Which country did the Caesar rule? Who is Caesar? Guy Julius Caesar - ancient Roman statesman and politician, commander

One of the greatest statesmen and commanders in the history of mankind was Gaius Julius Caesar. During his reign, he included Britain, Germany and Gaul, in whose territory modern France and Belgium are located, into the Roman state. Under him, the principles of dictatorship were laid, which served as the foundation for. He also left behind a rich cultural heritage, not only as a historian and writer, but also as the author of immortal aphorisms: “I came, I saw, I conquered”, “Everyone is the blacksmith of his own destiny”, “The die is cast” and many others. His very name is firmly established in the languages of many countries. From the word "Caesar" came the German "Kaiser" and the Russian "Tsar". The month in which he was born, July, is named after him.

The beginning of the political struggle

Caesar's youth passed in an atmosphere of sharp struggle between political groups. Having fallen out of favor with the then-ruling dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Caesar had to leave for Asia Minor and serve his military service there, simultaneously performing diplomatic missions. The death of Sulla reopened Caesar's road to Rome. As a result of successful promotion through the political and military ladder, he became a consul. And in 60 BC. formed the first triumverate - a political union of Gnaeus Pompey and Mark Licinius Crassus.

Military victories

For the period from 58 to 54 BC. The troops of the Roman Republic, ruled by Julius Caesar, captured Gaul, Germany and Britain. But the conquered territories were restless, rebellions and uprisings broke out every now and then. Therefore, from 54 to 51 BC. had to constantly seize these lands again. Years of war significantly improved the financial condition of Caesar. He easily spent the wealth he had, giving gifts to his friends and supporters, and thereby gaining popularity. Caesar's influence on the army that fought under him was also very great.

Civil War

During the time that Caesar fought in Europe, the first triumverate managed to disintegrate. Crassus died in 53 BC, and Pompey became close to Caesar's eternal enemy - the Senate, which on January 1, 49 BC. decided to remove the powers of consul from Caesar. This day is considered the day of the beginning of the civil war. Here, too, Caesar was able to show himself as a skilled commander, and after two months of civil war, his opponents capitulated. Caesar became dictator for life.

Reign and death

During his reign, Caesar carried out a number of important reforms and was active in lawmaking. The Romans bowed to their ruler, but there were also dissatisfied ones. A group of senators did not like that Caesar actually became the sole ruler of Rome, and on March 15, 4 BC. the conspirators killed him right at the meeting of the Senate. The death of Caesar was followed by the death of the Roman Republic, on the ruins of which the great Roman Empire appeared, which Julius Caesar so dreamed of.

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As a military leader and politician. It was he who was the calendar reformer who created the Julian style.

There is no exact date of Caesar's birth. Scientists believe that this is approximately 100 BC, but the dating of Caesar's birth may vary by several years. The date of Julius' death is determined as March 15, 45 BC.

Julius Caesar belonged to a patrician family. After the dictator won his last victory in Spain in 45 BC, he began to receive unprecedented honors. His monuments began to be erected in temples and among the royal images. Caesar dressed only in boots and red vestments. He acquired the right to sit on a gilded throne and surrounded himself with a large honorary guard. The summer month of July is named after the great commander. On the columns of silver, the honors of the monarch are written in letters of gold. Julius had the right to autocratic appointment and removal from power of officials.

In history, the emperor is also known as the largest Roman writer. He became the author of two world-famous masterpieces about the Gallic and civil war. These works are examples of Latin prose.

Gaius Julius was truly a commander from God. He was determined and cautious at the same time. Endurance was characteristic of him, and he always acted ahead of his own army.

The life of Julius Caesar ended with an attempted assassination of the ruler, which led to death. Caesar became a victim of the conspirators. One of the main participants in the conspiracy was Brutus (a close friend of Caesar).

"Gunpowder Plot"

London in the early 17th century. Elizabeth I dies, and the Scottish king James I takes the throne. English Catholics hoped that, unlike his predecessor, who killed his mother, he would support their faith. However, James I remained faithful to the orders established by the previous ruler. And then the Catholics come up with the idea to get rid of the objectionable king. In 1605, a group of like-minded people came up with a grandiose plan that went down in history as the Gunpowder Plot.

The rebels decided to blow up the English Parliament with deputies from both chambers. Guy Fawkes, thanks to his military past, was entrusted with the most responsible role - to blow up barrels of gunpowder. The conspirators carefully prepared for the explosion, scheduled for November 5, 1605. To do this, a tunnel was dug in an abandoned basement under the parliament building. They were able to transport 36 barrels of gunpowder along the Thames and there they were. Gunpowder was purchased in Holland. The explosion was calculated to completely destroy the building, so the conspirators bought a whole ton of gunpowder.

However, the cunning plan could not be completed. One of the members of parliament received an anonymous message in which he was "advised" on November 5 not to appear at the next meeting. The lord gave the letter to the king, who ordered the whole building to be searched. As a result of the search in the basement, 36 powder kegs were found, as well as Guy Fawkes, who was preparing to light the fuse.

Under inhuman torture, the arsonist betrayed his accomplices. All of them were sentenced to a terrible and painful execution. First, the rebels were hanged, and then they were quartered while still half-dead. According to some reports, Guy Fawkes broke his neck during the hanging, and when his body was quartered, he was already dead.

Guy Fawkes effigy burning tradition

The political history of Caesar, his rise to power, victories over the Gauls and his rivals for power, are well known (for those who are interested in history, of course). But here is the personal life of the last and most famous dictator of Rome, most often remain "behind the brackets" of the biography of Caesar.
And it's true, how much do you know about Caesar's personal life? If yes, then you can read no further.
But most likely, apart from the love relationship between Caesar and Cleopatra, most even well-educated people will not be able to remember anything about this.

Therefore, I offer to the attention of all lovers of ancient history and high-quality literature a chapter from the book Michael Weller , which was not included in the final version of his book "Love and passion" (2014).

I must say right away that I have not verified the facts that M. Weller cites in his essay, and I cannot vouch for their accuracy. But I really liked the way they presented them. In addition, I liked the title, some of its absurdity (what does the ostrich have to do with it and what does it have to do with the chest of drawers, and even more so with Caesar?).
However, read on, I assure you, you will not regret it. (In the author's text, I did not change a single letter, although I wanted to critically comment on some fragments, but I restrained myself ... For now ...).

Sergei Vorobyov -

LIKE OSTRICH ON CHEST

Caesar was married three times, and, as the rumor goes, he had countless love affairs. It was suspected that not only with women, but this is most likely a slander.

1. COSSUTIA

Almost from childhood, Caesar was engaged to Cossuthia, the daughter of a wealthy horseman. They liked each other, and the union suited the parents. But the young man was ambitious and dreamed of glory. A great career began at the age of seventeen, when he was procured the position of Flamin Jupiter - the priest of the chief of the gods. And he could only be a patrician, connected by family ties only with patricians. And Caesar's personal life began with the fact that he broke off the engagement for the sake of a career. At seventeen, a step as decisive as natural. Tears of first love irrigate the initial stage of all great destinies...

2. CORNELIA ZINILLA

The energy of youth is so great that it molds soul desires and inclinations anew with amazing speed. The wounded soul of Caesar yearned for healing and found it in a new love. But the mind remained cold, cynical, weighed: the beloved was from a noble patrician family ... not everything is so simple.
Her father, Lucius Cornelius Cinna, was the first person in Rome (after the death of Marius and in the absence of Sulla, who fought at that time with Mithridates). The leader of the popular party, Cinna, consul for four consecutive terms, was immensely ambitious, intelligent, cunning and cruel. A civil war was smoldering in the country; the republic lived out its term.
The office of Flaminus Jupiter was a wedding gift to Caesar from his father-in-law. His own father had died two years earlier.
... Sulla returned to Rome with another victory and the intention to put things in order; Cinna was killed by her own rebellious soldiers; and this affected the young Caesar in such a way that the almighty Sulla ordered him to divorce the enemy's daughter. (Why, why? And Caesar was not guilty of anything, but the clan of the defeated enemy should be neutralized, limited in offspring and connections, separated from the influential Julius clan and deprived of a potentially strong leader).
And then our youngster rushes against the deadly force. He refuses to obey the command of the dictator! Well, Sulla's vertical of power was the shaft of the lictor axe. To begin with, Caesar is removed from his position as a flamingo and deprived of his ancestral state. Cornelia's dowry is being sequestered. It remains only to wait for spring in proscription. Every night the young spouses hide in a different place. But they sleep in each other's arms, and they have one future for two!
Numerous relatives prayed for the execution of the disobedient. Sulla spat: you and this guy will still have a sip of hot! ..
... And the proud boy leaves from sin away to Asia Minor. Enters service. He will return only after the death of Sulla. His beloved wife will bear him two daughters. And he will die in the second birth. Gaius Julius Caesar, quaestor and former military tribune, will deliver a farewell speech lamenting her love and dignity. They lived for fifteen years. He will no longer be comforted.

3. NIKOMEDES IV PHILOPATER

Praetor Mark Therm, in whose retinue the twenty-year-old Caesar served, seconded him to Bithynia, one of the subordinate kingdoms of Asia Minor, with an order for the passage of the fleet. According to many colleagues, Caesar lingered a bit long there at Nicomedes. The king received Caesar kindly. Which gave rise to jokes. Well, after some time, Caesar again went to Bithynia - already on his own initiative: under the pretext of shaking money from the debtor of his freedman client.
It must be borne in mind that Gaius Julius was good-looking: tall, slender, well-built, with an elongated masculine face and a firm chin. And besides, from childhood he was distinguished by extraordinary self-confidence and, at any convenient or inconvenient occasion, demonstrated his superiority over those around him. Add a biting wit to any occasion, and envy of this insolent youngster will be inevitable.
No evidence of Caesar's connection with Nicomedes has been preserved; in his entire life, Caesar was not noticed in bisexuality. Nycomedes was normally married. Since at that time the Romans disapproved of homosexuality, the corruption of Caesar by Nicomedes was spoken exclusively by his enemies.
But. A third of a century has passed. And in 46 BC. Returning from campaigns in Rome, Caesar celebrated his accumulated triumphs. As many as four in a month. And the first of them was Gallic. And the first cohort of the beloved legion followed the victor's chariot and sang soldier's ditties about the Nycomed bedding. Such was the tradition of mockery. So that the gods do not envy the happiness and greatness of a mortal.

4. POMPEIA SULLA

After a year and a half of widowhood, Caesar married the granddaughter of Sulla. And on her father's side, she was a relative of Gnaeus Pompey. The green-eyed red-haired beauty was twenty-two years old, her husband thirty-three, than not a happy marriage. Considering an arranged marriage happy. Pompey became the first man in Rome: he cleared the Mediterranean of pirates, received command of the Roman army in the Third Mithridatic War, ahead was a triumph, consulate and the name "Great".
They lived for six years, they had no children, Caesar spoke of his wife as a stupid spendthrift. And now, a disguised man entered the feast of the Good Goddess - the patroness of fertility and female virtue, which took place in the house of Pompeii Sulla. Which was strictly prohibited. Publius Clodius Pulcher had an intent on the morality of Pompeii. He was exposed and tried for sacrilege. But even before the trial, Caesar managed to get a divorce. The court asked: why, the wife is not to blame for anything? He famously answered: "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."
The point is that Caesar has already become the supreme pontiff - the lifelong chief of all the priests. Compliance with the law and the cult is above all!

5. CALPURNIA PIZONIS

Caesar married this beautiful plebeian at the age of forty. Caesar immediately makes her father a consul.
They didn't have children. Caesar cheated on her constantly. She didn't just love him, she idolized him. He always found understanding, sympathy, tenderness with her. On the last night before his death, he also spent the night in the women's part of the house, with her. Many testimonies have been preserved - they are cited by Suetonius, and Pliny, and Appian - that that night she dreamed of the murder of her husband, and she begged him not to go to the senate.
After the death of Caesar, her trace in history is erased.

6. THE HUSBAND OF MANY WIVES

Caesar was no more womanly than Henry IV, Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon or John F. Kennedy. But behind the antiquity of times, his passion takes on an ancient scale. This has its own strict logic: the mighty energy of a great man affects everything.
It is also usual that a young man, who at first burns with tender and chaste love, endures blows and disappointments, coarsens his soul - and the same powerful passion becomes selfish, thoughtless and direct. The first flower withered - and the thirsty warrior plucks all the flowers in his path, leaving them then to their own fate. In short, Caesar, who came into power, was still a sex terrorist.
He was the lover of many noble maidens and matrons. Even Tertulla, the wife of Mark Crassus; even Mucii, the wife of Gnaeus Pompey (until he married the daughter of Caesar). Queens also visited his bed - not only Evnoia, the wife of the Mauritanian king. That is, testosterone was just splashing there.
But Caesar could not be the father of Brutus, although he was really very attached to his mother Servilia. However, he became close to Servilia when Brutus was already quite a teenager. And with her daughter Junia became close. And he sold the estate to them at half price. And he gave a pearl of insane value. He was a generous guy, Gaius Julius.

7. CLEOPATRA

Having defeated Pompey at Pharsalus, Caesar chased him to Alexandria: to finish off the enemy and end the civil war. At the same time deal with useful territory. Pompey was no longer alive, but he met Queen Cleopatra. This whole story is so famous on a global scale that there is no need to repeat it. Unless you try to understand something else.
Firstly, Caesar was already, of course, fifty-two, and he covered his bald head with a laurel wreath. But Cleopatra was also twenty-one. In those days when the Romans were given in marriage at fifteen, and the Egyptians at thirteen, the queen, who had gone through the school of deadly intrigues and the struggle for power, was a mature woman.
Secondly, Caesar got involved in Egyptian strife, put on Cleopatra, acquired an ally in her and actually subjugated Egypt. And at the same time they slept together, combining political calculation with pleasure.
Thirdly, according to unanimous evidence, Cleopatra was unusually sexy and a fantastic lover. Well, like this?
Fourthly: Caesar lane on a woman like an ostrich on a chest of drawers: one more, one less. But then he hooked up! He spends time with her, travels along the Nile, talks about literature. A gray beard - a demon in a rib ... After his first wife, he did not know happiness with women.
He leaves her pregnant and returns to Rome. She names their son Ptolemy Caesar. Gaius Julius Caesar writes them to Rome, settles in a luxurious villa, which is more correctly called a palace; orders to put a gilded statue of Cleopatra next to the statue of Venus the progenitor. Um. The Roman nobility bends and pays visits to the favorite. A rumor is spreading that Caesar is preparing a law on bigamy!
From a political point of view - one harm! The last love, the last year of his life ... He never recognized his son - similar to him in face and posture. He was brave, but he was a politician: he smelled like a thunderstorm.
...Cleopatra returned home after the death of Caesar. This is a completely different story: Mark Antony, war, death. She was not destined to find out that Caesar's own son was executed by his adopted son, the future emperor Octavian Augustus.

Most modern people are familiar with the name of Julius Caesar. It is mentioned as a name for a salad, one of the months of summer, and in films and television. How did this conquer people, that they remember who Caesar is, even two thousand years after his death?

Origin

The future commander, politician, writer was from the patrician family of Yuliev. At one time, this family played a significant role in the life of Rome. Like any ancient family, they had their own mythical version of origin. The line of their surname led to the goddess Venus.

Guy's mother was Aurelius Cotta, who came from a family of wealthy plebeians. By name it is clear that her family was named Aurelius. The elder was the father. He belonged to the patricians.

Intense discussions continue regarding the dictator's year of birth. Most often called 100 or 101 BC. There is also no consensus on the number. As a rule, three versions are called: March 17, July 12, July 13.

To understand who Caesar is, one should turn to his childhood. He grew up in the Roman region, which had a rather bad reputation. He studied at home, mastering the Greek language, literature, rhetoric. Knowledge of Greek allowed him to receive further education, since most scientific works were written in it. One of his teachers was the famous rhetorician Gniphon, who at one time taught Cicero.

Presumably in 85 BC. Guy had to lead the Yuliev family due to the unexpected death of his father.

Personality: appearance, character, habits

Quite a lot of descriptions have been left about the appearance of Gaius Julius, many of his sculptural portraits, including lifetime ones, have been made. Caesar, whose photo (reconstruction) is presented above, was, according to Suetonius, tall, with fair skin. He was well built and had dark, lively eyes.

The politician and military leader took good care of himself. He cut his nails, shaved, plucked his hair. Having a bald spot on the front of his head, he hid it in every possible way, combing his hair from the parietal part to his forehead. According to Plutarch, Caesar's physique was very frail.

Ancient authors unanimously agree that the dictator had energy. He reacted quickly to changing circumstances. According to Pliny the Elder, he communicated with many people through correspondence. If desired, the dictator could simultaneously read and dictate letters to several secretaries to different addressees. At the same time, he could write something himself at that moment.

Guy Julius practically did not drink wine and was very unpretentious in food. At the same time, he brought luxury items from his military campaigns, such as expensive dishes. He bought paintings, statues, beautiful slaves.

Family and personal life

Julius Caesar, whose biography is being considered, was officially married three times. Although there is also information that before these marriages he was engaged to Cossusia. His wives were:

Cornelia is from the consul's family.
Pompeia is the granddaughter of the dictator Sulla.
Calpurnia is a representative of a wealthy plebeian family.

Cornelia and the commander had a daughter, whom he married to his colleague Gnaeus Pompey. As for his relationship with Cleopatra, they took place while Gaius Julius was in Egypt. After this, Cleopatra had a child, whom the Alexandrians gave the name Caesarion. However, Julius Caesar did not recognize him as his son and did not write him into his will.

Military and political activities

The beginning of his career was the position of Flamin Jupiter, which Gaius took in the 80s BC. To do this, he broke off the engagement and married the daughter of Cornelius Zinn, who nominated him for this honorary position. But everything quickly changed when power changed in Rome, and Guy had to leave the city.

To understand who Caesar is, many examples from his life allow. One of them is the case when he was captured by pirates, demanding a ransom. The politician was ransomed, but immediately after that he organized the capture of his captors and executed them by crucifying them on crosses.

Who was Julius Caesar in Ancient Rome? He held the following positions:

pontiff;
military tribune;
quaestor for financial matters in Further Spain;
the caretaker of the Appian Way, which he repaired at his own expense;
curule edil - was engaged in the organization of urban construction, trade, ceremonial events;
head of the permanent criminal court;
pontiff great for life;
Viceroy of Further Spain.

All of these jobs were very costly. He took funds from his creditors, who provided them with understanding.

First triumvirate

After a successful governorship in Farther Spain, the politician was expected to triumph in Rome. However, he refused such honors for reasons of career advancement. The fact is that the term (by age) came up when he could be elected consul to the senate. But for this it was required to personally register their candidacy. At the same time, the person who is waiting for the Triumph must not appear in the city ahead of time. He had to make a choice in favor of a further career, abandoning the honors that were due to the winner.

After studying who Caesar is, it becomes clear that his ambition was more flattered to take a seat in the Senate in the first year when it is legally permissible. At the time, it was considered very honorable.

As a result of long political combinations, the politician reconciled his two associates with each other, as a result of which the first triumvirate arose. The expression means "the union of three husbands." The year of its creation is not known for certain, since this union was of a secret nature. Historians suggest that this happened in 59 or 60 BC. It included Caesar, Pompey, Crassus. As a result of all the actions, Guy Julius managed to become a consul.

Participation in the Gallic War

With his triumvirate, Julius Caesar, whose biography is presented in the article, began to disappoint the citizens of Rome. However, because of his departure to the provinces, all discontent should have poured out on Gnaeus Pompey.

At this time, the province of Gallia Narbonne was formed on the territory of present-day France. Caesar arrived in Genava, on the site of which Geneva is now located, for negotiations with the leaders of one of the Celtic tribes. Under the onslaught of the Germans, these tribes began to settle in the territory of Guy had to fight for the lands of the province with the Gauls and Germans. At the same time, he led an expedition to Britain.

After a series of victories, Caesar succeeded by 50 BC. subjugate all of Gaul to Rome. At the same time, he did not forget to follow the events in the Eternal City. Sometimes he even intervened in them through his proxies.

Establishment of a dictatorship

Returning to Rome, the commander came into conflict with Gnaeus Pompey. In 49-45 BC. this led to the Civil War. Gaius Caesar had many supporters throughout Italy. He attracted a significant part of the army to his side and went to Rome. Pompey was forced to flee to Greece. The war unfolded throughout the republic. The commander and his legions alternated victories and defeats. The decisive battle was the battle of Pharsalus, the winner of which was Caesar.

Gnaeus had to run again. This time he went to Egypt. Julius followed him. None of the opponents expected that Pompey would be killed in Egypt. Here Gaius Julius was forced to linger. At first, the reason was the wind unfavorable for the ships, and then the commander decided to improve his financial situation at the expense of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Thus, he became a participant in the struggle for the throne between Ptolemy the Thirteenth and Cleopatra.

He spent several months in Egypt, after which he continued his campaign to restore the territory of Rome, which began to disintegrate due to the Civil War.

Caesar became dictator three times:

In 49 BC, for a period of 11 days, after which he resigned.
In 48 BC, for a period of a year, after which he continued to rule as proconsul, and later consul.
In 46 BC. became a dictator without formal justification for a period of 10 years.

All his power rested on the army, so the election of Caesar to all subsequent posts was a formality.

During his reign, Gaius Julius Caesar (a photo of the sculpture can be seen above), along with his associates, carried out many reforms. However, it is quite difficult to determine which of them relate directly to the time of his reign. The most famous is the reform of the Roman calendar. Citizens had to switch to the solar calendar, which was developed by the scientist from Alexandria Sosingen. So, from 45 BC. appeared today known to everyone

Death and testament

Now it is clear who Julius Caesar is, whose biography ended rather tragically. In 44 BC. a conspiracy was formed against his autocracy. Opponents and supporters of the dictator were afraid that he would call himself king. One of the groups was led by Mark Junius Brutus.

At a meeting of the Senate, the conspirators implemented the plan to destroy Caesar. 23 were found on his body after the murder. The body was burned by the citizens of Rome at the Forum.

Gaius Julius made his nephew Gaius Octavian his successor (having adopted him), who received three-quarters of the inheritance and became known as Gaius Julius Caesar.

During his reign, he pursued a policy of sacralization and clan. Apparently, the success of his actions regarding the popularization of his own person exceeded his expectations. Perhaps that is why in the modern world Gaius Julius Caesar is known to both schoolchildren and representatives of the art world.

It is difficult to argue with the fact that most people are well aware of such a historical figure as Julius Caesar. The name of this outstanding commander is mentioned in the name of the salad and the summer month, and has also been repeatedly played up in the cinema. So what did this hero remember people, and who was he really? The story of Julius Caesar will be told to the reader later.

Origin

Who is Caesar? Where did it come from? The story contains several versions, but the most common is the following. The future military leader, politician and talented writer was from an ancient patrician family. Once the members of his family played a significant role in the life of the capital of the Roman Empire. As in the case of any other ancient family, there was not without a mythological version of origin. According to the assurances of the representatives of the genus themselves, their family tree came from Venus itself. The version of a similar origin was already widespread by 200 BC. e, and Cato the Elder suggested that the bearer of the name Yul got it from the Greek ἴουλος (stubble, facial hair).

Many historians are of the opinion that the family line of the Caesars most likely comes from the Yuliev Yulov, but confirmation of this has not yet been found. The first Caesar mentioned in history was the praetor of 208 BC. e., which Titus Livy wrote about in his writings.

Date of Birth

Who is Caesar, and what is known about him? Intensive disputes regarding the true date of birth of the ruler do not stop until now. The reason for this is various sources of evidence that do not allow to know the exact date.

Indirect information from most of the ancient writers makes it possible to assume that the commander was born in 100 BC. e., but according to Eutropius, at the time of the battle of Munda (March 17, forty-fifth BC), Julius was over fifty-six years old. There are also two important sources of the commander's life chronicle, where there is no information about his birth at all, and even more so the exact date.

At the same time, there is no consensus on the number, often three versions are put forward: March 17, July 12 or 13.

Childhood

To understand who Caesar is, you need to turn to his childhood years. Julius had a chance to grow up in the most prosperous area of the capital, which naturally influenced him. He studied at home, learning the Greek language, literature, art, rhetoric. Knowledge of Greek significantly helped him in obtaining further education, because the writing of most of the works and documents was carried out in this language. He was taught by the rhetorician Gniphon himself, in whose training Cicero had once been.

Studying the biography of Julius Caesar, it can be assumed that in the eighty-fifth year BC he had to become the head of the family due to the unexpected death of a parent, because all the closest male relatives died.

Personal life and family

According to official information, the ancient Roman commander was tied by marriage three times. But there is evidence that before all these marriages he became engaged to Cossutia, with whom he became engaged after the death of his father.

His spouses were:

Cornelia - the daughter of the consul;
Pompey - the daughter of the ruler Sulla;
Calpuria is a wealthy plebeian.

From the first wife, Caesar had a daughter, whom he later passed off as one of his henchmen - Gnaeus Pompey.

If we already recall his relationship with Cleopatra, then they are in no way confirmed. They probably took place during the stay of the dictator in Egypt. After visiting Caesar, Cleopatra gave birth to a boy, nicknamed by the people Caesarion. True, Guy did not even think of recognizing him as his offspring, and he was not included in the will.

The beginning of the way

The biography of Julius Caesar testifies that, having reached the age of majority, he went to the service. But not far from Miletus, pirates attacked his ship. The well-dressed young man immediately attracted the attention of sea bandits, and they demanded a ransom of 20 pieces of silver for him. Naturally, this angered the future dictator, and he offered 50 for his person, sending a servant to take money from the family treasury. Thus, he stayed with the sea wolves for two months. Caesar behaved rather defiantly with them: he did not allow the bandits to sit in his presence, threatened them and called them names in every possible way. Having taken the due funds, the pirates released the insolent, but Julius was not going to leave this, and having equipped a small fleet, he set off to take revenge on the kidnappers, which he successfully managed to carry out.

Military service

Julius Caesar left Rome soon after. He managed to serve in Asia Minor, living in Bithynia, Cilicia, and took part in the siege of Mitylene. The death of his wife forced him to return to his homeland, and after that he soon began to speak in court. But he did not linger in his native city and sailed to the island of Rhodes, trying to improve his oratory skills there.

Upon his return, Gaius took the place of the priest-pontiff and the military tribunal, simultaneously entering into marriage with Gnaeus's sister, Pompey, who in the future would become his faithful ally. In 66 BC. e. Caesar took the post of aedile and began to improve Rome, organize holidays, distribute bread, and gladiator fights, which naturally contributed to gaining popularity.

In 52 BC. e. he took the post of praetor and for two years acted as governor of a small province. Being in this position made it possible to show that Julius has outstanding administrative abilities, has a strategic mind and is well versed in military affairs.

First triumvirate

Naturally, after the successful administration of Farther Spain, such a talented figure expected a real triumph in Rome. But Caesar decided to neglect these honors by virtue of career advancement. At that moment, his age approached the fact that he had the opportunity to be elected to the Senate, he only needed to register himself. In the time of Julius Caesar, the position of consul was considered honorary, and Guy was not going to miss this chance.

In the course of lengthy political operations, Caesar manages to acquire two close associates, as a result of which the first triumvirate was created, meaning "the union of three husbands." The exact year of its formation remains unknown, because everything was done in secret. But if you believe the sources, it happened in 59 or 60 BC. e. Julius, Pompey and Crassus became members of the triumvirate, it was thanks to these people that the man managed to take the place of the consul.

Participation in the Gallic War

At the end of his consular powers, he became proconsul of Gaul, where he won many new territories for his state. It was in the confrontation with the Gauls that his qualities as a strategist and the ability to correctly beat the inability of the Gallic leaders to come to unity for the sake of a common goal were manifested. Having defeated the Germans in the confrontation in the expanses of modern Alsace, Julius was able not only to prevent the invasion, but also later made an attempt to go to the Rhine, crossing the army with the help of a built bridge.

At the same time, he tried to conquer Britain, where he was able to get several important victories, but, realizing the fragility of his own position, he decided to withdraw his troops from the island.

In 56, at a meeting in Luca, the members of the triumvirate entered into a new alliance for joint political activity. But Caesar did not have to stay in Rome for a long time, because a new conflict was brewing in Gaul. Despite the significant superiority in numbers, the Gauls were easily defeated, and a significant part of their settlements were captured and devastated.

Civil War

Since the death of Crassus in 53 BC. e. the union was dissolved. Pompey began to actively compete with Guy and began to gather around him the followers of an inveterate republican system of government. The Senate had serious misgivings about Caesar's intentions, which is why he was denied the extension of the governorship over the lands of the Gauls. Understanding his power and popularity among the military leaders and in the capital itself, Guy decides to stage a coup d'état. January 12, 49 B.C. e. he gathered around him the warriors of the 13th Legion and gave them a fiery speech. As a result, Emperor Julius Caesar makes a significant passage through the Rubicon River.

Caesar quickly manages to capture several important strategic points without meeting any resistance. Serious panic broke out in the capital, Pompey was in complete confusion and, together with the Senate, left Rome. Thus, Julius has the opportunity to take over the government of the country and conduct a campaign against his rival in his province - Spain. But Pompey was not ready to put up with defeat so easily and, having entered into an alliance with Mettel Scipio, he gathered a worthy army. But this did not in the least prevent Caesar from crushing him at Pharsalus. Pompey had to flee to Egypt, but Caesar caught up with him and along the way helped Cleopatra subdue Alexandria, thereby enlisting the support of a powerful ally.

The Pompeians, led by Cato and Scipio, were not going to surrender to the new ruler and gathered forces in North Africa. But they suffered a crushing defeat, and Numidia was annexed to Rome. After a trip to Syria and Cilicia, Caesar was able to return home, it was from this period that his memorable phrase “I came, I saw, I conquered” is known.

Dictatorship

Having completed the exhausting wars, Julius Caesar celebrated his victory by arranging luxurious feasts, gladiatorial games and treats for the whole people, rewarding his followers with all sorts of honors. Thus begins his dictatorship for a period of 10 years, and in the future he is titled as emperor and father of Rome. He establishes new civil laws on the system of government, the reduction of food distribution, introduces a calendar reform, naming the calendar after itself.

From the moment of the victory at Munda, exorbitant honors began to be rendered to the dictator: his statues were created and temples were built, linking his family tree with the celestials, and a list of his accomplishments was written in gold on columns and tablets. From that moment on, he personally began to remove the powerful representatives of the Senate and appoint his associates. In subsequent years, he repeatedly received dictatorial powers, but dictatorship was not the main part of his power, because he was still a consul and bore many additional titles.

Conspiracy and tragic end

Now it becomes clear who Caesar is, whose life path ended rather tragically. In 44 BC. e. a serious conspiracy was brewing against his sole rule. Those dissatisfied with his power feared that he could eliminate them at any moment. At the head of one of these groups was Mark Junius Brutus.

And at the next Senate meeting, the insidious traitors were able to carry out their idea, and Caesar was stabbed 23 times, which caused death. Julius' successor was his nephew Octavian, who headed the Senate and will receive a good part of the great dictator's inheritance. Julius strove to pursue a policy of sacralization of his own person and family, which is why at the present time his personality is known to virtually everyone.

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