Dictator for Life

Part 7

In 46 B.C. Caesar returned to Rome with Cleopatra and their newborn son. declared himself dictator.

A Dictator is a ruler who has absolute power.

Earlier Roman dictators had been chosen for emergencies.

In 458 B.C., Cincinnatus, a citizen farmer, laid down his plow to lead the Roman army. His fellow citizens made him "dictator" or "highest ruler". 

According to legend, within 16 days he had defeated the neighboring tribe. But then Cincinnatus did something different which the Romans admired; he gave up being the highest ruler, and went back to his farm!

But when Caesar made himself dictator he planned to be the absolute ruler for life! Julius Caesar ended the republican system.

As absolute ruler, one of Julius Caesar's actions was to make the Roman calendar fit the seasons of the year. He added 3 months to the calendar. Because this was a good thing, the Senate named the month of July after him.

• As a dictator, Julius Caesar seemed to have little respect for the constitution (the Roman laws). 

• A Roman leader was supposed to share power with the senators. 

For example, he reorganized the government and lowered taxes. He created new colonies in distant lands and gave Roman people that land to farm.

He hired people to build temples and public buildings. He made citizens of many people in the colonies.