Roman general and ruler Julius Caesar.

Julius Caesar

(c. 100 BC - 44 BC)

Born into one of the original patrician families of Rome around 100 bc, Julius Caesar married a daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna in 84 bc, served in the military two years later, acted as a prosecuting advocate in 78 bc, and was on his way to Rhodes when he was captured by pirates; he paid his ransom and crucified his captors. Caesar was elected consul in 58 bc and over the next eight years subjugated all of Gaul to Roman rule. Described by Suetonius as “unbridled and extravagant in his intrigues,” Caesar was known to his soldiers as “every man’s woman and every woman’s man.” An early architect of imperial Rome, he was honored at the funeral services after his murder as the “father of his country.” He became dictator in 46 bc and was assassinated two years later.

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Miscellany

The contentious relationship of the two Roman consuls of 59 bc, Julius Caesar and Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, culminated in the former arranging to have the latter attacked in the Forum in order to prevent him from voting against an agrarian law Caesar supported. The next day Bibulus tried to censure Caesar formally but found no support among the senators. “From that time until the end of his term,” wrote Suetonius, Bibulus “did not leave his house, but merely issued proclamations announcing adverse omens.”

Miscellany

When Julius Caesar learned that an all-female religious ceremony at his home had been infiltrated by the politician Clodius Pulcher in drag, Caesar divorced his wife Pompeia. A lawyer asked why he had responded so harshly, considering that Pompeia had not done any wrong herself. “Because,” Caesar responded, “I thought my wife ought not even to be under suspicion.”

Voices In Time

c. 51 BC | Rome

When in Gaul

Julius Caesar on harsh Gallic child rearing techniques.More

Issues Contributed