c. ivlivs caesar 100 - 44 bc. birth : 100bc born in rome on july 12 or 13, 100bc only son of l....

C. IVLIVS CAESAR

100 - 44 BC

Birth : 100BC• 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 v. optimates

– 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 • believed everything should be ratified in the Senate

• viewed the populares as revolutionaries– opposed novi homines

» esp. successful military generals like Marius

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Roman Citizen Classes

• Patrician• Senatorial (Plebeian)

• Equites (Plebeian)• Property Owners (Plebeian)

• Capite Censi (Plebeian)

Money Property Requirements

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




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populares v. optimates • 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

Early Life83 nominated for Flamen Dialis

breaks long standing engagement to Cossutia (wealthy equestrian)

marries Cornelia, daughter of Cinna (patrician)

82 proscribed by SullaStripped of inheritance, wife’s dowry, priesthoodRefused to divorce Cornelia

went into hidingfamily intercession gained pardonmilitary service in Asia

Early Career81-79 Bithynia78 Returns to Rome

Distinguishes himself as an orator in law courts

75 Rhodes for oratorical/philosophical trainingKidnapped by Pirates

73 Asia Minor (Lucullus)69 Laudatio for Aunt Julia

Cornelia dies

quaestor Spain (Andalusia) Gades statue of AlexanderCisalpine route home

Rising Star• 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

Triumvirate- 60 BC

• Pompey• Crassus• Caesar

Consulship

• 59 Caesar consul– Land reform– Provincial governor misconduct

– Pompey marries Julia

– Caesar marries Calpurnia

Conquest of Gaul• 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.

– Gaul remained loyal to Rome until AD476



Commentarii de Bello Gallico

• 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

Crisis

• 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

Civil War

• 48 Pharsalus • 48-7 Alexandria

• Cleopatra

• 47 Zela veni vidi vici• 46 Thapsus• 45 Munda

Dictator Perpetuus

• 46 returns to Rome – Reforms

• Colonization• Census• Corn• Citizenship• Calendar• Enlarged Senate• Debt reform• Public works

• 44 Ides of March

c. ivlivs caesar 100 - 44 bc. birth : 100bc born in rome on july 12 or 13, 100bc only son of l....

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