GAIUS JULIUS CAESARThe rise and rule of Caesar’s dictatorship

TIMELINE OF EVENTS 70's - spent avoiding the Sullans 60's- Cursus Honorum - Caesar is mainly a popularis. He is

connected to Marius through marriage of his aunt 69 quaestor in Spain, 65 curule aedile (spent lots of money on public spectacles/games), 63 pontifex maximus, 62 praetor, 61 governor of Spain, where he goes on an improper offensive

beyond the provincial borders, so he needs to seek public office to avoid prosecution

60 - forms the first Triumvirate (with Pompey and Crassus) 50's - Consul in 59 BCE; then governor of Gaul: Gallic Wars,

conquest of Gaul 40's - Dictatorship 49-45 BCE - Civil War with Pompey after crossing the Rubicon river. 44 BCE - named Dictator Perpetuus - Dictator for Life Ides of March, 44 BCE - stabbed to death by Senators weary of his

power

THE CIVIL WAR OF 49-45 BCE Crassus loses 40,000 men in battle against

Parthia, with only about 10,000 surviving. Break up of First Triumvirate: Pompey vs.

Caesar Julia, the daughter of Caesar and wife of

Pompey, dies in childbirth,Family tie between the two is therefore

severed. Caesar crosses the Rubicon river boundary

between Italy and province of Cisalpine Gaul on January 10, 49 BCE. What other choices did he have to preserve his dignity?

BATTLE OF PHARSALUS, 48 BCE: A CRUSHING DEFEAT FOR POMPEY

Pompey had 47,000 troops Caesar had 27,000 15,000 of Pompey's troops killed, 24,000

captured Pompey fled to Egypt, hoping for asylum with

Ptolemaic King and Queen Cleopatra. He spent 7 months there, putting Cleopatra in

power over her brother. Pompey was murdered near Alexandria, Egypt. Cato the Younger was defeated in North Africa,

committing suicide rather than living under Caesar's rule.

CAESAR'S REFORMS The overall effect was to reduce the absolute

dominance of the city of Rome and to integrate Rome with Italy and Italy with provinces.

Enlarged the Senate from 600 to 900; included Romanized provincials (Gaul and Spain), increased acceptance of Roman rule.

Socio-economic reforms: Public works projects: temples, libraries, theaters,

roads, and harbors Colonies of Roman citizens in provinces Roman citizenship for intellectuals - teachers,

scholars, doctors, and librarians He even founded schools and public libraries in the

Western provinces. Municipal reform in Italy, Julian Municipal Law - greater

uniformity of local civic administration throughout Italy Julian Calendar

FURTHER REFORMS AT THE HEIGHT OF POWER

Increasing the criminal penalties. Granting citizenship and all its benefits to doctors and

teachers, many of who were Greek. Dealing with Rome’s uncompromising debt problems,

which have been troubling both debtors and creditors alike, more effectively than any politicians before him.

Re-regulating the free distribution of grain, which halved the total number of people eating at state expense.

Abolishing the tax system at that time, which was exploited by corrupted tax collectors, who would siphon tax money into their own pockets. It was replaced by a tribune system instead.

Revising Roman laws to make them more manageable. The laws were contradictory and ungainly before he revised them.

IDES OF MARCH, 44 BCE

Many believed Caesar had aspirations to monarchy - wearing purple, although he famously refused the crown from Antony.

He named a month after himself, put his image on coins, and put up many statues of himself.

60-80 senators (of 900) were involved in the plot, led by Brutus and Cassius.

It occurred days before planned campaigns would have taken him out of Rome.

THE FAILURE OF THE LIBERATORS TO RETURN TO THE PRE-CAESAR REPUBLIC

They did not have a plan for re-instituting the Republic, but thought rather it would return automatically.

They did not account for Caesar's popularity with the people.

Caesar had powerful supporters, eg. Marc Antony, with great power, who kept the "liberators" from undoing Caesar's reforms.

GLOSSARY Populares- The people or the people’s party,

in ancient Rome, as opposed to the optimates.

Plebeians- The common people of ancient Rome

Optimates- The nobility or aristocracy of ancient Rome, as opposed to the populares.

Equities- Loosely translated as the knights and the merchant class of ancient Rome

Tribune- any of various administrative officers, especially one of ten officers elected to protect the interests and rights of the plebeians from the patricians.

REVIEW FOR CAESAR’S REFORMS

Please review pages 387-393 in Ancient Rome: Using Evidence, Bradley