Gaius Julius Caesar

• 100-44 BC• Lesser-known patrician

family• His aunt married Gaius

Marius• He was a life-long

popularis

Populares and Optimates

Gaius Marius Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Marius and Sulla

• Marius was a self-made general• Sulla was a Cornelius, from a very old family• Their joint military successes made them

powerful• Their political views eventually made them

enemies• The problem came from economics

• In 82 BC, a series of vendettas against each faction escalated into widespread proscription.

• Caesar was almost killed, and fled Rome.• Marius died, and his party was decimated.• Caesar returned to Rome in 78, and gained

some political notoriety.• In 77, he was captured by pirates.

Caesar’s Rise

• By 63 BC, Caesar had moved up the cursus honorum and was elected Pontifex Maximus.

• He lacked the political clout to become consul.• He joined with Pompey and Crassus to solidify

his political influence and gain military experience.

• In 60 BC, they formed the First Triumvirate

The First Triumvirate

• Caesar won consul in 59, and those who feared the Triumvirs tried to shuffle him off in the next year.

• Pompey secured him a governor/propraetorship in Cisalpine Gaul