Gaius Julius Augustus Germanicus Caesar - Free Essay Example

Gaius Julius Augustus Germanicus Caesar was born on July 12 or July 13, 100 BCE, to the Praetor Gaius Julius Caesar, who controlled parts of Asia. His mother was a woman named Aurelia Cotta. When Julius became 16 years old, his father died. Being the oldest man alive in the family, Julius became head of the Caesar family. Soon after, Gaius became the high priest of Jupiter (Zeus), the god of lightning, thunder, and the gods. After becoming the High Priest of Jupiter, he became engaged to a patrician girl named Cornelia Cinna. The empire of Rome soon became under the rule of Sulla and purged Rome of people who believed in the Populare Ideology, and of his political enemies, like Cornelias father. Sulla attempted to force Caesar to divorce Cornelia, who was the daughter of one of Sullas rivals. According to Ancient History.eu, The Populare ideology was about favoring a democratic government and giving more rights to the lower class citizens. Caesar then fled Rome in a hope to escape Sulla, but he was stripped of his role of high priest, and Cornelias dowry was stolen. Without money, Caesar joined the Roman Army. During the time in the army, Gaius was given many awards, such as the civic crown, and was promoted to the ranks of military legate of Bithynia to gain control of a fleet of ships. Caesar then moved back to Rome for a new life after Sulla died. In 75 BCE, Caesar was captured by a group of pirates and was to be ransomed for 20 marks. Julius argued he should be ransomed for 50 marks, because of his talents on the battlefield. During his time during the ransom, he maintained a good relationship with the pirates. It is said that Caesar threatened the pirates multiple times to let him go or else when he was let free, he would hunt them down and crucify them. The pirates took this as a joke, however, and didnt believe him. After Caesar was let free, he hunted them down and slit the pirates throat before their crucifixion. When he got back to Rome, he was honored as a military tribune when in Rome. He became a lawyer and was extremely successful. He then went to Rhodes to study philosophy. Cornelia soon died of giving birth to a stillborn child, and Caesar married the granddaughter of Sulla, Pompeia. According to biography.com, Caesar then created a private army and fought Mithridates VI (6) Eupator who declared war on Rome. Caesar was successful in his battle with Mithridates, and worked with Pompey, and went up in political status. They would soon divorce. With his close friends Pompey and Crassus in 60 BC, forming the first trimutive. The trimutive lasted 7 years. It would have lasted longer if Crassus was not killed in battle. Pompey soon saw Caesar as an enemy, because of his growing power. They fought, and the battle went to Egypt. Pompey was killed in Egypt by the hand of Caesar. Cleopatra and Caesar soon had an alliance and had a child. The childs name was Caesarion. Cleopatra wanted Caesar to take Caesarion to Rome, and make him his heir. However, Caesars heir was already Octavian. He kept his promise to take Caesarion to Rome. When Caesar arrived back to Rome, he was named emperor. Julius Caesar was a leader who favored his citizens. He got rid of taxes, initiated the police force, let former enemies go in the Caesar and more. There was a conspiracy of Caesar, and a group of senators, fearing their power, started to play an assassination on Caesar, expecting to be treated as heroes when the emperor fell to the ground, dead. They had a plan to kill Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC. He was given a warning of Beware the Ides of March. He chose to ignore it, as he did not understand. On the day of a Senate meeting, which was held on the Ides of March, he was talking to the senators, when a group of them stood up, with weapons in their hands, they went up, and stabbed Caesar 23 times. His last words were the phrase which translates to English as You too, Child? In William Shakespeares play, Julius Caesar, the last words of Caesar were Et tu, Brute? which means Even you, Brutus?. He died at the age of 55 8/12 ye ars old. The conspirators went out and said People of Rome, you are free. and were met by angry citizens. instead treated instead of heroes, but as criminals, for Rome loved Caesar. Especially the commoners, who enjoyed how Caesar treated them. His death was the end of the Roman Republic, and the start of the bloody Roman Empire. I believe that Caesar was a great man, who ruled justly and loved the people in Rome. It was nice to hear that Caesar made life easier for the Romans, and made it so the Roman Republic was at peace before he was assassinated. He didnt deserve his death, and if he were to live on, he would have reformed the Roman Republic, and make Rome better than ever.