, responsible for managing public funds, supporting provincial governors, and overseeing the logistics of taxation and expenditure. It is roughly comparable to a modern-day Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration.
Caesar was assigned to Hispania Ulterior, where he demonstrated both competence and ambition. His financial administration was efficient, and he gained early notice for resolving local disputes and supporting the governorâs judicial and military responsibilities. During this period he encountered a statue of Alexander the Great, famously lamenting that he had achieved so little by comparison at the same age â a moment often cited as revealing Caesarâs intense personal drive.
The Quaestorship also conferred lifetime membership in the Senate, giving Caesar his first formal platform in Roman national politics. Although the office was junior, it marked the beginning of his public career and provided the administrative experience, provincial exposure, and senatorial standing necessary for his later rise through the higher magistracies.
Aedile
In 65 BC Julius Caesar was elected Aedile, marking is progression to the second rung of the cursus honorum in his active career progression. This position might be called the Minister for Public Entertainment, Festivals & Civic Culture, or perhaps the Minister for Public Wellbeing. It was an office responsible for public games, festivals, buildings, and market regulation.
Although the position was technically junior, Julius Caesar deliberately used it to dramatically increase his public reputation. He staged lavish public entertainments, restored public buildings, and displayed the trophies of his uncle Gaius Marius, a symbolic gesture that appealed to the populares and irritated the conservative faction. These expenditures were enormous, but they were not reckless; the Aedileship was traditionally a role in which ambitious men invested heavily to cultivate public favour and strengthen their âbrandâ for higher office. Caesarâs spending therefore reflected strategic political calculation rather than financial mismanagement, and it significantly increased his popularity among ordinary Romans.
As Aedile, Caesar also oversaw market regulation and urban maintenance, enforcing standards of trade and ensuring the supply of grain and other essentials â the part of the office that most resembles a Minister for Public Wellbeing. His strict attention to food prices and grain availability won him exceptional support among ordinary Romans, who had long endured price manipulation, neglect, and creeping costs under previous Aediles. By restoring fairness in the markets and ensuring stable access to basic commodities, Caesar addressed the issue common citizens cared about most: the daily cost of living. His energetic administration therefore demonstrated both generosity and competence, transforming the Aedileship from a routine magistracy into a powerful platform for political advancement and preparing the ground for his later rise.
Pontifex Maximus (Pope)
In 63 BC Julius Caesar was elected Pontifex Maximus for which he risked the entire family fortune to obtain through the purchase of votes to the highest priestly office in the Roman Republic.[1] In modern terms he became the lifelong and more powerful version of we might call the cabinet Minister for Religion. His desire for the role was so great that Julius accrued debts therebuy bigger than he could repay; therefore he famously told his mother that morning as he left the house for the Forum:
âMother, today you will see your son either as Pontifex Maximus⦠or as an exile.â[2]
Caesarâs earlier service as Flamen Dialis, the High Priest of Jupiter, also strengthened his candidacy. Although the position had once restricted his political activity, it remained one of the most venerable priesthoods in Rome and gave him recognised religious standing. This background, combined with his bold campaigning, made his election as Pontifex Maximus credible despite his youth.
Holding the office also gave Caesar substantial political leverage. The Pontifex Maximus controlled Romeâs religious calendar, including the insertion of intercalary months, which determined the legal length of a magistrateâs term and the timing of elections. By adjusting or regularizing the calendar, the chief priest could influence political momentum, extend the tenure of allies, or shorten that of opponents. The office also oversaw the interpretation of omens and auspices, which carried legal weight in the Senate and assemblies; a favourable omen could validate public action, while an unfavourable one could halt legislation, delay elections, or prevent a military departure.
In addition, the Pontifex Maximus supervised all priestly colleges, giving Caesar indirect influence over elite religious bodies whose members were drawn from Romeâs most powerful families. Control over sacred law and ritual precedent allowed him to shape public religious life in ways that supported his political agenda. Although technically a religious office, the Pontifex Maximus possessed tools that could subtly but effectively steer civic affairs, making it one of the most politically consequential positions in the Republic.
The Pontifex Maximus was traditionally regarded as the religious âFatherâ of Rome, addressed as âFather of the Priestsâ' (Latin: Pater Patrum), and held lifetime authority over sacred law, the religious calendar, augury, and all priestly colleges. This role was paternal, sacral, and permanent â a religious fatherhood that long preâdated Christianity and is the ancient analogue of the later title "Holy Father" / âPopeâ (Latin/Spanish/German/Dutch: Papa).
As Pontifex Maximus, Julius Caesar exercised his religious authority actively and politically. He reorganized the calendar, corrected longâstanding abuses in the priestly colleges, and used the officeâs prestige to strengthen his public standing in Rome. The position gave him control over sacred law, festival timing, and the interpretation of omens â all of which carried significant influence in Roman public life. Although the office had traditionally been nonâexecutive, Caesarâs assertive use of its powers elevated the Pontifex Maximus from a primarily ceremonial priesthood into a central instrument of statecraft. His tenure marks the moment when Romeâs chief priest became a visible participant in governance, setting the stage for later developments in his career and in the constitutional evolution of Rome.
Praetor
In 62 BC Julius Caesar was elected Praetor, the senior judicial magistracy of the Roman Republic and the final step of the cursus honorum before the Consulship. The Praetorship carried imperium, granting both judicial authority in Rome and military command when assigned to a province. In modern terms, the Praetor functioned as a combination of a Chief Justice / Supreme Court Judge and a Deputy Executive Governor.
As Praetor, Caesar presided over Romeâs civil courts, issued legal rulings, and administered the complex body of Roman law. His term was marked by efficiency, fairness, and political tact, strengthening his reputation as a capable administrator. The office also allowed him to publish a praetorian edictâan annual legal proclamation that shaped judicial procedureâfurther expanding his influence in Roman legal affairs.
Caesarâs Praetorship was followed by his assignment as governor of Hispania Ulterior, where he exercised military command, resolved provincial disputes, and restored financial order. His successes in Hispania earned him both military prestige and the political capital necessary to seek the Consulship. The Praetorship therefore marked Caesarâs transition from a rising politician to a leader with independent authority, preparing him for the decisive steps that would define his later career.
Mid Career
In 60 B.C. Julius Caesar joined with the wealthy Marcus Crassus and the powerful Roman general and statesman Pompey the Great to rule Rome as the first triumvirate. In 59 B.C. Julius Caesar became consul and used his position to gain favor with the public, such as by distributing grain to the poor.
Julius Caesar then made himself the provincial ruler (proconsul) of Gaul (modern-day France). He conquered vast amounts of territory for Rome and, while fighting abroad, sent written reports back to Rome of the victories he was winning to sustain his popularity and to ensure that the people did not forget him. Back in Rome, Julius Caesarâs plan was working, and Pompey became increasingly jealous (by this time, Crassus had died in battle). Pompey, with the support of the Senate, objected to Julius Caesarâs actions and ordered him to disband his army and return to Rome. He refused, and in an act of direct defiance to the Senate, led his loyal troops across the Rubicon River to Rome and conquered it in 49 B. C. The expression, âcrossing the Rubiconâ is used today to describe an act from which there is no turning back. Julius Caesar went on to defeat Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 B.C. This left Julius Caesar firmly in control of Rome, and he then took his veteran army on campaigns in Egypt (where he installed ally Cleopatra as queen), Asia Minor, Africa and Spain before returning to Rome again in 45 B.C. Rome ruled much of the Western civilized world as result of these military campaigns. It is interesting to note that Caesar did not start his string of incredible military victories until he was well into middle age. The Roman Senate appointed Julius Caesar as dictator for life in 46 B.C.
Later Career and Death
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The Roman Senate was less than pleased with Caesar's actions as dictator. In a conspiracy famously recounted in Shakespeareâs play âJulius Caesar,â Cassius and Brutus and up to 60 others agreed to stab and kill Julius Caesar when he entered the Senate on the âIdes of Marchâ (March 15, 44 B.C.). After he died, Rome fell into chaos for 13 years as rivals strove for power. Julius Caesar had named his 18-year-old grandnephew, Gaius Octavius, to be his heir. Gaius Octavius also intended to inherit his adopted father's political power. Others wanted Mark Antony. Cassius and Brutus also had armies of their own. First a triumvirate of Octavian, Antony and Lepidus defeated the armies of Cassius and Brutus, and that ended the republican rule by the Senate. Octavius went on in history to become Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.
Military Actions
In Prophecy
It has long been accepted by many commentators that Julius Caesar appears directly from Daniel 11:17. This position is best relayed in Anthony's Historicist Study Aid wherein his political ambition, the formation of the First Triumvirate rising him to the Consulship, his demotion to Govenor of Gaul, the invasion of the British Isles, the summons to stand trial for his life, the intiation of the Civil War and his eventual murder.
Contributions
adopted later by a pope and used to this day. Julius Caesar also granted religious rights to the Jews in Palestine, so that the Jewish religion could be practice outside the requirements of Roman religious law. An uneasy practice of the Jewish faith thus continued in the Roman empire up to and through the time of Christ. Julius Caesar, as all Roman generals, campaigned strenuously on behalf of his veterans, in particular with regards to the gifting of land. Roman culture flourished in the struggles during the lifetime of Julius Caesar, and those which followed his assassination.
Casesar's influence extends even to this day in the name of the month of July, and in such titles as Czar (tsar) and Kaiser, both of which were a variant of the title Emperor.
Cultural Productions
| Part of the series on |
| Ancient Rome |
| Historical Periods |
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Regal period (753 â 509 B.C.) |
| Great Romans |
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Marius, Cato the Younger, Cicero, |
| Roman Legacy |
| Related Articles |
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Pax Romana |
Julian Calendar
Julius Caesar instituted the 12-month, 365-day Julian Calendar, which provided the foundation for the Gregorian Calendar
Sculptures
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| Chiaramonti Caesar Vatican Museums |
to be confirmed to be confirmed |
Tusculum Caesar Museum of Antiquities, Turin |
Related Artwork currently uploaded to Conservapedia
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| Julius Caesar Landing at Kent'' |
Julius Caesar Crossing the Rubicon River |
Litrature
- The Gallic Wars (Commentarii de Bello Gallico)
- The Civil Wars (Comentarii de Bello Civili)