Young Caesar 100BCE – 60BCE

Career of Caesar till his first consulship in 59BCE: Born 100BC to a down-on-their-luck Patrician family tracing themselves back to Aeneas/Venus from the subura (poor part of town). Identified himself with the poor neighbours Important influences –Aunt Julia (married to Marius – how the Julian’s got funds again to become ‘somebodies’) –mother Aurelia made Flamin dialis (Priest of jupiter) at 16 –forbade to leave Rome, riding a horse, seeing a dead body, wear knots. –Married to Cinna’s daughter (Cinna – Romes 2 nd most important politician at the time, and enemy of Sulla) –Life appointment but Sulla nullified it when he returned after Mithridates war –he didn’t want to give the Julii (related to Marius & Cinna) any power he demanded Caesar divorce his wife Cornelia Cinna – he refused and fled into the countryside finally after intersession on his behalf Sulla lifted his proscription and Caesar returned to Rome at age 20 he got an army post in Asia –won a civic crown at war of Mytelene (Asia Minor) wore the crown on occasions from then on, and annoyed –while on official business lingered too long in Bithynia with King Nicomedes giving rise to scandal that followed him from then on “Queen of Bithynia” When he returned he pursued a legal career (like Cicero) –Without Cicero’s success as he took underdog cases where he couldn’t fight bribes But his eloquence was heard, & the poor Romans knew he was on their side. Arranged to learn Rhetoric in Rhodes but was captured by pirates on the way –Annoyed they only ransomed him for 20 talents, said he’d fetch at least 50 –Caesar sent for the money, and for 40 days showed no fear of them and joked he’d return & crucify them when he was ransomed, Which he did when he was released (cutting their throats first). Elected military tribune, (his first elected office) and appointed to another priest hood –May have fought with Crassus against Sparticus at this time.

69 elected Quaester & Aunt Julia died –as family head he orated her funeral, and brought out the family mask of Marius whose likeness had been banned since Sulla over 10 yrs ago. reminded Rome of the Marius hero – friend of common people also his wife Cornelia suddenly died –Delivered her funeral oration and won public support and sympathy for his obvious love Left for his tribunate to Spain where he impressed with his honesty, firmness & fairness. –Limited the amount that equite tax collectors could take (but still allowed them some profit as he’d need them fro loans in the future.) Began a reputation for wise legal decision typical of his career. After his term ended he came home through south Gaul, building a client base with good administrative, legal, work. Married the granddaughter of Sulla when he returned home –A clever alliance to the patricians to balance his wooing the Plebians Elected Aedile and spent (borrowed) a fortune for the spectacular games & civic buildings he put on for the people of Rome. –Began to use Crassus for loans (& Crassus used him for charisma) 63BC (year of Catiline conspiracy) he stood for the post of high priest - Pontifex Maximus –bribed the key electors –lifetime appointment (but not fulltime) official residence in heart of Rome other monetary advantages 62BC, elected Praetor (next step consul) –allied to Pompey (had already supported in the senate Pompey’s imperium against the pirates) knew he needed Pompey for his political ambitions in the future got Governorship of further Spain – great opportunity to make his name in government, gain wealth etc –Caesar fought a war against Spain’s hill tribes and got their silver mines, a fortune for himself & Rome, and more territory for Rome, and entitlement for a Triumph 60BCE he returned wanting a Triumph & to stand for consul in 59 (but had to forgo the triumph –To stand for consul he had to be in Rome by the deadline, but to enter the city would mean he would lose his triumph Cato, & other optimate senators afraid of his rising power filibustered the last day to avoid letting his triumph be rescheduled. Hoping he’d go for the triumph and leave the consul for next year they were shocked he choose to forgo his possible once-in- a-lifetime triumph He’d showed himself a brilliant commander, a shrewd politician, making powerful friends & enemies.