 Came from aristocratic ITALIAN (not Roman)
family
 Supported Sulla and the optimates
 Excellent soldier
 Earned the name “Kid Butcher”
 Defeated Spartacus
 “Elected” consul in 70 BCE (20 years too early)
 Overturned Sulla’s reforms and moved into the
populares camp
 From 67-63 BCE, granted special imperium by Senate to
fight in the East
 Commands were unconstitutional and illegal
 Returned to Rome, an untouchable conquering hero
 Beloved by the people
 HATED by the Senate
 For all his popularity, Pompey had no political power
 Formed the “1st Triumvirate” with friends and political
allies Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus
 Pompey married Caesar’s daughter and everybody gets
what they want
• Born to patrician family
• Claimed descent from Venus
• Related to Marius and Sulla
• Childhood genius
• Known for his unusual intelligence and oratory skills,
military abilities, and infectious personality
• His “other” side
• The heart throb of Rome
• Known for his sexual exploits (often with married
women)
• Very successful but normal climb of the cursus honorum
 Successful governor of Spain
 Elected Pontifex Maximus (chief priest of Rome
 Populares politician
 People ADORED him
 The Senate HATED him
 60 BCE – Forms “1st Triumvirate” with Pompey and
Marcus Crassus
 Needed their help to be elected consul
 Elected consul in 59 BCE
 Caesar became Governor of Gaul
 Gallic Wars (conquered modern-day France)
 Julia died
 Pompey remarried daughter of leading
optimates politician
 Pompey began to get jealous of Caesar’s fame
 Caesar asked Pompey to help him get elected
consul
 Pompey refused
 Senate (with Pompey’s support) exiled Caesar
for unlawful acts
 Caesar marched on Rome in 49 BCE
 Caesar vs. Pompey, but also populares vs. optimates
 The Senate was with Pompey
 Plebeian Assembly, businessmen, and most of the
Army were with Caesar
 Caesar defeated Pompey at the Battle of Pharsales in
48 BCE
 Pompey fled to Egypt
 Egyptian ruler (Cleopatra’s bro) murdered Pompey
and pickled his head in a jar in order to win favor
with Caesar
 Caesar was not pleased
 Caesar defeated other optimates leaders in Spain,
Syria, and North Africa
 Rome was such a mess that no elections could be held
 Caesar appointed Dictator by what remained of the
Senate
 Refused crown twice
 Caesar’s reforms
 Made the Senate less exclusive
 Major public works projects
 Reduced urban overcrowding by creating Roman
colonies in the provinces
 Extended Roman citizenship to provincial elites and
intellectuals
 Julian calendar
 He also found time to conquer Egypt and father a child
with Cleopatra
 Intended to march on the Parthian Empire in the east as
well
 Caesar assassinated in the Senate House
 60-80 senators were responsible (including Caesar’s “good”
friend Brutus)
 Called themselves the “Liberators”
 They were afraid that Caesar wanted to be king
 Wore purple
 Put his face on coins
 Named a month after himself
 Wanted to return the Republic to the good old days
 Had no plan to actually re-institute it
 Did not realize how popular Caesar and his reforms were
with the people
 Liberators only held power for a short while
 Caesar’s nephews Gaius Octavius and Marcus Antonius
opposed them and swore revenge