JULIUS CAESARWorld History

September 25, 2013

Who is Julius Caesar? Julius Caesar was born in

Rome on July 13, 100 B.C.E. His mother Aurelia and his

father Julius came from a noble background When Caesar was 10 years

old, his aunt married a very wealthy noble that increased their family’s social status

His uncle started out in the army and gained notoriety and respect over time in politics He was elected to the consul

in 108 B.C.E. Caesar learned about politics

from his uncle

Caesar’s Rise to Power After studying in politics under

his uncle, Caesar joined the Roman military guarding Rome’s territory He won many early battles that

gave him a tough reputation Caesar moved up on the

political ladder He took job after job within the

military He was known as a great public

speaker who wasn’t afraid to voice his opinions

He was elected Consul in 59 B.C.E. with the help of his friend Pompey In return, he promised to help

give Pompey political power

The First Triumvirate Triumvirate = three men

Refers to a political coalition In Ancient Rome, the First Triumvirate was an alliance between

three political powers Julius Caesar Marcus Licinius Crassus Pompey

As Rome expanded, they were constantly at war The need for a dictator grew larger

The traditional idea for a dictator vanished and many men in power became tyrannical

Sulla served as dictator, Pompey helped him stifle civil war in Rome After Sulla’s death, Pompey needed Crassus and Caesar to make up

where he lacked The three men aligned themselves with one another

Two were enemies Two were only united by marriage in their family

Caesar vs. Pompey Caesar and Pompey, once

friends, battled for power Pompey was backed by the

senate Caesar was ordered to give up his

conquest and return to Rome Caesar refused and civil war broke

out

Pompey and Caesar battled for the land and power of the Roman territory

In 48 B.C.E. Caesar and his armies brought down Pompey’s army Pompey was forced to flee to

Egypt The Egyptians murdered

Pompey and presented Caesar with his head

Cleopatra Became the queen of Egypt in 51

B.C.E. at the age of 18 Co-ruled with her father for 4 years

After his death she was forced to marry her younger brother

Her father was a friend of Rome while he was Pharaoh Caesar had known Cleopatra when she

was a young girl When Caesar became dictator she was

brought to him wrapped in a rug, and seduced him Caesar helped her restore herself as sole

ruler of Egypt She and Caesar became lovers and

had a son, Caesarion He was Caesar’s only son She and her son lived in a palace that

Caesar built for them until his assassination Because they were not married, Romans

would not acknowledge him as Caesar’s son and heir to the throne

Caesar’s Accomplishments

Julius Caesar led many military conquests He conquered Gaul

Modern day France and Belgium He was known for saying “Veni,

Vidi, Vici” “I came, I saw, I conquered”

When he became dictator he focused on the rights of the plebeians Gave land to the poor for

farming Use government money to pay

for food for the plebeians Gave pay to the Roman army

Perfected the Julian Calendar Created in 45 B.C.E.

Based on astronomy

Assassination As Caesar continued to gain

control throughout Rome, he became a threat The Senate was afraid he would

make himself king He was murdered by a group of

40 Roman senators called Liberators They stabbed him to death in

the Theatre of Pompey Took place on the Ides of March

(March 15) 44 B.C.E. It is believed that his last words

were… “Et tu, Brute?” Means “You too, Brutus?”

Brutus was one of his closes friends and most trusted companions