Julius Caesar: Life and Deeds - Essay Example

JULIUS CAESAR Julius Caesar is not only one of the greatest Roman rulers of ancient times, but also he has unanimously been declared as one of the most influential rulers, generals and statesmen the world has ever produced. Caesar not only won battles and approved himself as the great soldier and military commander of the empire, but also he obtained sound reputation and applause from all corners in diplomatic affairs and politics, by dint of his innate qualities of head and heart, he had been gifted with by Nature. It is therefore he was adopted as a Roman deity after two years of his brutal assassination at the hands of the conspirators. Great as a general, great as a politician, great as a far seeing statesman, great as an orator, great as an historian and a man of letters---Julius Caesar does indeed, as Shakespeare makes Cassius so grudgingly avow, ‘bestride the narrow world like a colossus.” (Canning, 2005) Born in July 102 B.C., Gaius Julius Caesar belonged to a highly prominent Julian family lineage, which sought its roots in the royal, aristocratic and divine ancestry. But even then he had natural tendencies towards democratic state of government since his early youth. His family set up and relations also paved the way towards his attachment with the democratic Popular Party, where his aunt had got married to the party leader Marius. Julius also married Cinna’s daughter, another popular leader of the same party, which created lots of problems for the young Julius, because the political rival of both Marius and Cinna i.e. Sulla had obtained the reigns of the government, who forced Julius divorce his wife, but he managed to escape rather deserting his wife and leaving her in the lurch. The Roman government of Caesarian era had been under the unabated influence of the Roman gods and goddesses; it is why the public used to expect the same performances and heroic deeds from their military personnel and the young individuals. Hence, the Rome of Julius Caesar had been clouded with military expeditions and adventures, and a successful military commander was adored by the people of his times. It is therefore as a shrewd and intelligent young man, Julius rightly viewed that performing something extraordinary during his military career might win popularity and recognition for him. By 81 B.C. he joined the Roman army during its campaign against the King of Pontus named Mithridates. It was perhaps the heavenly-blessed opportunity for Julius to display his gallant deeds, at the moment when he saved one of his comrades at the hands of the enemies by putting his own life in serious jeopardy. The tale of his bravery was immediately spread all around, which wide opened new avenues of triumphs for the future years to come and provided him support in the fields of law and politics. His outstanding services also included providing his military support to the King Nicomedes of Bithynia, which though gave birth to a scandal against Julius Caesar, yet helped him return Rome by 78 B.C. after Sulla’s death in the same year. Julius estimated his strengths and weaknesses and received the education of rhetoric from the most talented teachers in order to gain impressive command over speech, which he applied at the eve of starting his career as a lawyer and orator. His political career started from 77 B.C. which lasted till the end of his life in 44 B.C. The successful prosecution of an aide of Sulla unveiled his talent as a politician and lawyer, and helped him enter the filed of politics. Caesar entered the political arena dramatically in 77, when he prosecuted the corrupt Gnaeus Cornelius Dollabella, a consular and former lieutenant of Sulla. Dollabella was defended by the leading advocate of the day, Quintus Hortensius and subsequently acquitted, but the case clearly signalled Caesars position in the popularis camp. (Retrieved from www.fenrir.dk) Julius had got broad vision, pleasing personality and clever brain, and he utilized all his characteristics and skills in making relationship with the men and women of elite class. His entering into an alliance and companionship with Crassus by 70 BC was also the part of his intelligent scheme of gaining political strength in order to combat with the hurdles and obstacles on his way to success. In addition, he maintained the great fun of feeling the nerves of the public, and he exercised it time and again to the great extent. He displayed his fun of speech by addressing the mob at the eve of his Aunt Julia’s death, the widow of the popular leader Marius, and paid his thoughtful tribute to both Marius and Cinna. His words not only won the heart of the people, but also they started finding a new leader in his personality. Julius was generous at heart, and knew the significance of spending money at the right time and for the right person. He got popularity among the ladies of dignified class. Consequently, he gradually got his place in the royal circles and political families of the country. Julius was successful in winning his first official appointment as a quaestor in 68 BC, and subsequently flourished as a senator within five years of his career as the quaestor. He was elected as Curule Aedile in 65 BC, and he applied his position in providing his support to Pompey. In 63 BC, he was appointed Pontifex Maximus, a position of great dignity and importance in the religious establishment of the Roman state. (Canning, 2005) He patronized public sports, games and other revelries under his leadership, and Rome witnessed pompous and snobbish activities all around. He political career observed some setbacks too where he was accused of knitting conspiracies against the government. But Julius wanted to remain far away from allegations. It is therefore, he divorced his second wife as she was suspected to be involved in a conspiracy. In 62 BC, Clodius and Caesars second wife, Pompeia, were involved in a scandal concerning the violation of the secret rites of Bona Dea, and Caesar obtained a divorce, saying, “Caesars wife must be above suspicion.” (Quoted in www.encyclopedia.com) Though he was strict in respect of announcing sentence to his wife, he always applied tenderness towards the masses. He recommended less severity even towards the conspirators, which accelerated the level of his popularity in an imperative way, though he could not escape from being suspended by the end of his tenure as Praetor in 59 BC. However, he reserved the seat of consul after hard efforts with the help of Pompey and Crassus, though Cicero was strictly against the entrance of Caesar as consul. Cicero believed a consensus of high minded citizens (senators), with the plebs kept in their place, electing even higher-minded officials (consuls like himself), could still govern Rome and its provinces. (Blond, 2000) By the beginning of the civil war in 52 BC, Julius had won the position of a war hero, after rendering his services in the Eastern provinces. It was the time when the public opinion started turning against Pompey, and people were looking for a dynamic leadership for their political, strategic and economic uplift of the state at large. Since the First Triumvirate met with its ultimate expiry with the death of Crassus in 53 BC, the bridge of the relationship between Pompey and Caesar also found its fateful end. The Senate did not want him to keep his army, though he had the support of two important tribunes i.e. Quintus Cassius Longinus and Mark Antony, who stood by him by vetoing the bill against his keeping the army. He gathered his army, crossed the Rubicon and entered Italy in a triumphant way. Hence, the wise leader took the right decision at the right time and declared himself as the absolute dictator. Hence, the time came for the introduction of economic reforms in the country. Since people had so many expectations from their charismatic leader Julius Caesar, he had acknowledged all those anticipations and high hopes of the people. Julius Caesar abolished the old system of government and introduced an entirely new political set up, where not only all the powers had been delegated to the dictator, but also he had obtained the supreme authority of bringing reforms in the state. First of all, he issued instructions regarding the amendments in the Julian calendar, which still prevails in the contemporary world of present times. In addition, his comprehensive codification of Roman law was one of the greatest accomplishments of the great reformer. He established order, begun measures to reduce congestion in Rome, draining large tracts of marshy lands, gave full voting rights to the inhabitants of his former province south of the Alps, revised the tax laws of Asia and Sicily, resettled many Romans in new homes in the Roman provinces and reformed the calendar, which, with one slight adjustment, is the one in use today. (www.roman-empire.net) In addition, Julius Caesar patronized the establishment of public libraries, parks, recreational-activities centers and sports complexes. Julius reduced the rate of interest charged by the money-lenders, and strove to lessen the burdens of taxations on the mass of ordinary citizens. (Canning, 2002) Moreover, he established muncipia in the towns, which has rightly been declared as the first structure of the present-day local town, municipal, metropolitan and cosmopolitan system. Julius Caesar prohibited such political and social clubs and places that were responsible for creating fuss and disorganization in the state. He was against of granting unchecked freedom to the masses, which might destabilize the government by paralyzing its machinery. His politics and military career went hand in hand with one another, so none of the two could be entirely separated from the other. The world had already witnessed his gallant deeds at the eve, when he had inflicted a decisive revenge upon the pirates, who had once taken him as their hostage against the ransom of 20 talents. His military campaigns had not been confined to mere few adventures; rather, there was a series of such triumphs in his credit. His determination, bravery and dauntlessness were apparent in his adventure against the pirates, who had kidnapped him against ransom. During his hostage, he had announced that he would crucify the pirates, which he did at his own expense by putting his life and career at stake. In addition, Caesar inflicted a severe blow on Spain at 60 BC, and fulfilled the responsibilities of Praetor by serving as military commander in order to suppress the tribal revolt in Spain. Further, he exercised the best of his capabilities and skills during his campaign in Gaul, and won the status of its governor subsequently. Gaul at the time comprised the subjugated region south of the Alps and to the east of the Apennines as far as the river Rubicon, together with a small portion of territory on the other side of the Alps, roughly corresponding with todays French regions Provence and Languedoc. (www.roman-empire.net) But his wonderful triumphs were not confined to Gaul only. He had to obtain many other feathers too in his cap in the future years to come. Julius imitated the footprints of Alexander the Great and conquered many more lands and countries including Helvetii, Germany and England, and forced them to come to his own terms and conditions. His invasion on Germany was so severe and powerful that it forced the Germans to surrender near todays town of Koblenz. Caesar then proceeded in building a bridge across the river Rhine and successfully constructed the same within ten days only. In simple words, he set up the Roman domination from the present day English Channel to the restless upper area of Atlantic Ocean. There was one single person i.e. Julius Caesar to rule over the mountains of Spain, rivers of England and the meadows and hills of Germany and France. Julius Caesar used the most advanced engineering and strategic technologies against the Germans and the British, which hastened his triumph over the rival nations. The list of the military victories is very long one, and reminds us the heroic deeds of the person who is adorned by the Romans even at the present day. REFERENCES: 1. Blond, Anthony. A Scandalous History of the Roman Emperors Carroll & Graf Publishers New York 2000 65-86 2. Canning, John. 100 Great Kings, Queens & Rulers of the World Century Books Ltd. Rupa & Co. 2002 113-125 3. Julius Caesar: Politics (77 - 59 BCE) 16 July 2006 (Retrieved from http://www.fenrir.dk/history/index.php?title=Julius_Caesar_:_Politics_ (77_-_59_BCE) 4. Julius Caesar. NNDB: Tracking the Entire World (Quoted in http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Caesar-J.html) 5. Gaius Julius Caesar (Quoted in http://www.roman-empire.net/republic/caesar-index.html) Read More