His victory over Caesar's assassins allowed Octavian, who assumed the name Augustus, to take power in 27 B.C. Caesar's great-grandnephew Gaius Octavian played on the late ruler's popularity, assembling an army to fight back the military troops defending Cassius and Brutus. The Senate also gave him the title "The Divine Julius."Ī power struggle ensued in Rome, leading to the end of the Roman Republic. Just two years after his death, Caesar became the first Roman figure to be deified. (He also had several mistresses, including Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt, with whom he had a son, Caesarion.) First TriumvirateĪt the same time Caesar was governing under Pompey, he aligned himself with the wealthy military leader Marcus Licinius Crassus. The strategic political alliance among Caesar, Pompey and Crassus came to be known as the First Triumvirate. The same year, Caesar wed Calpurnia, a teenager to whom he remained married for the rest of his life. Caesar maintained his alliance with Pompey, which enabled him to get elected as consul, a powerful government position, in 59 B.C. In 61 to 60 B.C., Caesar served as governor of the Roman province of Spain. Their marriage lasted just a few years, and in 62 B.C., the couple divorced. In 67 B.C., Caesar married Pompeia, the granddaughter of Sulla. Caesar went on to serve in several other key government positions. Soon after, in 68 or 69 B.C., he was elected quaestor (a minor political office). when he put together a private army and combated Mithradates VI Eupator, king of Pontus, who had declared war on Rome.Ĭaesar began an alliance with Gnaeus Pompey Magnus, a powerful military and political leader. The die is cast.” “I merely want to protect myself against the slanders of my enemies.” “My aim is to outdo others in justice and equity, as I have previously striven to outdo them in achievement.” “I came, I saw, I conquered.”Ĭaesar’s stature was further enhanced in 74 B.C. “For the immortal gods are accustomed at times to grant favorable circumstances and long impunity to men whom they wish to punish for their crime, so that they may smart the more severely from a change of fortune.” “If you must break the law, do it to seize power: In all other cases, observe it.” “What we wish, we readily believe, and what we ourselves think, we imagine others think also.” “The res publica is nothing-a mere name without body or shape.” “You too, my child?” “Now that I am the leading Roman of my day, it will be harder to pull me down from first to second place than degrade me to the ranks.” “No, I am Caesar, not king.” “For those closest to a man ought not to allow his death to end their loyalty to him.” “An omen! A prodigy! Let us march where we are called by such a divine intimation.
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