Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Seizing the Day
Born in 100 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar would prove to be one of Rome's most masterful gen-
erals, lenient conquerors and capable administrators. He was also avid for power and this
was probably his undoing.
He was a supporter of the consul Pompey (later known as Pompey the Great) who, since
78 BC, had become a leading figure in Rome after putting down rebellions in Spain and
eliminating piracy. Caesar himself had been in Spain for several years, dealing with border
revolts and, on his return to Rome in 60 BC, formed an alliance with Pompey and another
important commander and former consul, Crassus. They backed Caesar's candidacy as con-
sul.
To consolidate his position in the Roman power game, Caesar needed a major military
command. This he received with a mandate to govern the province of Gallia Narbonensis, a
southern swath of modern France stretching from Italy to the Pyrenees, from 59 BC. Caesar
raised troops and in the following year entered Gaul proper (modern France) to head off an
invasion of Helvetic tribes from Switzerland and subsequently to bring other tribes to heel.
What started as an essentially defensive effort soon became a full-blown campaign of con-
quest. In the next five years, he subdued Gaul and made forays into Britain and across the
Rhine. In 52-51 BC he stamped out the last great revolt in Gaul, led by Vercingetorix.
Caesar was generous to his defeated enemies and so won the Gauls over to him. Indeed,
they became his staunchest supporters in coming years.
By now, Caesar also had a devoted veteran army behind him. Jealous of the growing
power of his one-time protégé, Pompey severed his political alliance with him and joined
like-minded factions in the Senate to outlaw Caesar in 49 BC. On 7 January, Caesar
crossed the Rubicon river into Italy and civil war began. His three-year campaign in Italy,
Spain and the eastern Mediterranean proved a crushing victory. Upon his return to Rome in
46 BC, he assumed dictatorial powers.
He launched a series of reforms, overhauled the Senate and embarked on a building pro-
gram (of which the Curia and Basilica Giulia remain).
By 44 BC it was clear Caesar had no plans to restore the Republic, and dissent grew in
the Senate, even among former supporters like Marcus Junius Brutus, who thought he had
gone too far. Unconcerned by rumours of a possible assassination attempt, Caesar had dis-
missed his bodyguard. A small band of conspirators led by Brutus finally stabbed him to
death in a Senate meeting on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC, two years after he had
been proclaimed dictator for life.
