A separate page in the history of Rome is the reign of Gaius Julius Caesar. His name is firmly entrenched in world history and there is hardly a person who has never heard of him. Triumverate, conquest of the Gallic tribes, Cleopatra, Latin expressions Alea jacta est and Veni. Vedi. Vici, the Ides of March - all these names, concepts and events are an integral part of the knowledge of a modern educated person. Let's remember how events unfolded in Rome during the time of Gaius Julius Caesar.
Gaius Julius Caesar was descended from an old patrician family that descended from Iulus, the son of the legendary hero of Troy, Aeneas, who was born to the goddess Aphrodite (Venus) herself. Having illustrious ancestors, it seemed easy for Caesar to reach high positions in the Roman Republic. However, according to family tradition, he became a priest of Jupiter, the supreme god of Rome. Strict rules did not allow the young priest to leave the city for more than two nights, divorce his wife, and take up arms. But fate decreed otherwise ...
Caesar seeks to get the attention of Rome with a literally suicidal act. When the supporters of the former dictator, Pompey and Crassus, reign supreme in the republic, Caesar brings several prominent supporters of Sulla to court (for example, Dolabella, consul 81 BC). Of course, Caesar lost all the processes. However, his speeches delivered at the court made him famous as one of the best orators of Rome.
Now, with some notoriety, you could begin your slow climb to political Olympus. You shouldn't think it was easy. Even for a small position in the magistracy, one had to wage a fierce struggle in the elections. In 68 BC. e. Caesar became a quaestor, whose duties included control of the state treasury and finances. This gave him the right to be called a senator from now on.
Chosen for 65 BC e. aedile, whose duties, in addition to keeping order and construction in the city, included organizing festivities, Caesar literally eclipsed his predecessors and partner with unheard-of spending on public entertainment. Spending huge sums on ceremonies and theatrical performances, dinners and feasts, he conquered the Roman plebs. 320 pairs of gladiators, whose weapons and armor were made of pure silver, exhibited by him at one of the holidays, so stunned the Romans that legends begin to circulate about his fantastic generosity. And since the aedile had to arrange entertainment with his own money, it is not surprising that Caesar got into debt (in 61 BC, creditors even refused to let him out of Rome because of the huge sums that he could not repay).
Consul of Rome
But the game was worth the candle:in 63 B.C. e. Caesar put forward his candidacy for the position of high priest (pontifex maximus) and, thanks to his popularity, defeated two of the strongest opponents, gaining more votes than both of them.
Similar love of the Roman plebs for Caesar begins to cause discontent and fear of most of the senators and nobility. Political opponents, accusing Caesar on a false denunciation of a conspiracy against the republic, brought him to trial. But Caesar - finally! — brilliantly won this process. Then, on the same grounds, they tried to remove him from the post of high priest. But the times of Sulla had already passed, and the enraged crowds of the plebs rushed to the Senate, shaking their weapons, demanding to cancel this decision. The senators had to give in.
In 61 B.C. e., after fulfilling the duties of praetor, who controls the highest judicial power, Caesar was appointed protector in Lusitania (province of Spain). Having won a number of victories over the local tribes, Caesar received from the Senate the right to triumph. This right was given to the commander if during the war more than 5 thousand enemy soldiers were killed or if during the hostilities prisoners of the royal family were captured. Caesar was proclaimed emperor by his army, an honorary title given by soldiers to their generals.
…And now, in 60 B.C. e., the emperor and triumphant returned to Rome. He became a rich man - when dividing the booty, distributing generous rewards to the soldiers, Caesar did not deprive himself.
It was time for the election of consuls. While still in Spain and passing by a small town, Caesar, when asked by friends about the struggle for power in this seedy place, quite seriously and unequivocally answered that "I would rather be the first here than second in Rome." The consulate was one of the last steps in order to become the first in Rome. Caesar was in such a hurry that he left Spain without even waiting for his successor.
Before the gates of the ancient city, Caesar stopped. He was given a choice:either enter the city and stand as a candidate for elections, thereby refusing to triumph (the generals waited for the triumph at the gates of Rome), or enjoy the glory for the victories won and postpone their claims to power indefinitely. Caesar asked the Senate to allow him both, contrary to the law. But the senators were adamant. Then he abandoned the triumph and, having won the election, became consul in 59 BC. e.
First Triumvirate
Like Caesar who aspired to be the first in Rome, two more of his contemporaries actively pursued the same goal:Gnaeus Pompey Magnus and Marcus Licinius Crassus. Despite their political influence, none of them could yet become the sole master of Rome. Therefore, at the initiative of Caesar, an agreement was concluded between the three politicians - not to allow actions objectionable to each of them. This union of Caesar, Crassus and Pompey was subsequently called the first triumvirate (in Latin - "the union of three men").
Caesar the consul, with such powerful political support, began to pursue policies that benefited the triumvirate, and Pompey in the first place. However, the Senate tried to oppose Caesar's actions. There were two consuls in Rome, and the second consul, Mark Calpurnius Bibulus, opposing Caesar, supported the senate. It came down to armed clashes. However, Caesar, not wanting to yield, turned, contrary to tradition, for the support of his laws to the popular assembly, bypassing the Senate. Bibulus, frightened and offended, locked himself in his house and did not show up again until the end of the consulate, leaving Caesar to do whatever he pleased. It turned out that in Rome in 59 BC. e. there was actually one consul - Caesar. In Rome, years were counted by consuls, so 59 BC. e. the Romans jokingly called it not “the consulate of Caesar and Bibulus”, but “the consulate of Julius and Caesar”.
From Encyclopedia.
Rom. The reign of Julius Caesar. Part 2
Rom. The reign of Julius Caesar. Part 3