100 - 44 BC

• born in Rome on July 12 or 13, 100BC
• only son of L. Iulius Caesar & Aurelia
– father died 85BC
• epileptic
• Gens Iulia
– patrician
– not rich
• Suburra residence
– not particularly influential
• by 100BC patrician status no longer provided political advantage
– Aunt Julia married to C. Marius ( novus homo )

– Populares
• a faction of the aristocracy
• inclined toward getting legislation ratified directly through the popular assemblies
• favored extension of citizenship
– Optimates
• a faction of the aristocracy
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• believed everything should be ratified in the Senate
• viewed the populares as revolutionaries
– opposed novi homines
» esp. successful military generals like Marius

• Patrician
• Senatorial (Plebeian)
• Equites (Plebeian)
• Property Owners
(Plebeian)
• Capite Censi (Plebeian)

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Property Requirements
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• ≈ 16 asses = 4 ƒ = 1 denarius
• ƒ1,000,000 for Senatorial
• ƒ400,000 for Equites
• ƒ3,000 for 4th class

• C. Marius
– finished Jugurthine war in N. Africa (104)
– defeated Germanic Teutones (102) and Cimbri (101)
– helped put down revolt of Saturninus (99)
• 6th consulship
• Loss of influence
• Caesar’s father elected praetor (92)
• Social Wars (91-88)
• L. Cornelius Sulla
– elected consul 88BC
– command of Mithradatic War
– marched on Rome
– 83 returns to Rome after war’s conclusion

83 nominated for Flamen Dialis breaks long standing engagement to Cossutia (wealthy equestrian) marries Cornelia, daughter of Cinna (patrician)
82 proscribed by Sulla
Stripped of inheritance, wife’s dowry, priesthood
Refused to divorce Cornelia went into hiding family intercession gained pardon military service in Asia

81-79 Bithynia
78 Returns to Rome
Distinguishes himself as an orator in law courts
75 Rhodes for oratorical/philosophical training
Kidnapped by Pirates
73 Asia Minor (Lucullus)
69 Laudatio for Aunt Julia
Cornelia dies quaestor Spain (Andalusia)
Gades statue of Alexander
Cisalpine route home

• 67 marries Pompeia
• 65 curule aedile
• supported Lex Gabinia & Lex Manilia
• Lavish public games
• Restored statues of Marius to forum
• 63 Catilinarian conspiracy
(popularis) pontifex maximus
• Deeply in debt
• 62 praetor
• Bona Dea incident
• 61 Governorship of Hispania Ulterior
• successful campaign
• voted triumph by Senate
• standing for consulship in absentia blocked by Cato

• Pompey
• Crassus
• Caesar

• 59 Caesar consul
– Land reform
– Provincial governor misconduct
– Pompey marries Julia
– Caesar marries
Calpurnia

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• 58 governor of Cisalpine Gaul & Illyria
– 5 year command
• Transalpine Gaul added after sudden death of gov-desg
– 58 BC Helvetii defeated (Switzerland)
– 57 BC Belgae & Nervii
– 56 BC Veneti
– 55 and 54 BC expeditions to Britain
– 52 BC Battle of Alesia
• defeated union of Gauls led by Vercingetorix
– whole campaign resulted in 800 conquered cities, 300 subdued tribes, one million men sold to slavery and another three million dead in battle fields.

• his own accounts of campaigns
– 7 books
• written at the end of each year
• sent to the Senate in Rome
• B.G.
vi account of 53BC
• polished, clear Latin
– simple and elegant style
– 3rd person narrative
• not history, but raw material for history

• 55 Pompey & Crassus consuls
– Command in Gaul extended 5 more years
• 54 Deaths of Julia & Aurelia
• 53 Parthian expedition
• 49 Senate votes to rescind command
– Caesar crossing the Rubicon marches on Rome

• 48 Pharsalus
• 48-7 Alexandria
• Cleopatra
• 47 Zela veni vidi vici
• 46 Thapsus
• 45 Munda

• 46 returns to Rome
– Reforms
• Colonization
• Census
• Corn
• Citizenship
• Calendar
• Enlarged Senate
• Debt reform
• Public works
• 44 Ides of March