JULIUS CAESAR

1. JULIUS CAESAR VENI, VIDI, VINCIT I CAME, I SAW, I CONQUERED

2. EARLY LIFE • Gāius Jūlius Caesar was born on July 12 or July 13, 100 BCE into a Patrician family.

3. EARLY LIFE • Although Caesar’s family were aristocrats, they were not wealthy by Roman standards. They lived in a lower class neighborhood in a humble home. • His father was also named Gaius Julius Caesar and his mother’s name was Aurilia Cottae. • He had two sisters both named Julia.

4. Early life • Although little is known of his early life, Caesar grew up during a period of great turmoil in the Roman Republic as the Social War waged between Rome and its Italian allies. • At sixteen, Julius’ father died and he became head of the family. • He became Flamen Dialis, high priest of Jupitor. • He married Cornelia (daughter of Cinna, who controlled Rome at the time). • As power shifted in Rome, Caesar was targeted and he was forced into hiding by Sulla. His uncle and father-in-law had already been murdered. Caesar lost his fortune too. • Thanks to efforts by his mother, Caesar was eventually allowed to return to Rome.

5. Career – the beginning • Julius Caesar chose not to return to Rome. • He instead joined the Roman military and served in Asia. • Over the next two years, Julius served with distinction. • He returned to Rome once Sulla retired. • He worked as an orator (public speaker). • He traveled to Rhodes to study rhetoric and philosophy in 75 BCE.

6. Kidnapping • As Caesar crossed the Aegean Sea, he was kidnapped by Greek pirates. • He felt the pirates were not demanding a high enough ransom for him. • He made them increase the amount from 20 gold talents to 50 gold talents. • Once the ransom was paid, Caesar organized a fleet and captured the pirates. • He had them crucified.

7. Return to Rome • After a campaign in Asia, Caesar returned to Rome and was elected military tribune. • Next he was elected quaestor in Rome and then Spain. • His first wife died during this period.

8. Encounter with “The Great” • While in Spain, Caesar is said to have come upon a statue of Alexander the Great. • He was overcome with emotion and disappointment. • Alexander had conquered most of the known world by the time he was 33. • Julius Caesar felt he had accomplished too little being the same age. • He asked to be relieved of his duties and he returned to Rome to enter politics as aedile, where he improved public buildings and gained popularity in Rome. • He was also married for the second time upon his return to Pompeia

9. Pontifex Maximus • Caesar beat out 2 other popular candidates to become Pontifex Maximus. • The position gave Caesar great political and religious authority. • Caesar bold decision to run for this position permanently placed him at the heart of Roman politics.

10. The first triumvirate

11. First Triumvirate (continued) • Caesar was elected consul but needed allies. • He formed a triumvirate (rule by three) with Pompey the Great and Crassus. • Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus or Pompey was a great general at the time. • Marcus Licinius Crass or Crassus was a former consul and a very wealthy individual.

12. First Triumvirate (continued) • Caesar need Pompey’s military influence and Crassus’ wealth. • The three formed an informal alliance. • Pompey married Caesar only daughter Julia to solidify the pact.

13. The Gallic Wars • Caesar became governor of Transalpine Gaul and Illyria.

14. Gallic Wars (continued) • Caesar was not satisfied with merely governing. • He started the Gallic Wars and conquered most of what is now Western Europe from the Atlantic to the Rhine River. • He annexed all these areas to Rome. • He even ventured to fight in Britain. • Caesar is said to have conquered 800 cities controlled by over 300 different tribes. • Historian Plutarch’s account list 3 million killed in the battles and another 1 million sold into slavery. Obviously these numbers are gross exagerations. • Caesar had, however, successful conquered areas in size and with enough speed to rival Alexander the Great.

15. And then there were two • Despite Caesar’s military success, he was still very unpopular with his fellow politicians in Rome. They feared he wanted to make himself king. • The triumvirate fell apart when Crassus is killed in military action. • Caesar tried to maintain his alliance with Pompey. • Unfortunately Julia died, breaking both Caesar and Pompey’s hearts. • Pompey would break the alliance with Caesar and give his support to Scipio, Caesar’s enemy. Pompey married his daughter.

16. Civil War in the Republic • Caesar is ordered by Pompey and the Senate to disband his army and return to Rome. • He is also informed that he will not be allowed to run for consul. • Caesar fears returning to Rome without the protection of his men. • Pompey charges him with insubordination and treason.

17. Iacta alea est – “The die is cast” • Caesar crosses the Rubicon with one legion and civil war begins January 10, 49 BCE. • Scipio and Cato the Younger escape to the south while Caesar attempts to follow Pompey. • When Caesar cannot reach Pompey he turns his attention to Hispania. • " I set forth to fight an army without a leader, so as later to fight a leader without an army." • Caesar leaves Lepidus and Marc Antony in charge of Rome while he pursued Pompey’s armies. • After a 27 day march to Hispania, Caesar defeated Pompey’s lieutenants. • Caesar will eventually defeat the rest Pompey’s in Greece. • Once elected dictator and then consul in Rome, Caesar will follow Pompey to Alexandria.

18. Pompey’s head on a platter • When Caesar arrived in Alexandria, King Ptolemy XIII offered him a gift – Pompey’s head on a platter. • Caesar then became involved in a civil war between Ptolemy and his wife and sister Queen Cleopatra VII.

19. The love affair • Caesar sided with Cleopatra, defeated her brother’s army and gave Cleopatra the throne. • Cleopatra gave birth to Caesar’s only son. • Caesar moved Cleopatra to a lavish estate in Rome. • The two never married because under Roman law marriage could only legally take place between two citizen families. • Although Caesar was married, his affair with Cleopatra lasted 14 years. • Their relationship was very unpopular among the Romans. • Many became particularly offended when Caesar placed a golden statue of his lover in the temple of Venus Genetrix.

20. Veni, Vidi, Vincit • After leaving Egypt, Caesar went to the Middle East. • His forces annihilated those of King Pharnacus II in the Battle of Zela. • The victory was so fast and so complete that Caesar said “Veni, Vidi, Vincit” – “I came, I saw, I conquered”. • Caesar then quelled the last remnants of his enemies in various locations.

21. Caesar in power • Upon his return to Rome, great public festivals honored his victories. • He was named dictator. • His authority now outreached that of the Senate. • An ivory statue of Caesar was erected with the inscription “To the invincible god”. • Caesar would become the first living man to have a Roman coin bare his likeness. He commissioned the coins himself.

22. Caesar in power (continued) • Many of Caesar’s commands and decisions infuriated the Senate. • Caesar bypassed traditional elections, and appointed politicians himself. • He was given the title of consul for life. • Caesar could now hold any office he wanted, even those reserved for plebeians. • During this time Caesar established the 365 day Julian calendar. • Caesar maintained power and support by implementing fair laws and new public works projects.

23. The conspiracy begins. • While Caesar’s lavish spending on public works please the Roman people, the Senate became enraged. • Caesar closest friend, Brutus was one such enraged senator. • When Caesar was elected as dictator for life, a plot to assassinate him was begun. • The aristocrats feared Caesar’s power and influence. • They feared his power would equate with the end of the Republic.

24. The assassination – The ides of March • On March 15, 44 BCE, the conspirators against Caesar called him to the Senate. • 60 or more men including Brutus stabbed Caesar on the steps of the Portico. • “Et tu Brute” (Shakespeare) • “You too, child?” (Suetonius) • No words , covered his head with a toga (Plutarch)