Julius Caesar

4 Pages 950 Words

Caesar was born into the Julian gens, one of Rome's oldest patrician families. He was often a member of the more popular Democratic Party. He benefitted from the patronage of his uncle by marriage, Caius Marius. In 82 B.C. he refused to divorce Cornelia, the wealthy daughter of Cornelius Cinna, he was proscribed and he fled from Rome. He returned in 78 B.C. when Sulla died and began his political career. He quickly gained popularity, and in 74 B.C. he went to repulse a Cappadocian army. When he returned he helped advance the position of Pompey, the virtual head of the popular party. Caesar gained the status of military tribune before 70 B.C. and was quaestor in farther Spain in 69 B.C. He aided Pompey in gaining complete control of the war in the East. When he returned to Rome in 68 B.C. he was recognized as the head of the popular party in Pompey?s absence. His praise of Marius and Cinna made him popular with the people, but in return he earned the hatred of the Senate. In 63 B.C. he was elected pontifex maximus {high priest}, allegedly by heavy bribes. Later he reformed the calendar, which was one of the greatest contributions of history.
Between 81 and 79 Caesar served on the personal staff of Marcus Minucius Thermus, who was praetor in Asia Minor. When Sulla died (78) Caesar felt it safe to go back to Italy. There he took up the profession of criminal law. That was a normal thing to do, while Caesar stayed far from politics. In 75 He went to Rhodes for higher learning, and was caught by pirates who were asking the usual tariff. He raised the prize and promised to kill his captors. After Ransom was paid Caesar got some ships and crucified the pirates. He then continued his studies but they were again interrupted when Mithridates of Pontus attacked Asia Minor a second time (74). On his own funds and will raised a small army to defend some towns, giving the official roman commander Lucullus time to organi...