Download Handout - AMSA JCL

Gaius Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was probably one of the most influential Romans ever to have lived.
He was a courageous warrior, feared senator, and charismatic leader. His downfall
came for his hubris. Many people remember him for his famous statement: Veni, vidi,
vici, I came, I saw, I conquered; or his murder on the Ides of March 44 BCE. This is the
man behind that.
Julius Caesar was born to a fairly well off family. His father was a highly
respected governor and his uncle was the famous politician, Marius, who was consul for
7 terms. When Caesar’s father died, he became the head of his family at 16. His
ascension came during the civil war between his uncle, Marius, and his uncle’s rival,
Sulla. He held many political offices before he was elected to the position of Pontifex
Maximus in 63 BCE, which named him the high priest of Rome. Three years later, he
formed the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus. In order to solidify this
alliance, he married off his daughter Julia to Pompey. He held his first consulship in 59
BC with Bibulus.
His fame as a military commander came with the Gallic War from 58-51 BCE
during which he was named governor of Cisalpine Gaul. In each year of the war, he
defeated another of the tribes. His victory came in Year 7 when he defeated the last of
the rebellious Gaul forces under Vercengetorix at the Battle of Alesia in 52 BCE. He had
been beaten by Vercengetorix in the past but finally triumphed and solidified Roman
control of Cisalpine Gaul.
His downfall began in 49 BCE when he tried to run for consul in absentia. He and
Pompey had begun a rivalry after the death of Julia, Pompey’s wife and Caesar’s
daughter. Pompey was trying to strip Caesar of his command and keep his own. Many
other legislations had been drafted against Caesar but none passed. Civil war was
coming. When it was asked that both Pompey and Caesar lay down their arms, both
refused and Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BCE stating, Alea Iacta Est, the die has
been cast. The senate fled and Caesar took over.
Civil War came in 48 BC between Pompey and Caesar. Pompey defeated Caesar at
Dyrrhacium, where Caesar was forced to fight. Caesar defeated Pompey, who had
become overconfident, at the Battle of Pharsulus. When Pompey fled to Egypt, he was
decapitated. Despite their past rivalry, Caesar mourned his former friend and took his
revenge against Ptolemy XIII. He reinstated Cleopatra to her throne and even had a son,
Caesarion, with her.
When he retuned to Rome he was given an annually renewable dictatorship in 45
BCE. He improved the infrastructure of Rome by building the Basilica Julia, the Temple
of Venus Genetrix, and reforming the calendar. He was made dictator for life on
February 14, 44 BCE.
Jealous of his rising power and concerned for the ramifications it would have on
Rome, Caesar’s friend Brutus and his co-conspirator Cassius, stabbed him to death
2062 years ago from this very day, the Ides of March.
Julius Caesar was an influential man. While he was hungry for power, he had the
hearts of the people in mind. He was a military genius, a statesman, and fighter for the
people. Today we celebrate the life of Julius Caesar and the good ideals that he stood
for.