JULIUS CAESAR: THE MAN, THE MYTH, AND THE TRUTH

What was his childhood like? Caesar had many advantages as a child. His family was of the old patrician class of Rome and they claimed to be descendants of both Aeneas and Romulus, the early heroes and founders of Rome. Gaius Julius Caesar was born in 100 BCE. AENEAS ROMULUS

Gaius (Caesar’s real name) was given a first-class education in both Greek and Latin and his family had prestige (but not wealth) in Roman society. Julius Caesar told people that he spoke better Greek than Latin and he probably did. This would come in handy as he moved throughout the Roman world.

As a young man Julius was too often unsuccessful and unhappy: he married a woman he did not love for her money and family influence, he was given positions of power which he did not deserve or earn, and he lost a lot of money in failed business ventures. It would have been hard to predict glory for him based on his early life.

There were two defining moments in Caesar’s adult life (ages 25-32) that changed him….

On his way to Greece in 75 BCE, Caesar was kidnapped by the famous and feared Cilician pirates. He told the pirates that they should either kill him or ask for a higher ransom, because when he was free he would return and kill them all. The pirates laughed. After the ransom was paid and Caesar was freed, he raised a fleet, returned to the pirates lair, and captured them all. He had them crucified just as he had promised to do when their prisoner!

The second defining moment….. While serving as governor in Spain at age 32, Caesar visited a statue of Alexander the Great:

Upon viewing this statue, Caesar fell to his knees, weeping. When asked what was wrong, Caesar sighed, and said that by the time Alexander was his (Caesar's) age, Alexander had conquered the whole world. All Caesar had done was marry a rich woman, squandered her and his family’s immense wealth, and been appointed in a position because Roman corruption and family connections.

Caesar decided to change….. Gaius Julius Caesar returned to Rome. He married again, borrowed money from new wealthy supporters, and began to pursue a career in politics. One way he did that was by giving speeches to the poorer Romans and sponsoring expensive games and spectacles for the masses.

Things started to go Caesar’s way and he became a political power….

All Julius Caesar needed now was......AN ARMY

Caesar was given command of a Roman legion in south Gaul (France) when he was 41

From BC Julius Caesar led his army all over France, Belgium and even into England. He conquered the entire land of Gaul and all its warrior tribes. EUROPE TODAYCAESAR’S CONQUESTS IN EUROPE

How did Caesar explain his success as a military leader and conqueror? With these simple words: “I came, I saw, I conquered”

But it certainly was more than that.. Julius Caesar was a tactical genius and a brilliant general. He knew how to use his Roman army to defeat every opponent. He was unmerciful in his punishment of the enemies of Rome. It is estimated that he killed over TWO MILLION people in Gaul (France) during his conquests there.

That makes him a mass murderer as well as a military genius. No better than Adolf Hitler.

Julius Caesar was also an author and spread his fame using the pen. He even wrote down his exploits in a book that you can still read today. As reports of his victories and his book reached Rome, all of Rome sang praises to Caesar!

But there was a problem… Caesar was not the favorite of all the rich and powerful in Rome. They preferred Pompey, Caesar’s former friend and now rival:

In 49 BC, the Roman Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army and enter Rome as a private citizen or they would declare him an “enemy of the state.” Caesar responded by leading 5000 of his troops across the Rubicon and into Rome, starting a civil war.

Caesar destroyed his rival Pompey and had himself appointed dictator for life Pompey fled to Egypt and Caesar followed him. The Egyptians presented Caesar with Pompey’s severed head when he arrived. The fight was over!

During his stay in Egypt Julius Caesar met and fell in love with Cleopatra, the beautiful co-ruler of the country. They had a child together and Caesar took them both back to Rome.

Caesar became famous for a quote he made which was finally about to come true. He was asked his understanding of the best way to die. He answered: “Which death is preferable to every other? The unexpected.”

Many of the Senators of Rome thought Caesar was a dangerous man who was living and ruling like a god. They thought he wanted to be a king, and they did not believe in kings.

Even though Caesar refused the crown, a band of rich men led by Brutus and Cassius stabbed Caesar to death during a senate meeting on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 BC.

It isn’t an impressive site today, but you can still visit the spot of Caesar’s murder in Rome today. He was 55 years old.

What conclusions can we make about Julius Caesar?

First the good things he did: He increased the territory and power of Rome. He made necessary reforms in the corrupt Roman government. He created the solar calendar that we still use today in place of the lunar. He had a magnetic personality and many talents: great politician, military commander, writer, astronomer, and fantastic speaking skills. He was intelligent, brave, and loved adventure.

But he did some terrible things as well: He not only killed two million Gauls, but he ruthlessly eliminated his political rivals through murder. He led his army in civil war against the Roman state and defeated it. He pretended to like the common people when in fact he only wanted to use them. He kept many mistresses and was not faithful to his wife. He had himself chosen dictator for life against all Roman principles.

What Do Most Historians Think? They believe that Julius Caesar was a arrogant opportunist who lived by the sword and……….. rightfully died by the sword. He got what he deserved and what he had given others: death.