Julius Caesar - the Life and Tragic Death of Rome's Greatest Leader

Denise Spivey

Julius Caesar: The Life and Tragic Death of Rome’s Greatest Leader

Though he made infinite contributions to the Roman Empire, Julius Caesar, with his heroic, military and arrogant leadership qualities, may have unintentionally aided in the conspiracy that lead to his own death. During the mid year of 100 B.C., Gaius Julius Caesar was not born into a family who was rich nor had any influence over the political status that he eventually acquired. He was instead born to a woman named Aurelia whose husband was also Gaius Julius Caesar, Caesar’s father (“Julius Caesar”). It was said that Caesar’s birth was very complicated and he had to be pulled from an incision in his mother’s stomach. The term Cesarean was said to have derived from Caesar’s birth. During the time of his birth, Caesar’s uncle by marriage, Gaius Marius, was a great leader in Rome thus making Caesar a member of a family with high political status (“C. Julius Caesar”). Even though Marius left Rome because he persuaded the senate to let him replace the general in Africa, the family’s influence on politics remained and Caesar’s father was later elected praetor (“C. Julius Caesar”). A praetor’s position was synonymous to what is currently known as the Justice of the Peace. The role of political power heightened in Caesar’s father’s life because he later became the governor of Asia Minor (“C. Julius Caesar”). While the younger Caesar was still a boy, a war broke out between Rome and some of their friends in Italy over land that was promised to them (“C. Julius Caesar”). In 91, the Italians rebelled and Marius who was general during this time defeated Lucius Cornelius Sulla (“C. Julius Caesar”). Caesar’s uncle, Lucius Julius Caesar helped settle the dispute with the rebels in 89 B.C. by offering the people who decided not to fight citizenship in Rome (C. Julius Caesar”). After being forced to Africa, Marius returned to Rome while Sulla was in Asia Minor and slaughtered his foes (“C. Julius Caesar”). Marius later appointed himself as consul then died only a few days later (“C. Julius Caesar”). Once Marius died, Sulla returned from Asia and had himself appointed dictator (“C. Julius Caesar”).With Sulla in control, Rome was chaotic. At the age of 18, Caesar was told to divorce his wife Cornelia because Sulla ordered him to as a symbol of his dedication to his new governmental position (Wheeler).

When Caesar was only twelve years old, he wrote poetry and plays (“Julius Caesar”). At a young age, Caesar was very unique with his trendy clothes and he had also mastered the art of persuasion.

Sometime between the years 81 and 79, Caesar served in Asia Minor on the personal staff of Marcus Minucius Thermus, who was praetor. Sulla passed in early 78 and Caesar felt safe to return to Italy, where he found a career as a criminal lawyer (“C. Julius Caesar”). This was the smartest decision that Caesar could have made during this time. He decided not to focus on politics at all. Caesar was a brilliant man and had a very crafty way with words. His arrogance about himself made it almost impossible for anyone to listen to him speak and not be enthralled