From 100 BC to 44 BC, Caesar gained admiration and influence through various political roles such as; Pontifex, Governor, and Praetor. As a result of the power and admiration he gathered in these roles, Julius Caesar ultimately became dictator of Rome allowing him to make a number of important changes to the Roman Empire. Moreover, through conquests of countries such as Gaul his influence spread across the continent. Caesar played a vital role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, which ultimately led to his assassination. Julius Caesar changed Rome through his rise to political power, conquest, feuds and assassination.
Julius Caesar accumulated his power over the course of his life through the various positions he held in Rome, which allowed him to make changes to the Roman Republic. For example, in 69 B.C. Julius Caesar was elected military tribune, after displaying bravery during his kidnapping by pirates while crossing the Aegean Sea. The military tribune position was the first step in having a political career at the time and necessary to begin developing his influence.
Next, Julius Caesar took on the role of Quaestor in 69 B.C. Throughout this position Julius 1
Caesar both supervised the financial affairs of the state and conducted audits. Following his time as a Quaestor Julius Caesar became Pontifex Maximus despite the public’s surprise due to his young age . The Pontifex Maximus was an important step in Caesar’s rise to power as it was the 2 position of high priest in the College of Pontiffs and the most important position in the ancient
!1 Roman church. In fact Caesar won this position against two powerful senators with greater experience thereby demonstrating his increased ...
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"Julius Caesar (100BC - 44BC)." BBC News. Accessed May 04, 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ 3 history/historic_figures/caesar_julius.shtml. "Julius Caesar (100BC - 44BC)." BBC News. Accessed May 04, 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ 4 history/historic_figures/caesar_julius.shtml. The Roman Empire: In the First Century." PBS. Accessed May 06, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/ 5 empires/romans/empire/julius_caesar.html. "The Roman Empire: In the First Century." PBS. Accessed May 06, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/ 6 empires/romans/empire/julius_caesar.html "Pompey the Great Assassinated." History.com. Accessed May 10, 2014. 7 http:www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pompey-the-great-assassinated. "The Ides of March: Julius Caesar Is Murdered." History.com. Accessed May 09, 2014. http:// 8
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During the Republic, the people of Rome had a major disinclination towards any sort of Royalty, which is why when Caesar attempted to lead undemocratically indefinitely, he disrupted one of the core stances that romans shared communally. Caesar over indulged in power when he retitled himself as ‘dictator in perpetuo’. “And as Caesar was coming down from Alba into the city they ventured to hail him as king. But at this the people were confounded, and Caesar, disturbed in mind, said that his name was not King, but Caesar, and seeing that his words produced an universal silence, he passed on with no very cheerful or contented looks…..But the most open and deadly hatred towards him was produced by his passion for the royal power.” Caesars egotism and self-importance made him uncherished by members of the senate. “Everybody knew that Caesar's ego would never allow him to play second fiddle to another senator, and it was equally well-known that another famous military leader, Pompey the Great, had similar ambitions. In January 49, more or less at...
Julius Caesar was born on July 12 , 100 BC and died on March 15, 44 BC. Caesar was born into a patrician family. This meant that they were noble and were wealthier than the plebeians, who were the common people. (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) “H is family traced their lineage back to the goddess Venus.” (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) His uncles and cousins were all consuls and this put Caesar in a place of more power, but higher expectations. His parents were Gaius Caesar, his father, who died when Caesar was 16, and Aurelia, his mother, who greatly influenced his life. (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School ) “Caesar’s political ambitions developed under these circumstances. From the start he probably aimed at winning office, not just for personal glory but also to achieve the power to save Rome from decay.” (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) On ce he was travelling to Rhodes and was captured by pirates. His ransom was paid, and then Caesar hunted his captors down and had them crucified. (Julius Caesar -- Britannica School) Then he began to climb the ladder of power in the Roman government and eventually was elected as a consul. While consul, he was sent to govern the province of Gaul and set out to conquer the entirety of Gaul. As this was going on, the senate decided that Caesar had to be put out of power, because there was too much risk of an uprising led by Caesar. ...
The triumvirate gained power that was intended to be in the hands of the Senate and Roman Assembly. This paved way to a situation in which a single man could sweep up the political power that previously belonged to the entire Senate. Julius Caesar would use this tactic, following his campaigns of Gaul and Britton, to take sole dictatorship over Rome. While there were previous cases in which individuals had been appointed as dictators, usually by the Senate, to serve for six months in a time of war, Caesar was appointed dictator three separate times.. After declining his first dictatorship, Caesar was awarded two more reigns as dictator for one and ten years, respectively.
...for the Romans. Besides that, he conquered Gaul (modern France) and defeated his rival Pompey in the civil war of 49-45 BC. By doing so, he managed to bring peace to Rome and also expanded Rome's provinces. Caesar proved himself as a potential leader, whom the Romans agreed after the conspirators killed him.
It was clear to the people of Rome that the concerns of the common man were now of little importance to the aristocrats that held positions in government. Additionally, new policies paid the army with gold and land instead of it being a public service for the good of the Roman Republic leading soldiers to be more loyal to the generals than the republic itself. Julius Caesar, a successful military leader, utilized the control he had over his soldiers to rise to prominence in Roman politics in 78-60 BCE. Caesar joined the 1st triumvirate, a mutual split of power between himself, Pompey, and Crassus for control of Rome, but after the death of Crassus and the defeat of Pompey in Northern Italy was the only remaining leader. Caesar then focused on social and economic reforms that addressed the class inequality that resulted from the aftermath of the Gracchi brothers, subsequently making him very popular with the commoners. Caesar most likely saw his popularity as an advantage, knowing that having the people of Rome on his side would make it much more difficult for him to be stripped of his title. Unfortunately, popularity would prove not to be enough to keep Caesar in office. Because Caesar’s initiative was focused around the concerns of the common man, some of Caesar’s senate did not approve of the way he was utilizing his power. In 44 BCE, Julius Caesar would be stabbed to death while in a senate meeting. Upon hearing that Caesar had fallen to the aristocrats, his followers, mostly commoners, were enraged and caused the Roman Republic to go into a state of disarray once
His first contribution to Rome’s downfall came in the form of the formation of the First Triumvirate, which enabled him to illegally take Gaul, and further undermine the senate. Caesar made his way to power by gaining important alliances. Unlike Marius, he was born into a fairly important high class family in Rome. The First Triumvirate, formed in 60BC was composed of himself, Crassus and Pompey. Crassus was the wealthiest man in Rome at the time, and Pompey had just been awarded his third Triumph. The mere existence of such a group undermined the ideals of the senate, as it worked on the basis that no one man could have enough power to do anything without the support of the senators. The Triumvirs worked to achieve their own individual goals, whilst simultaneously supporting one another. Caesar was consul in 59BC, with Marcus Bibulus, and made the sheer influence of the three men public with the introduction of his land redistribution law. Crassus and Pompey supported this proposal, and Pompey filled Rome with his soldiers. Bibulus tried to void the law but Caesar’s armed supporters drove him out of the senate and forced him into house arrest. This meant that Caesar essentially had a sole consulship and gained enough power and support to overturn his proposed governorship and allowed himself
Philosopher A: In the Republic, the Senate was the primary branch of the Roman government and held the majority of the political power. It controlled funds, administration and foreign policy, and had significant influence of the everyday life of the Roman people. When Augustus came to power, he kept the Senate and they retained their legal position. The Emperor’s rule was legitimized by the senate as he needed the senators experience to serve as administrators, diplomats and generals. Although technically the most authoritative individual in Rome, Augustus strived to embody Republican values. He wanted to relate and connect to all parts of society including Plebeians. Through generosity and less extravagance, Augustus achieved a connection with the common people.
With the problems starting with the dissolution of the first triumvirate and the actions of Julius Caesar, it seemed almost inevitable that the Republic would become an Empire. With the death of the true republican, Cicero, and many not remembering what the republic was like, giving power to the capable and honorable man seemed as if the best answer. Furthermore, if the Rome continue to remain a Republic the Senate could not have maintained the success or power that the Empire held. The ambition of one man made it easy to continue the growth whereas, many of the policies and disputes the country faced had face might have taken to long or complicated had the republic
Caesar was born into a traditional influential and respected family. It is this influence that he used to make his way to the top of the Roman leadership. His use in warfare and military conquests are legendary although he had at first concentrated in pursuing political actions. He won the first elections in his political career at the early forties. He was el...
Julius Caesar was a strong leader of the Romans who changed the course of the history for the Roman world decisively and irreversibly. With his courage and strength, he created a strong empire and guided the empire for almost 20 years. His life was short, but had many adventures. I will tell of some of this man’s remarkable life. He did many things, therefore, I will only discuss a few. His name, part of his reign, one of his greatest battles, and his death will be told.
For centuries, his family had played a role in politics and the military, so it was natural that he would one day be involved in the Roman government or army. At a young age, he ran for Pontifex Maximus ("chief priest") so he could enter other politics later in his life. " Caesar was a brilliant general, a clever engineer, and administrator of genius, and a leader who demanded and commanded loyalty. He also was a corrupt politician" (Dando-Collins 4). Caesar would go on to become a dictator, and his gain in power would corrupt him.
In 509 B.C. the Romans declared themselves a republic, free from rule of the Etruscan kings. (“The Rise of…”) From that point on, the Roman’s form of government would never include the title of “king”, in fear that a single person would gain absolute power. The republic included a dictator (in emergencies), the senate, two consuls, and several other positions. (Bishop) Although the goal of creating a republic was to have a government that represented the wishes of its people, the Roman senate consisted of men of wealth or power, leaving most of the plebeians, or common people, out of the picture. Many of the emperors’ policies strengthened the power of the government, and therefore weakened the power of the plebeians. By the end of Sulla’s rule in 78 B.C., grain prices had risen substantially and there was large gap between the rich and poor. (“The Rise of…”) When Julius Caesar took power, he initiated several reforms that were much needed at the time. Caesar spent large volumes of money on entertaining the citizens, while expanding citizenship to people of conquered lands and lessening the power of the senate. His policies threatened the method of income of senators and around 60 senators, in the name of saving the republic, murdered Julius Caesar at a senate hearing in 44 B.C. Civil war then erupted in Rome and lasted over a decade. At the end of the blood brawl, it was Octavian who emerged victorious; he would be the first Roman Emperor and would be known as Augustus. (Morey) Although the “Liberators” (Julius Caesar’s assassins), might not have realized it, the day that Julius Caesar died was the same day that the republic died; t...
Having crushed every one of his foes, Caesar was conceded a 10-year tyranny for reasons for reestablishing the republic. His answer was to reconstitute himself as a Roman type of Hellenistic celestial lord or ruler. Since 510 BC nonetheless, the Romans had prided themselves with having acquired their flexibility by removing their Etruscan King. The very word ruler, REX, was an abomination to the Republic attitude. Roman natives had a municipal obligation to stifle any endeavor at oppression however political death and could do as such with exemption. Albeit deliberately keeping away from the title "rex", Caesar endeavored to gather for himself all aspects of sacred power, serving in the meantime as despot, as diplomat, as Pontifex Maximus, and as Plebeian Tribune forever. In mid 44 BC he announced himself DICTATOR IN PERPETUO (really recorded on his coins). He was killed by a trick of around 60 odd representatives a couple of weeks after the fact. Now the point of reference of tenet by one man had been built up at Rome. The main inquiry remained which of his supporters would in all probability succeed him to this position. This ended up being his extraordinary fabulous nephew, C. Julius C. F. Caesar Octavianus, or
July 13, 100 B.C, marked a beginning of a new part in Roman history. This day marked the birth of the greatest political figure in Rome, Julius Caesar. Caesar’s rise throughout Rome’s political levels of Rome came fast and it was that many people in the Senate believed that Julius Caesar was becoming too powerful to quickly and that Caesar was becoming a threat for the Republic. Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome in July 100 BC. Rome was a Republic at this time. He was a statesman, Roman general, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. He played a significant role in the events that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and rise of the Roman Empire. He was a leader in a nation where the people were not involved in the government decision-making process. Thus, he had majority of the power in the Republic and was able to form a huge army. He was able to triumph, conquer new lands with the army at his grasp and command. As Caesar acquired more power over the years, som...