Julius Caesar

(100 B.C.-44 B.C)

Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman statesman, general and writer. He became known by his fast conquest of Gallia, his expedition across the Rubicon, his advance in Italy, his absolute power, his courtships with Cleopatra and his dramatic death. He was the great Roman general and statesman whose dictator- ship led to Rome's transition from republic to empire. He was born Gaius Julius Caesar on July 12, 100 B.C.. He was an only son with a younger sister Julia. His family had been prominent in politics for more than a century. As a young man Caesar lived through one of the most horrifying decades in the history of the city of Rome. Caesar started his carreer as a lawyer in Rome. Between 70 and 60 B.C he started his political carrier: as preator in Spain, as aedilis, pontifex maximus and praetor urbanus. He was elected to be consul at the end of 60 B.C.. He made an alliance with Pompey and Crassus. This alliance is called the First Triumvirate. It was a pooling of political supporters. Caesar's purpose was to gain a big military command. Caesar made sure that he became popular, so he donated land to 20000 proletarian families. Meanwhile Pompey, Crassus and Caesar renovated their alliance. Pompey noticed that Ceasar became very popular and so he divided the provonces in three. Crassus died in the battle against the Parthen three years after the renovatian in 56 B.C.. Caesar got too much power. And he attacked Pompey who had to run. Caesar caught up with Pompey and defeated his army. In Thessalia was Pompey defeated and he was murdered there. Caesar had internal and external policy problems; not only did small rulers conquered land, but he had also problems with his ultimate government. The external policy problems were easy to solve. In 45 B.C. he became dictator "for ever". He had all powers, but he still had some fanatic opponents. These opponents killed him in 44 B.C. In the short time that Caesar ruled over Rome he changed lots of things. On social grounds and internal(colonisation) and external politics. Although he was a clever politician, it's hard to deny that he was a moderate man.

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