JULIUS CAESAR

1
JULIUS CAESAR

• VENI, VIDI, VINCIT
• I CAME, I SAW, I CONQUERED

2
EARLY LIFE

• Gaius Julius Caesar was born on July 12 or July
  13, 100 BCE into a Patrician family.

3
EARLY LIFE

• Although Caesars 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 mothers 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 Pompeys 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 Plutarchs 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 Caesars 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 Pompeys hearts.
• Pompey would break the alliance with Caesar and
  give his support to Scipio, Caesars 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 Pompeys armies.
• After a 27 day march to Hispania, Caesar defeated
  Pompeys lieutenants.
• Caesar will eventually defeat the rest Pompeys
  in Greece.
• Once elected dictator and then consul in Rome,
  Caesar will follow Pompey to Alexandria.

18
Pompeys head on a platter

• When Caesar arrived in Alexandria, King Ptolemy
  XIII offered him a gift Pompeys 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
  brothers army and gave Cleopatra the throne.
• Cleopatra gave birth to Caesars 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 Caesars 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 Caesars 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 Caesars 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)