Julius Caesar

(Caius Julius Caesar)

100–44 BC

Julius Caesar stands out in history as one of most influential men who ever lived. The reason for this is that he is credited for laying the groundwork of the Roman Empire, which thrived for over four hundred years after his death. At the time he lived, the republic of Rome was torn apart by political and civil strife. The tasks of administering government in many far flung provinces, building suitable infrastructure, and regulating a professional army were overwhelming to a political system run by feuding oligarchs in a single city. Julius Caesar understood the drastic reforms that would be necessary to prevent the empire from breaking apart and he made great strides during his own life in this direction, although he destroyed the republic in the process.

LOOKING DOWN UPON THE RUBICON, HE STOOD A WHILE DEEP IN THOUGHT

In his youth, Julius Caesar was popular and known to be personally courageous, but he also had a reputation as a reveler and a spendthrift, and did not show early signs of serious ambition. He did not rise to high prominence in the popular party until his late thirties, and held only minor offices until then. He was forty by the time he formed the first triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey, and at the time was the junior member. It was in the following decade, from 58 to 50 B.C., that he distinguished himself as a formidable leader in both the military and political domains. In his conquest of Gaul he is said to have taken up arms against over a million Gallic warriors, and killed another million. He completely subdued the entire region of modern France and made forays into Britain and Germany. At the same time he was achieving extraordinary military success, he wrote one of the greatest classic works of literature in the ancient world, "Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War." His personal and political popularity reached ever greater heights during this time, including everyone but the Senate and their supporters.

After Caesar had served eight years in Gaul the fearful Senate requested that he disband his armies. At that point he made the difficult decision to march to Rome. This essentially forced a civil war, but Caesar hoped to reconcile with his opponents rather than destroy them. All of Italy surrendered to him without a battle and his enemies, led by Pompey, were forced to flee to the East to raise armies there. At the battle of Pharsalia, only one year after he crossed the Rubicon, his most important enemy, Pompey, was defeated. It took another year to consolidate his power and put down minor revolts throughout the empire. At all times Caesar was as conciliatory as possible and pardoned his opponents without hesitation.

By 46 BC the empire was completely pacified and he returned to Rome to start his work of reform and reorganization. He had advanced ideas on many topics, from the building of roads, communication and infrastructure, to a revamped system of taxes, to a change in the very idea of Roman citizenship and voting rights. His career was cut short by assassination, but many of his ideas and reforms were carried through by later emperors. He was at the time, and still is, a very controversial character. His admirers have always seen a great defender of the people against a corrupt oligarchy, while his detractors have seen a power hungry demagogue, and an enemy of democracy. How the world might have been different if he had never lived, or perchance, if he had lived longer, is one of those perennially fascinating questions that historians have been speculating on for twenty centuries.

Key events during the life of caesar:

Year	Event
81 BC	Flees from Rome during Sulla's reign of terror.
78 BC	Returns to Rome; establishes a reputation as a fun-loving fop.
76 BC	Captured by pirates. After being ransomed, hires ship, finds pirates who held him and kills them.
74 BC	Returns from service in Third Mithradatic War; becomes active in the popular (Marian) party.
70 BC	Military tribune in western Spain.
66 BC	Pompey assumes command in Third Mithradatic War; Caesar becomes head of Popular party.
63 BC	Elected Pontifix Maximus. Advocates mercy for Catiline conspirators.
62 BC	Scandal involving Clodius and Caesar's wife results in divorce.
60 BC	Establishes First Triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey. Pompey marries Caesar's daughter.
58 BC	Assigned rule of Gaul with four legions for five years (later extended).
	Achieved great victories in Gaul. Wrote Commentaries on the War in Gaul
55 BC	Invades Britain.
54 BC	Julia, daughter of Caesar, wife of Pompey dies; conflict between the two men deepens.
52 BC	Defeats Vercingetorix, his most resilient Gallic opponent. Pompey becomes sole consul.
50 BC	Fearing Caesar, the Senate demands that he disband his army. Antony and others join Caesar in Gaul.
49 BC	Caesar crosses the Rubicon, advancing unopposed to Rome. Pompey flees to Greece. Revolts in Spain put down.
48 BC	Pompey is defeated at the battle of Pharsalia. Later he is murdered in Egypt.
47 BC	Caesar pursues Pompey to Egypt. Places Cleopatra on the throne. Puts down revolts throughout empire.
46 BC	Returns to Rome as sole ruler and begins reforms.
44 BC	Assassinated on the senate floor by a group of conspirators.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Cleopatra and Caesar  in	Cleopatra  by  Jacob Abbott
Julius Casear  in	Fifty Famous Stories Retold  by  James Baldwin
Crossing the Rubicon  in	Thirty More Famous Stories Retold  by  James Baldwin
Caesar  in	Roman Life in the Days of Cicero  by  Alfred J. Church
First Coming of Julius Caesar  in	Stories from English History  by  Alfred J. Church
Conquests of Caesar  in	Helmet and Spear  by  Alfred J. Church
Of Julius Caesar: Soldier  in	Stories from Roman History  by  Lena Dalkeith
Caesar and His Fortune  in	Tales of the Romans: The Children's Plutarch  by  F. J. Gould
Caesar in Gaul  in	The Story of Old France  by  H. A. Guerber
Caesar's Conquests  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Crossing of the Rubicon  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Julius Caesar  in	Famous Men of Rome  by  John H. Haaren & A. B. Poland
Julius Caesar  in	Back Matter  by  books/horne/soldiers/_back.html
Caesar  in	Our Young Folks' Plutarch  by  Rosalie Kaufman
Patriot of Vercingetorix  in	The Story of France  by  Mary Macgregor
Julius Caesar Is Captured by Pirates  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Caesar Praises His Tenth Legion  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Caesar Crosses the Rubicon  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Ariovistus, the First Great German  in	The History of Germany  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Coming of the Romans  in	Our Island Story  by  H. E. Marshall
Caesar and the Pirates  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris
Caesar and Pompey  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris
Assassination of Caesar  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris
Julius Caesar as Explorer  in	A Book of Discovery  by  M. B. Synge
Julius Caesar  in	On the Shores of the Great Sea  by  M. B. Synge
Julius Caesar, The First Emperor of Rome  in	Old World Hero Stories  by  Eva March Tappan
Julius Caesar  in	Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston  by

Book Links
Julius Caesar  by  Jacob Abbott
Julius Caesar  by  Ada Russell

Image Links
The Pirates at Anchor  in Julius Caesar	Crossing the Rubicon  in Julius Caesar	The Elephants made Torch-bearers  in Julius Caesar
Burning of Caesar's Body  in Julius Caesar	Caius Julius Caesar  in Roman Life in the Days of Cicero	The Death of Caesar  in Stories from Roman History
The Assassination of Julius Caesar  in  Augustus—His Life and Work	Bust of Caesar  in The Story of the Romans	Death of Caesar  in The Story of the Romans
Julius Caesar  in Famous Men of Rome	Vercingetorix before Caesar  in Famous Men of Rome	Caesar crossing the Rubicon  in Famous Men of Rome
The death of Caesar  in Famous Men of Rome	Generals of the Roman Republic  in Greatest Nations - Rome	Caesar Crossing the Rubicon  in Greatest Nations - Rome
Cleopatra Brought before Caesar  in Greatest Nations - Rome	Caesar at Cleopatra's Court  in Greatest Nations - Rome	The Triumph of Caesar  in Greatest Nations - Rome
Antony Offering to Crown Caesar  in Greatest Nations - Rome	The Murder of Caesar  in Greatest Nations - Rome	Julius Caesar  in Back Matter
Julius Caesar  in Back Matter	The Ides of March  in Back Matter	Vercingetorix threw his arms at the feet of his conquerors  in The Story of France
Looking down upon the stream, he stood awhile deep in thought.  in The Story of Rome	Caesar paused on the banks of the Rubicon.  in On the Shores of the Great Sea	Caesar Crossing the Rubicon.  in Old World Hero Stories
Caesar and the Pilot  in Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston	The murder of Caesar  in Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston

Contemporary	Short Biography
Pompey	Very renowned general. Defeated pirates. Led opposition to Caesar in civil war.
Crassus	Very wealthy general. Fought Spartacus. Formed triumvirate with Pompey and Caesar.
Cicero	Orator. Leader of aristocratic party. Put down Catiline conspiracy. Well known writer.
Cato (the younger)	Highly principled republican who opposed Caesar, killed self after defeat of Pompey.
Cleopatra	Queen of Egypt. Lover of both Caesar and Mark Antony.
Antony	With Octavius, led empire after Caesar's death. Liaison with Cleopatra caused downfall.