JULIUS CAESAR

  He came, he saw, … and he conquered !!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
He was captured!
Ruthless Mediterranean pirates had laid rough hands upon him and demanded ransom for his release.
"Twenty silver coins?" expostulated the young Julius Caesar, "I'm worth fifty!!"
The pirates roared with laughter at the seeming impertinence of their 25- year-old prisoner.  "Moreover," Caesar continued, "when I'm free I'll come back and crucify the lot of you!"
Again, the air echoed with mocking laughter.  But when the ransom was paid and the Roman was safely on land, he organized a band of fighting men. The pirates were attacked.  Not only was their stronghold destroyed, but it was done to them as he had vowed.

And the ransom money was recovered.
……………………………………………………………………….
It was July 12, somewhere around the year 100 B.C., and a
child had been born.   Little did his mother, Aurelia, dream that the little one in her arms would one day be described as "one of the great pivotal figures in history." (Hart, p.127).
His book on the Gallic Wars would be "the most widely read of all military classics." ( Reader's  Digest, p.146).
And his death - just over half a century later - would be referred to as "the most famous assassination" that the world has ever known. (Tingay,p.4).
His name was Gaius Julius Caesar.
..........………………………………………….………………………..
His family belonged to Rome's upper class.
The famous General Marius, leader of the common people during a violent civil war, was his uncle.   Julius was but a teenager in those days, but Marius' rival, the evil Sulla, would play a role in the lad's future.
When finally Marius was defeated and his tomb desecrated by Sulla's men, 19-year-old Julius Caesar was summoned into the latter's presence. Had not the young man married Cornelia, daughter of  Marius' successor?
"Divorce her!" was Sulla's command, "and take to yourself a wife from the upper classes."
Whether Caesar's refusal to obey was because of his love for Cornelia - or his antagonism toward Sulla - is debated by historians.  Maybe both. 

In any case, he deemed it not wise to stay in Rome. Through family connections he was able to receive the post of governorship in Asia.
It was returning to Rome some four years later, in 76 B.C., the incident with the pirates took place.

PREPARATION FOR GREATNESS

Various qualities of this young Roman are worthy of note.  They would augur well for his future career.
There was the private education and training in oratory by the tutor his family had employed. The physical appearance of the young Caesar was impressive. Taller than the average Roman, and handsome in appearance  "every day an expert barber shaved his face, arranged his hair, and plucked out unwanted whiskers with a pair of tweezers!"  (Warlow, p.14)
His courage is worthy of mention.  At the age of 19 he had been part of the Roman legion, earning an "oak leaf crown" for bravery on the field of battle.
And he was ambitious. Very ambitious …
....………………………………………………………………………
By the time he returned to Rome Sulla was dead.
For the next eleven years Rome was to be Caesar's home, as he carved out for himself a political career.
.......…………………………………………………………………....

Pompey was the central figure in the affairs of the Empire at this time and with him Julius Caesar worked in close harmony.   Caesar,
incidentally, had divorced his second wife and married Calpurnia, daughter of one of Pompey's friends.
He not only had the responsibility of supervising the erection of new
buildings but also of arranging popular games in the Coliseum, thus winning much favor among the people of Rome.
Eventually, in 59 B.C., the "Triumvirate" was established.  Pompey, Caesar and Crassus ruled the Empire.  To strengthen this leadership Pompey had married Julia (the daughter of Caesar and his first wife.

  A NEW ROLE

Surprisingly, at the age of 40, Caesar exchanged his role as politician
for that of soldier.
Again he took up the sword and waged successful campaigns against the invading barbarian tribes in Gaul (France). Because some tribes from across the Straits of Dover (Featherstone p.105), had joined forces with the Gauls against him, Caesar now invaded Britain with two legions.
It was 55 B.C.
But a storm so damaged his ships that he was forced to retreat. The following year saw another invasion of British shores, this time with
five legions.  "Our rude forefathers" (as one writer describes them!)
(Cassell's, p.1301) displayed a gallant resistance to Caesar's forces. Their scythe-wheeled chariots and the attack which resembled "a stampede of wild animals" coupled with their "impenetrable forests" resulted in Caesar's realization that these people could not be conquered "with the forces at his disposal". (Featherstone  p.113)
He sailed back to Gaul.

INCREASING   POPULARITY !

During these ten years of warfare he had amassed a vast fortune.  His
skill in warfare had made him famous back in Rome. He had gained the fullest confidence of those who served under his brilliant leadership; no "arm-chair general" this, but one who led into the midst of the fray.
Sometimes merciful - as when he overthrew the Helvetians in the Swiss valleys.  "When he had beaten them he supplied them with bread and grain for a year, and seed corn for their next crop."

( Reader's Digest, p.147)
But sometimes cruel - "on one occasion he conquered an area in Eastern France and chopped off the hands of every inhabitant!"  (Warlow, p.27)

TROUBLE BREWING !!

It was on January 1, 49 B.C. that Pompey demanded the absent Caesar resign his command.  The death of Julia (Caesar's daughter, Pompey's wife) in 54 B.C. had "snapped a powerful bond which held the two men together. The fact is, the Roman Empire, vast as it was, was not large enough to hold two such leviathans as Caesar and Pompey.  They were bound to clash before long." (Cassell's, p.1302)
…………………………….
And so it came to pass, on January 10, 49 B.C., Julius Caesar and a single legion, crossed the Rubicon, a small river separating Gaul from Italy. As far as Roman Law was concerned this was an act of treason, for Sulla had decreed that "no provincial governor should command troops outside his dominion."  (Bruns, p.81) In other words, Caesar might command his soldiers in Gaul … but not bring them into Italy! This was Pompey's territory.

Caesar's act was a declaration of war !
"The die is cast," he said.  There was no turning back.

With the approach of the invaders, Pompey fled. The civil war spread
across the Empire. Greece, North Africa and Spain all saw the clash of armies.
It was at Pharsalus, in Greece, where  the decisive battle took place.  "Pompey's foot soldiers numbered 47,000 to Caesar's 22,000, his cavalry 7,000 to 800" (Tingay, p.41)  But despite Pompey's superior
numerical strength, it was Caesar's "unorthodox military maneuvers" that won the day. (Featherstone, p.93)
By the end of the conflict 15,000 of Pompey's men lay dead upon the
battlefield, thousands more were wounded, 24,000 were taken prisoner and Pompey himself had sailed for Egypt.  But there, "as he made for the shore … a certain Septimius stabbed him in the back."

(Grant, p.188)
Four days later Caesar arrived and was presented with the decapitated head of his former rival! (Grant, p.193)

ROMANCE ON THE NILE !

During his sojourn in Egypt the 52-year-old Caesar encountered the
21-year-old Cleopatra.  They became lovers, and  "no other reason can be given for Caesar's long stay in Egypt."
In the spring of  47 B.C. the famous boat trip up the Nile River took
place - a lavish display of luxury and splendor - accompanied by 400
lesser vessels "filled with soldiers, servants, musicians, flowers and wine." (Cassell's, p.1303)
He had taken Cleopatra's side against her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII, in an Egyptian civil war, had enthroned her as Queen of Egypt . and made her pregnant with a son later named "Caesarion".
.....……………
Then it was back to Rome (47 B.C.) - conquering some rebels along the way in the province of Pontus (in modern day Turkey) - and sending news ahead to Rome with the famous words:  "Veni, Vidi, Vici" - "I came, I saw, I conquered!"
The title "Imperator" was bestowed upon him - "Dictator for Life."!  Julius Caesar was now sole ruler of the Roman Empire. And he commenced his reign with numerous beneficial acts. Colonies were established for disbanded soldiers.  Jews were granted freedom of worship. Thousands were employed in a vast rebuilding program.  Dishonest tax collectors and an aristocratic Senate came under his eagle eye.  He reformed the calendar.
"He brought to unhappy millions throughout the Mediterranean world the most just, merciful and intelligent rule they had ever known."

(Reader's Digest, p.149)

THE LAST UNCONQUERABLE ENEMY !

But the end was in sight. Within fifteen months the daggers of thirteen assassins would  bring his formidable life to a close.
What caused this unhappy end to his reign?
.......…………
Pride, that "sin by which the angels fell" as Tennyson expressed it, had begun to exert itself in the life of this mighty Emperor. He "had accepted powers greater than any Roman before him.  His every
decree would be accepted without question by the Senate or any other legal or legislative body." (Bruns  p.101-102)
He sat upon a golden throne holding an ivory sceptre.  A statue of himself was placed beside those of Rome's ancient rulers, and another statue, that of his beloved Cleopatra, is placed in the Temple of Venus.  In an unprecedented act, Caesar has his image imprinted upon Roman coinage.
And the people began to wonder if their new leader was destroying the
political scenario of Republicanism they had so long enjoyed  ... for a
Dictatorship.
.......……………
Among the Senators, who saw their power threatened, were sixty men
referred to by historians as "The Conspirators".  Led by Marcus Brutus, one time friend of Caesar, and  "thin faced Cassius", the plot was hatched.
It was 10:00a.m. on March 15 . . . the "Ides of March" . . .  in the year
44 B.C. … when they struck.
Literally !!
One after another they plunged their daggers into Caesar's body until
Brutus delivered the thirteenth and fatal blow. This traitorous senator then addressed the populace telling them that they had been delivered from the rule of a tyrant.

But Mark Antony, loyal to Caesar to the very end, gave an impassioned speech at the funeral, so much so that Brutus and Cassius were forced to flee for their lives. The plans of the 'Conspirators'  for saving Rome from a dictatorial reign were dashed when Octavius assumed control of the Empire.
......…………
What lessons are to be gleaned from the rise and fall of this great Roman?
  And great he was!
" In the story of Caesar's life we can find little that is dark or
doubtful in his behavior," writes one biographer. (Cassell's p. 1302)
Historians agree that he was ambitious, but neither "devious nor
  deceitful."
His ruthlessness toward his enemies was oft-times tempered by generosity toward them after they were conquered.
He refused the title of King , yet began to act as if he were one!
But like all conquerors death finalized his future plans.  Unexpectedly. He came, and he saw . . . but Death was the one enemy he could not conquer . .

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow,” saith the Scripture, “for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth…” (Proverbs 27:1)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Who was Julius Caesar . by Aidan Warlow.  Wayland Books. 1997 

H/cover. 46pp.

Julius Caesar .by G. Tingay.  Cambridge Uni. Press 1991  Soft cover .
48pp.

Caesar  . by R. Bruns   Chelsea House. 1987  H/cover.  112pp.

Julius Caesar . by M. Grant  Weidenfeld & Nicholson.  1969  H/cover.
271pp.

100 Most Influential Persons in History .by M. Hart   Vantage House. 1978. Soft cover. 572pp.

Great Lives, Great Deeds .   article by D. Peattie. Reader's Digest Pub.
1966. H/cover .477pp.

War Games .. By D. Featherstone .   Henry Regenery Co. 1972. 

H/cover. 304pp.

Private Lives . by M. Bryant.  Cassell  1996. H/cover. 338pp.

Arthur  Mee's 1000 Heroes. Amalgamated Press  1935?  Two Vols.

H/cover. 1828pp.

Cassell's Romance of Famous Lives.   Cassell & Co.   ?  Three Vol.
H/cover  1585pp.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::