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Julius Caesar's legacy and attributes are just as robust today as they were in his time. From the time he took power to the time of his death he accomplished more than many other men would have done in a lifetime. He brought the Roman Empire to its height and from his death on, the Empire did nothing but fall. He was one of the world's greatest leaders and probably the best. At the age of 15 Caesar became head of his family when his father died in 85 bc.
His family wanted him to pursue a religious career as the priest of Jupiter but Caesar had other plans. He wanted to dive head long into a political career. He took maters into his own hands when in 84 bc he married Cornelia the daughter of one of Rome's stronger leaders at the time, Cornelius Cinna (Schlesinger 30). Cinna took power in 82 bc when Rome's leader at the time Gaius Marius died.
Marius was married to Caesar's Aunt Julia. Marius was killed in battle with one of his great enemies Sulla. Soon after this battle Sulla died also, but he still had many allies. Marius had let Caesar help him while he was leader by doing small jobs.
Caesar gained much experience while helping out Marius. When Caesar was 25 he set sail for the island of Rhodes. But, on the way a band of pirates captured the ship and kidnapped him. While his family was raising ransom money he was a very difficult guest for the pirates. He strolled boldly around their ship and pointed out weaknesses in their sword fighting technique and told them he would kill them all after he was released. They were entertained by this young man but did not believe the threat (Green 19).
His family finally paid his ransom. Soon after it was paid, Caesar learned that the government was not going to take action and pursue the pirates. Caesar took matters into his own hands. He organized a fleet of ships, captured the pirates and crucified their whole gang.
The news of this spread quickly, and Caesar was both admired and criticized for acting so quickly. By age 30, Caesar was making Sulla's allies very worried. But 30 was not too young for a roman so full of ambition. In 69 bc, Caesar was serving as governor in farther Spain, administering Roman laws to Spanish tribes and subduing those who resisted. He went to go see the statue of Alexander the Great in the city of Cadiz.
Alexander was a leader who had conquered much of the world by the age of 30. Caesar remembering that wept out in envy and longed to go back to Rome where he could make his mark (Green 18). Caesar admired and studied the two most successful Romans of his day, Pompey and Crassus. He followed their ways in shaping his own career. The two men were very different.
Pompey rose to power through military victories, while Crassus was a great politician and the richest man in Rome (Green 19). By 67 bc Caesar was back in Rome. His wife, Cornelia, had died two years before. He now had a new wife, her name was Pompey. She came from a rich family and Caesar used her money to enter politics. Also, he became a friend of Pompey.
Pompey had quit the politics that he was involved in and decided to lead a fleet into the Mediterranean against pirates that had been terrorizing Roman fleets. Pompey took the fleet out while Caesar stayed behind and became good friends with Crassus. Crassus liked Caesar and wanted to teach him all he knew about politics. Caesar was eager to learn. Crassus thought Caesar would be the perfect student. In 65 bc, because of Crassus's help, Caesar was elected curule aedile -- - which is the caretaker of Rome's buildings, streets and public sanitation.
This job was also used to entertain the Romans. He was in charge of the public events such as the Gladiator events and anything else similar to that. Many of these took place in the coliseum. Caesar had the best games that Rome had ever seen. He was becoming a celebrity in Rome.
Two years later Caesar had bribed the right people to become the high priest of Rome. This was a position of great political importance. He had a special house in Rome's forum and he could grant great favors to his friends and creditors. In fact, on the day of his election he told his mother that she should not expect him home if he lost because his creditors would expect him to pay in blood (Suetonius 123). While he was the high priest he did many things to help his own self. He paid for others to believe in him and he gave much money to the things he thought would help him in the long run.
Caesar even paid the bail of some men who he thought could help him. In 62 bc, Caesar was elected State Judge. This was a great honor for Caesar. He was chosen with 7 other men out of many to be a State Judge. Each judge was guaranteed a governorship after they served as the judge. For Caesar this was the opportunity of his life where he could finally acquire enough money and power to escape from under Crassus shadow.
Caesar was now a High Priest, a Judge and a member of the senate (Schlesinger 53). Caesar was now chosen to go to farther Spain to govern a Roman province. He took this opportunity to collect much needed money from silver mines and conquered tribes. Some of the tribes rebelled. The Romans, under Caesar's command, beat them back with their feared short swords and iron tipped javelins (Green 24). Pompey was finished defeating the pirates and also the modern day Turks.
He was not rewarded for his victories because he had many enemies in the senate. Caesar sensed that the moment was right for bringing Pompey and Crassus together. They formed the group of three, and they had much power in Rome. Pompey and Crassus backed Caesar for consulship in 59 bc, and Caesar won. He now held the highest office in Rome.
He overpowered the other consul and married again. His wife Pompey had died previously. He then had certain laws passed that would benefit Pompey and Crassus. When his consulship ended Caesar set out to recruit an army that would keep Gaul in order and battle anyone opposed to that. Caesar made his way into Gaul.
After crossing the Alps, Caesar received news that Helvetti were fleeing into Gaul (Helvetti were a Germanic tribe). Caesar took quick action towards the outnumbering Helvetti and he forced them to leave. Caesar then turned to fight the Germans. His men were frightened at the stories they heard of the Germans; Caesar reassured them that under his command they would not fall to the Germans. The news of these battles soon reached Rome and Caesar was now as powerful, if not more powerful than Pompey was, because of his power, Caesar was given govern ship of Rome.
Some more Germans came into Gaul to arrange peace with Caesar. Caesar was so powerful now that he captured them and went after their people. He meant this to be a warning to the Germanic tribes. He slaughtered many German towns. Caesar suffered his first military loss when his small army went into Britain to try and take it over. The armies there were too big even...
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Research essay sample on Pompey And Crassus Bc Caesar
