Caesar :: essays research papers

Many people associate the &8216Ides of March&8217 with the play &8220Julius Caesar. That particular day, March 15th in 44 BC, Rome lost not and a future king, but also a strong political and military leader. Julius Caesar&8217s life, his accomplishments, and his unfortunate assassination have etched out a place in textbooks worldwide. Caesar&8217s childhood was filled with many changes in the Roman Empire.Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome, Italy on July 12th or 13th in the year 100 BC. When he was young, Caesar lived through one of the most horrifying decades in the history of the city of Rome. The city was assaulted twice and captured by Roman armies, prototypal in 87 BC by the leaders of the populares, his Uncle Marius and Cinna. Cinna was killed the year that Caesar had married Cinna&8217s daughter Cornelia. The second attack upon the city was carried out by Marius&8217 oppositeness Sulla, leader of the optimates, in 82 BC on Sulla&8217s bribe from the East. The confiscati on of property resulted from the massacre of political opponents on each occasion. At the time of Caesar&8217s birth, the number of patricians was small, and their status no longer provided political advantage. (Sahlman). Caesar&8217s family was part of Rome&8217s original aristocracy, although they were neither rich nor influential. (Sahlman). Caesar&8217s father died when Caesar was only 16 years old. It was Caesar&8217s mother, Aurelia, who proved to influence young Caesar. (Sahlman). With his mother&8217s blessing, Caesar sought out to gain notoriety for his family name.To set about distinction for himself and his family, Caesar sought election to public office. In 86 BC, Caesar was appointed flamen dialis with the help of his uncle by marriage, Gaius Marius. (Sahlman). In 84 BC Caesar married Cornelia, daughter of Lucious Cornelius Cinna. (Sahlman). In 82 BC Caesar was ordered to divorce his wife by Lucious Cornelius Sulla, an enemy of the radicals. (Sahlman). Caesar traveled to Rhodes in 78 BC to study rhetoric and did not return until 73 BC. (Sahlman). During his journey to Rhodes pirates managed to capture him. Caesar convinced his captors to raise his ransom, which increased his prestige. He then(prenominal) raised a naval force, overcame his captors, and had them crucified. In 69 or 68 BC Caesar was elected quaestor. (Sahlman). His wife died shortly thereafter. Soon after his wife&8217s death, Caesar met and fell in love with Pompeia, a relative of Caesar&8217s then friend, Pompey.