Julius Caesar Essay

In the determination of whether Julius Caesar was an intelligent, political hero or an egocentric, dictating villain, it is important to look at all of the facts. Born in 100 B.C.E. and assassinated in 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was legendary. He along Pompey, and Crassus created the first unofficial Triumvirate which was negotiated to appease both the Roman citizens and the power hungry rivals. Still, this agreement would not last long. After Pompey’s wife, Julia Caesar and daughter of Caesar’s daughter given to Pompey to establish the Trimvirate, dies in childbirth, civil war breaks out as Caesar leads his army against Rome. He fights until Pompey is murdered in Egypt. As Rome is “shattered,” Julius Caesar one person should rule. He

After Caesar’s victory in Gaul, he was made dictator of the Roman Empire around 47 BCE. He was the first dictator to be awarded dictatorship for life and was so adored that his birth month, July, was renamed after him. His position as dictator bestowed upon him command of the all Roman legions and provinces, financial control, foreign policy decisions and power over the Senate. He appointed a large number of his supporters to the Senate firmly establishing his control of the Roman Empire.

During his lifespan, Caesar won many battles and captured many provinces including the province of Gaul. He extended the Roman territories up to the Atlantic. He gave Roman citizenships to the people living in the provinces captured by Rome. In 55BCE Romans invaded Britain under Julius Caesar’s command. He also revived two cities, Carthage and Corinth, which had been destroyed earlier during wars. He changed and reformed the old corrupt Roman system. He expanded the senate by introducing more members. He refused the crown of the Roman King but accepted the title of ‘Imperator’ (commander). Caesar banned high interest rates and introduced many youth engaging programmes to solve the problem of unemployment and reduced crime rate. He also built many dykes to control rising water level in river

He then campaigned for consulship and was successful. Caesar then devoted most of his time in Gaul. He then became governor of Cisalpine and then Transalpine Gaul. He divorced Pompeia in 62 BC and married Calpurnia. In 58 BC, the Helvetii attempted to migrate to Central Gaul. Caesar proclaimed them as potential threats and drove them out to their homeland. The Chieftains of Gaul who now trusted Julius Caesar were afraid of Germany being a threat to them, so "in the summer of 58, after defeating the Helvetians, Caesar marched against the Germans and drove them out of Gaul."(www.history.com). After a few years, he sought to conquer Gaul and was successful and made it a Roman Province. In 54 BC, he invaded England because the prince harrassed the Romans living in Gaul. This invasion was one of his finest accomplishments yet because of the strong opposing force. Early 49 BC, his rule over Gaul was slowly coming to an end and he also began a civil war with Pompey[See Figure 3], his old associate who allied himself with a Roman senator. Caesar successfully invaded Italy and drove Pompey 's forces into Macedonia "in less than seventy days"(www.history.com). In 48 BC, Caesar then sailed Macedonia to deal the final blow but was unsuccessful which caused him to retreat to Greece where he defeated Pompey in the Battle of Pharsalus. In 47 BC, Caesar’s forces marched to Asia Minor and defeated the Pharnaces in the battle of Zela, but his glory did not stop increasing

Julius Caesar was said to be a great ruler. Julius Caesar conquered many great lands. Some places that Caesar conquered was lands such as Britain, Gaul (modern day France), Egypt, Syria, Pontus (modern day Turkey), and most of the western European continent. “Caesar has always been one of the most controversial characters of history. His admirers have seen in him the defender of the rights of the people against an oligarchy. His detractors have seen him as an ambitious demagogue, who forced his way to dictatorial power and destroyed the republic. That he was gifted and versatile there can be little doubt. He excelled in war, in statesmanship, and in oratory.” (Columbia Electric Encyclopedia)

Julius Caesar is thought of as the most powerful and glorious ruler to step foot in Rome. The only thing

Julius Caesar was born into a patrician family. He was born in July 100 BCE in Italy. His mother, Aurelia Cotta, was of noble birth and his father was Gaius Julius Caesar, a praetor. His family supported the popular party; he had relatives in politics and his uncle is the great Marius and his family 's ancestry goes back to Venus, goddess of love. Julius Caesar’s family connections help him further in his life.

Caesar Augustus was a wise and influential emperor who deserves the title of “The Best Emperor of the Roman Empire.” Caesar Augustus was the maker of the Roman Empire and was also the first emperor of the Roman Empire but being a modest man he is, he didn’t like calling himself emperor so he called himself “the first citizen.” Caesar Augustus had many things happen to him before he became emperor and throughout his life he had achieved many things but also like everyone else, he had some failings and shortcomings.

Pompey and Crassus were consuls in 70 BC and had rescinded the most offensively reactionary measures of Sulla’s legislation. During Pompey’s absence from 67 to 62 BC during his campaigns against the Mediterranean pirates, Mithridates, and Crassus, his jealous rival. Caesar married Ponpeia after Cornelia’s death and was appointed aedile in 65 BC As aedile, Caesar returned to Marius’ trophies to their former place of honor in the Capitol, thus laying claim to leadership of the populares. When Caesar was a praetor, he supported a tribune who wanted Pompey recalled to restore order in Rome. As a result, Caesar was suspended from office for a period and antagonized Catulus. Before leaving Rome to govern Further Spain for a year, Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia because of the allegation that she had been implicated in the offense of Publius Clodius. The latter was then awaiting trial for breaking into Caesar’s house the previous December disguised as a woman at the festival of the Bona Dea, which no man is allowed to attend. After his return from a successful year administrating Spain Caesar was elected consul for 59 BC through political alliance with Pompey and Crassus . This alliance was called the first triumvirate. Caesar’s purpose was to gain a big military command. Pompey for his part sought the ratification of his Eastern settlement and land allotments for his discharged troops. Crassus sought a revision of the contract for collecting taxes in the province of

Each man believed that the other attempted to increase his own reputation at his colleague's price. In 59 BC Caesar tried out to reconcile both men and then blended their power along with his own to obtain himself elected consul. He provided Julia his daughter to Pompey in matrimony to solidify his alliance. The alliance put together Caesar's enormous level of popularity and legal reputation with Crassus's fantastic prosperity and effect and Pompey's evenly spectacular military reputation.

Julius Caesar is a man famous for his death, but his death was in fact the least exciting part of his life. Stretching from 100 BC to 44 BC, he accomplished much with his life as both a politician and ruler during a prosperous time of ancient Rome that he created. Julius Caesar was an admirable leader of ancient Rome that carried his fame into modern times because of his interesting early life, ways as a military leader, and time as dictator.

Julius Caesar is and was one of the most influential people in history. He created laws, stuck wars, and developed new strategies for leadership and battles. "Caesar is widely considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, as well as a brilliant politician and one of the ancient world's strongest leaders (Julius Caesar pg.1)." He transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire and he extended his land all the way through Gaul to The Atlantic Ocean, as well as fighting a civil war and being proclaimed as dictator for life.

Even though he was extremely unpopular, being in possession of the wealth he was, he was able to buy his way through the senate to the height of power. Caesar had majestically rose to power, partaking in every major position there was, using his political ingenious in his attempt to gain full control of Rome. After Crassus had died in battle, and Caesars’ army defeated and killed Pompey, he was quick to mop up all his opposition from the senate and the oligarchs across the Mediterranean and throughout Rome, in his first step to his dictatorship, his dictatorship being the final step to the republics decline. After defeating all of his enemies, Julius Caesar was granted a 10-year dictatorship for purposes of restoring the republic, similar to the title that Sulla had granted himself many years previous. However he constituted himself as the Divine King or Ruler of Rome, essentially a REX, yet as said before, since the founding of the Republic, the Romans prided themselves on freedom from the Etruscan King, and just the term ‘King’ went against the republic mentality. Eventually killed in plot involving over 60 senators, the death of Caesar concluded the decline of the Republic.

Julius Caesar, a man born in around 12 to 13, 100 BC, was considered the start of a new legacy in the history of Rome. Participating in several wars, becoming dictator after forming multiple military alliances, to being assassinated on the Ides of March, Julius Caesar was a politically-flexible, popular leader of the Roman Empire. (Julius Caesar Biography, April 23, 2014) Although Caesar’s birth was never confirmed on the exact date, he was born and raised by his mother, Aurelia, and by his father, Gaius Julius Caesar. (Julius Caesar: Historical Background, April 23, 2014)

Julius Caesar's Middle Life was full of wars, political plotting. Caesar's first and one of the biggest political moves was when he helped Pompey take office. In 69 or 68 B.C. Caesar was elected quaestor. Shortly after this his first wife died. He then married Pompeia, a relative of Pompey. In 65 B.C. he was elected curule aedile, gaining great popularity for his gladiator games. In 62 B.C. he was elected a praetor. By this time, Caesar was making a name for himself as a political figure. He divorced Pompeia after a scandal. Caesar was made governor of Farther Spain in 61 B.C. When Julius returned to Rome in 60 B.C. he joined forces with Crassus and Pompey. In 59 B.C. Caesar was elected consul, and the year after he was appointed governor of Roman Gaul. During Caesar's first year as a governor