JULIUS CAESAR
VENI, VIDI, VINCIT
I CAME, I SAW, I CONQUERED
EARLY LIFE
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Gāius Jūlius Caesar was born on July 12
or July 13, 100 BCE into a Patrician family.
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.
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Early life
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Encounter with “The Great”
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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
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.
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The first triumvirate
Pompey
Caesar
Crassus
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.
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Marcus Licinius Crass or Crassus was a
former consul and a very wealthy
individual.
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.
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The Gallic Wars
Caesar became governor of Transalpine
Gaul and Illyria.
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Gallic Wars (continued)
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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.
And then there were two
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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.
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.
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Iacta alea est – “The die is cast”
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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.
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.
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The love affair
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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.
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.
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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.
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Caesar in power (continued)
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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.
The conspiracy begins.
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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.
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)
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