Julius Caesar Reputation Analysis

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

Once in power, Crassus and Pompey extended Caesar's time as governor of Gaul, and then chose for themselves long-term governorships, (Crassus in Syria and Pompey in Spain). However, at the end of 55BC, Pompey did not leave for Spain, instead remaining as the only Triumvir in Rome, while Caesar and Crassus took the heads of powerful armies.

In the arising chaos of Caesar’s death, Mark Antony, Octavion, and others fought a series of five civil wars, which would end in the formation of the Roman Empire. The Roman middle and lower classes, with whom Caesar was popular, became angry that a small group of aristocrats had killed Caesar, especially after Antony gave a dramatic applause that appealed to the common people, a reflection of public opinion following Caesar's murder. About 43 B.C, the second triumvirate was formed between Octavion, Mark Antony, and Lepidus. Sometime after 43 B.C, Afterward, Mark Antony married Caesar's lover, Cleopatra, intending to use the fabulously wealthy Egypt as a base to dominate Rome. A third civil war broke out between Octavion and Antony. This final civil war resulted in the final ascendancy of Octavian, who became the first Roman emperor, under the name Caesar Augustus, a name that raised him to status of an idol.

In response, Pompey turned to Caesar and formed the Casesarian Faction with Crassus. Each individual had their own reasons for forming the faction; however, Pompey’s purpose was because he wanted a status for himself and land for his soldiers. In order for the faction to become powerful, at least one of the members had to be a consul. In 55 BCE, all three members were successful at holding consulship and each member had territories to mollify. Pompey’s territory was Spain, but his military success there was meek. However, Crassus’ province was in Syria where he waged war and lost his life (Dutton,

Julius Caesar's triumph in a civil war in the 40s BC made him the absolute ruler of Rome he rose to power through his social status, financial support, military leadership, and political reputation. Caesar became the proprietor in Spain, where he gained some military experience and wealth. Upon returning to Rome in 60 BC he joined Crassus and Pompey to form the First Triumvirate, a trio of political leaders.

Caesar's successes in Gaul, along with his growing power and wealth, drove Pompey. While Caesar was fighting in Gaul, Pompey proceeded with a legislative agenda for Rome, which revealed that he was now covertly allied with Caesar's enemies. Pompey also made it clear that Caesar would not be permitted to stand for Consul unless he turned over control of his armies. This would, of course, leave Caesar defenseless before his enemies. Pompey was elected consul without colleague in 52. The

Caesar was an accomplished military leader and general that rose to political prominence when he formed an alliance with two other generals—Marcus Junius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeus Magnus (or Pompey, as he is often known). However, this three-legged partnership deteriorated quickly into all-out civil war between Caesar and Pompey. After a defeat in 48 B.C.E., Pompey sought asylum with Ptolemy XIII of Egypt, but was murdered by a member of the royal court. After Pompey's death, there seemed to be no one to oppose Caesar, and he returned to Rome a celebrated hero and soon a dictator for life. Less than five years later, Caesar's success would be brought to a sudden end by his murder on the Senate floor. In The Assassination of Julius Caesar, Plutarch indicates that this murder was planned and premeditated. Plutarch makes no judgement on the motivations behind this act, but makes

July 12, 100 BC a great Roman general by the name of Julius Caesar was born in Rome, Italy. Caesar was “born to a family of particans but his uncle Marius was a famous general” (History.com, 2009). Eventually, Caesar rose up through the ranks and became a great general. Caesar eventually went to war with Pompey and was able to drive Pompey out making Caesar believe declare himself the dictator for life. Even though under Caesar’s control daily Roman life improved, his assassination was for the best of the Roman people because he had stated himself as the dictator for life in Rome, ruining any chance of continuing democracy, he was self-centered, Rome got a new ruler and became successful

Patience between Caesar and Pompey continued to wear thin, beginning with the dissolution of the Triumvirate; the three leaders, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. Tensions continued to strain when the senate appointed Pompey the “Sole Consul.” Appointing Pompey the Sole Consul was not meant to offend or outrage Caesar, but soon it would become a matter of great importance. The city had been distracted by frequent street fights between the armed bands of Clodius, a politician known for his populist tactics; and the armed bands of T. Annius Milo, a political agitator who claimed that he was defending the cause of the Senate. In one such fights, Clodius was killed; and his death enraged many followers, resulting in angry mobs and riots. Followers burned his body in the Forum by a wild mob, and the senate house destroyed during the anarchy. The senate felt obligated to confer power upon Pompey, and so he was named “Sole Consul.” Under this title,

Gaius Julius Caesar rose through the ranks from Roman general to Emperor. A critical role he played in Roman politics, was his role in the events that were to lead to the downfall of the Roman Republic and the growth of the Roman Empire. He joined with Crassus and Pompey to form a political alliance. This alliance of three would go on to dominate politics in Rome for several years. “Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus now formed a triple pact, jointly swearing to oppose all public policies in which any of them might disapprove” (Graves and Suetonius 19). The conservative ruling class of the Roman Senate opposed their attempts to accumulate power through the use of populist tactics.

His election into the consul was however not without controversy. There were claims of bribing between the parties involved that tried to get Caesar elected into the senior post in Rome. After being elected into consul, he joined forces with two other wealthy and influential individuals in the empire to form the First Triumvirate. This is further seen in his personal choices of the family he married into. He married off his daughter to Pompey, a member of the First Triumvirate. The members of the First Triumvirate had taken control of much of the state. He was rather forceful in his statements to give out areas of land to the needy; he went further and intimidated the opponents with military use.

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

The more conservative people in Rome did not like Caesar and continued to block his attempts at being re-elected to political offices (Gruen 13; “Julius Caesar“). It did not help that Pompey took the conservatives’ side on many topics, which hurt Caesar’s political campaigns even more (Gruen 13). After crossing the Rubicon river on January 10, 49 B.C., Caesar defeated Pompey and his troops, and his army forced Pompey’s to surrender (Gruen 13; “Julius Caesar“). In his attempt to go after Pompey, Caesar fled to Egypt and conquered many groups in Italy along the way(Gruen 13; “Julius Caesar“). Once in Italy, Caesar met Cleopatra and eventually, the two would

Continuing on his success, Caesar was unstoppable, but even though he was an ally of Pompey, Pompey envied Caesar and did not really support him that much through his success. Jealousy struck him. Crassus, on the other hand, had not grown fond of Pompey. They reconciled once again at a conference in Luca in 56 BC. This peace expanded Caesar’s reign for another five years, because he gave Crassus a five-year rule in Syria and Pompey in Spain for five years. Syria marks the location where Crassus was killed in battle. (Julius Caesar Biography, April

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