Between the three of them, they had enough money and political influence to control public business. Pompey and Crassus had been at odds since they were consuls together in 70 BC, and Caesar knew if he allied himself with one he would lose the support of the other, so he endeavored to reconcile them. Ĭaesar was already in Crassus' political debt, but he also made overtures to Pompey, who was unsuccessfully fighting the Senate for ratification of his eastern settlements and farmland for his veterans. Caesar and Bibulus were elected as consuls. Caesar canvassed Cicero for support, and made an alliance with the wealthy Lucceius, but the establishment threw its financial weight behind the conservative Bibulus, and even Cato, with his reputation for incorruptibility, is said to have resorted to bribery in his favor. Three candidates stood for the consulship in 59 BC: Caesar, Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus who had been aedile with Caesar several years earlier, and Lucius Lucceius. While in Hispania, Caesar held the title of Imperator and lead military campaigns against local tribes. He was also elected to Pontifex maximus and was eventually made governor of Hispania Ulterior. This served as his entry into politics and in 69 BC, he was elected as quaestor in the province of Hispania.

Īfter Sulla's death in 78 BC, Caesar returned to Rome where he was elected military tribune. He won early distinction by earning the Civic Crown for his actions at the Siege of Mytilene and later secured the assistance of King Nicomedes's fleet during a diplomatic mission to Bithynia. He first served under the command of Marcus Minucius Thermus in Asia and Servilius Isauricus in Cilicia. Soon after this, Caesar entered into service in the army in 81 BC in an attempt to leave Rome should Sulla change his mind. Sulla eventually ended his persecution of Caesar after his mothers family intervened on his behalf.

He was stripped of his inheritance, his position of high priest and was forced to go into hiding after refusing to divorce Cornelia. After Sulla's ultimate victory, he enacted a brutal purge of the supporters of Marius, including Caesar. When Marius and his ally Lucius Cornelius Cinna were in control of Rome, Caesar was nominated as the new flamen Dialis (high priest of Jupiter), and he was married to Cinna's daughter Cornelia. In 85 BC, at the age of 16, Caesar became the head of his family after his father’s death, which coincided with the civil war between Sulla and supporters of Caesar's uncle Gaius Marius. His father, Gaius Julius Caesar, was the governor of the province of Asia, and his mother, Aurelia, came from an influential family who were supporters of Sulla. Gaius Julius Caesar was born into an influential patrician family, the gens Julia. Main article: First Triumvirate Julius Caesar was awarded the Civic Crown for his service in Siege of Mytilene These wars were critically important in the transition of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Once his campaigns were concluded, he served as Roman dictator until his assassination on 15 March 44 BC. He then went on to subdue his Roman opponents in Africa and Hispania. He proceeded to Egypt, where he emerged victorious against the Egyptian pharaoh, facilitating the ascension of Cleopatra to the throne. These battles, notably the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, marked significant turning points in the conflict, ultimately leading to Caesar's triumph over the forces of Pompey the Great. The Gallic War ended with Roman victory at the Battle of Alesia.ĭuring the Civil War, Caesar pursued his rivals to Greece, where he engaged in a series of decisive confrontations, and solidified Roman control over the Eastern Mediterranean. These campaigns were characterized by fierce battles against various Celtic tribes.

During the campaigns in 55 and 54 BC, Caesar invaded Britain, marking the first Roman expeditions to the island. Despite numerous challenges, Caesar and his legions managed to conquer the territories and incorporate them into the Roman Republic. Caesar faced formidable resistance from Gallic chieftains such as Vercingetorix. These campaigns, starting with the Battle of the Arar ( Saône) River, were conducted between 58 and 50 BC. The Gallic Wars principally took place in the region of Gaul, or what is now modern-day France. The wars constituted both the Gallic Wars (58 BC–51 BC) and Caesar's civil war (49 BC–45 BC). The military campaigns of Julius Caesar were a series of wars that reshaped the political landscape of the Roman Republic, expanded its territories, and ultimately paved the way for the transition from republic to empire.

Julius cesar life