Gaius Julius CaesarGaius Julius CaesarWho is this guy?Who is this guy?

Who was Julius Caesar?Who was Julius Caesar?

►The most powerful man The most powerful man in Romein Rome

►An accomplished scholar An accomplished scholar and writerand writer

►A gifted statesmanA gifted statesman►A military strategistA military strategist►A soldier of remarkable A soldier of remarkable

abilityability

Early LifeEarly Life

►100 BC: Born on the 100 BC: Born on the 1313thth of Quintilis (July) of Quintilis (July) Had many relatives with Had many relatives with

government influencegovernment influence Relatives got him some Relatives got him some

important assignments in important assignments in his youthhis youth

Military ManMilitary Man

►80 BC: Caesar honored for bravery in 80 BC: Caesar honored for bravery in battlebattle Captured by pirates while travelingCaptured by pirates while traveling Relatives paid for his ransom & he was Relatives paid for his ransom & he was

releasedreleased Caesar recruited his own troopsCaesar recruited his own troops

►Captured the pirates Captured the pirates ►Had the pirates executedHad the pirates executed

►74 BC: Participated in war against 74 BC: Participated in war against Mithradates VIMithradates VI Held a series of political offices afterwardsHeld a series of political offices afterwards

A Roman ConsulA Roman Consul

►Became a consul (one of two) in 59 BCBecame a consul (one of two) in 59 BC►60 BC: Formed an alliance with 60 BC: Formed an alliance with

Pompey and Crassus to rule Rome—Pompey and Crassus to rule Rome—Called the “First Triumvirate”Called the “First Triumvirate”

►49 BC: Crassus died49 BC: Crassus died Pompey controlled Southern Pompey controlled Southern

Italy and RomeItaly and Rome Caesar controlled the Caesar controlled the

North of ItalyNorth of Italy

ConflictConflict

►Relations between Pompey and Caesar Relations between Pompey and Caesar deteriorate after Crassus dieddeteriorate after Crassus died Caesar appointed Dictator of RomeCaesar appointed Dictator of Rome Crossed the Rubicon, river that divided ItalyCrossed the Rubicon, river that divided Italy Civil War beginsCivil War begins

►48 BC: Caesar defeats Pompey at 48 BC: Caesar defeats Pompey at PharsalusPharsalus Pompey is later murdered in EgyptPompey is later murdered in Egypt Caesar reappointed Dictator of RomeCaesar reappointed Dictator of Rome

The Roman DictatorThe Roman Dictator

► 48 BC: Cleopatra, Queen of 48 BC: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, gives birth to Egypt, gives birth to Caesar’s son, CaesarionCaesar’s son, Caesarion

► 46 BC: Caesar reappointed 46 BC: Caesar reappointed as Dictatoras Dictator

► 44 BC: Caesar named 44 BC: Caesar named Dictator for LifeDictator for Life

► 44 BC: Caesar assassinated 44 BC: Caesar assassinated by conspirators on the 15by conspirators on the 15thth of March (“The Ides of of March (“The Ides of March”)March”)

Caesar as a PersonCaesar as a Person►Caesar wanted to win the favor of the Caesar wanted to win the favor of the

peoplepeople►Threw lavish parties for influential Threw lavish parties for influential

peoplepeople►His military prowess made him His military prowess made him

popularpopular

Mr. Nice Guy?Mr. Nice Guy?

► Felt he was the one to Felt he was the one to make a change in the make a change in the existing, corrupt existing, corrupt governmentgovernment

► Sometimes resorted to Sometimes resorted to political bullyingpolitical bullying

► Increasingly used physical Increasingly used physical intimidation and violenceintimidation and violence

► Said to have a short fuse Said to have a short fuse and disliked people who and disliked people who disagreed with him.disagreed with him.

Earliest Biographer said he…Earliest Biographer said he…

► Was an imposing, energetic Was an imposing, energetic manman

► Had a magnetic personalityHad a magnetic personality► Had a remarkably alert mindHad a remarkably alert mind► Was tall and good-looking, Was tall and good-looking,

liked to dress wellliked to dress well► Didn’t like to show weaknessDidn’t like to show weakness

Premature baldnessPremature baldness MigrainesMigraines Epileptic siezuresEpileptic siezures

TriviaTrivia► His life was brief, just 56 yearsHis life was brief, just 56 years► In 85 BC, when Caesar was just sixteen, he became In 85 BC, when Caesar was just sixteen, he became

the head of the family when his father died suddenly the head of the family when his father died suddenly while putting on his shoes one morning, without any while putting on his shoes one morning, without any apparent cause. apparent cause.

► Caesar and Cleopatra were romantically involved for Caesar and Cleopatra were romantically involved for 14 years but could not marry, because she was 14 years but could not marry, because she was Queen of Egypt and under Roman law, marriage was Queen of Egypt and under Roman law, marriage was only allowed between two Roman citizens.only allowed between two Roman citizens.

► His reign of Rome was just five years, from 49 BC to His reign of Rome was just five years, from 49 BC to 44 BC44 BC

► Caesar is considered to be one of the greatest Caesar is considered to be one of the greatest military strategists and tacticians in history, along military strategists and tacticians in history, along with Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, with Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, General George S. Patton, General George General George S. Patton, General George Washington, and Field Marshall Erich von Manstein. Washington, and Field Marshall Erich von Manstein.